Some of the material works, some doesn't.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:36
Fresh:25
Rotten:11
Average Rating:6.5/10
Consensus: It's a one-joke premise, but the movie is amiably dumb, and there are scenes of inspired goofiness.
Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins
Genre: Comedies
US Box Office: $84,136,909
Synopsis: Will Ferrell ("Elf," "Old School") stars as Ron Burgundy, the top-rated anchorman in San Diego in the ‘70s. When feminism marches into the newsroom in the form of ambitious newswoman Veronica... Will Ferrell ("Elf," "Old School") stars as Ron Burgundy, the top-rated anchorman in San Diego in the ‘70s. When feminism marches into the newsroom in the form of ambitious newswoman Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate - "View From the Top," TV’s "Married With Children"), Ron is willing to play along at first—as long as Veronica stays in her place, covering cat fashion shows, cooking, and other "female" interests. But when Veronica refuses to settle for being eye candy and steps behind the news desk, it’s more than a battle between two perfectly coiffed anchor-persons…it’s war. Will Ferrell co-wrote the screenplay for "Anchorman" with Adam McKay, a former "Saturday Night Live" head writer and founder of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade comedy troupe. McKay is also making his directorial debut on "Anchorman." Judd Apatow ("The Cable Guy," TV’s "Freaks and Geeks") is producing the film, with Shauna Robertson ("Meet The Parents," "Elf"), David O. Russell ("Three Kings," "Flirting With Disaster") and David Householter ("The Core") co-producing. "Anchorman" also stars David Koechner ("A Guy Thing"), Steve Carell ("Bruce Almighty") and Paul Rudd ("The Shape of Things," "The Cider House Rules") as members of Ron’s news team, and Fred Willard ("American Wedding," "A Mighty Wind") and Chris Parnell (TV’s "Saturday Night Live") as news producers. Kevin Corrigan (TV’s "Grounded For Life," "Slums of Beverly Hills"), renowned rap musician Chuck D (of Public Enemy), Tara Subkoff ("The Cell," "American Pie") and Maya Rudolph (TV’s "Saturday Night Live") appear as members of the radical underground group The Alarm Clock, which becomes the big news story of the day. [More]
Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, David Koechner
Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Fred Willard, Chris Parnell, Steve Carell
Director: Adam McKay
Director: Adam McKay
Screenwriter: Adam McKay, Will Ferrell
Producer: Judd Apatow
Composer: Alex Wurman
Studio: DreamWorks Distribution LLC
Reviews for Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Fans of the Todd Phillips school of comedy are going to be divided on this one -- there's real potential here and a great premise but had it been a little cleverer it could've been so much more.
You will laugh. Then you will laugh some more. Then you will laugh still again.
What takes the whole thing pleasurably over the top, turning a goof into a total gas, is the film's pitch-perfect absurdist comedy and warmth.
It is not as maniacally uninhibited as Old School or as dementedly lovable as Elf, but its cheerful dumbness is hard to resist.
That he can make his anchorman chauvinistic, deluded and ridiculous but still manage to give him some humanity is testimony to Ferrell's comic talents.
Ferrell has seized on a clever concept rife with possibilities -- namely, women breaking the glass ceiling in male-dominated TV news during the '70s -- and smartly surrounded himself with a topnotch cast.
... the laugh ratio is about 50 percent, but that's still pretty good.
Latest News for Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
June 02, 2009:
Will Ferrell Talks Land of the Lost
Ahead of the release of the comedy-adventure Land of the Lost -- a big-screen adaptation of Sid and Marty Kroft's psychedelic TV series from the '70s -- Rotten Tomatoes got the... More...
May 27, 2009:
Will Ferrell Talks Anchorman Sequel ![]()
Hope you've been staying classy, San Diego -- Will Ferrell says discussions for an "Anchorman" sequel are taking place. More...
July 25, 2008:
Weekly Ketchup: Anchorman 2, Dracula: Year Zero, Twilight Zone and Much More
In this week's Weekly Ketchup we've got the latest on plenty of remakes and sequels coming your way. Plus, check back Monday for an extra special edition of the Ketchup, in... More...
June 06, 2008:
Steve Carell Would Totally Make Anchorman 2 ![]()
Steve Carell has told MTV that he has "some inklings" about what Adam McKay has in mind for Anchorman 2, and he's "absolutely" interested in coming back for the sequel. More...
More Movies
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 75% 75% | Sherlock Holmes | 26/12 |
| 38% 38% | The Lovely Bones | 26/12 |
| 100% 100% | The French Kissers | 26/12 |
| 84% 84% | Bright Star | 26/12 |
| 83% 83% | Nowhere Boy | 26/12 |
| | Alvin and the Chipmunk… | 26/12 |
| 07% 07% | Did You Hear About the… | 26/12 |
| 05% 05% | Old Dogs | 26/12 |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy at Rotten Tomatoes
- Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy at IGN
- Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Last week, Moviefone offered us their worst films of the 2000s. Now see their 40 best!

Techland examines the visual splendor of Peter Jackson's upcoming film.

Movieline gets bravely swept away with the recycled refuse of the 2000s.

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions

We're giving away a bunch of stuff from the upcoming Squeakquel.

We're giving away five copies of Tarantino's hit, with thanks to Universal. That's a bingo.



Top Critic


