Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy#Cast

In 1975, Ron Burgundy is the famous anchorman for a San Diego television station, KVWN Channel 4, working alongside his lifelong friends on the news team: lead field reporter Brian Fantana, sportscaster Champ Kind, and meteorologist Brick Tamland.

Station director Ed Harken informs the team that they have retained their long-held status as the highest-rated news program in San Diego, leading them to throw a wild party, where Burgundy unsuccessfully attempts to pick up a beautiful blonde woman, Veronica Corningstone.

Harken later informs the team that they have been forced to hire Corningstone. After a series of unsuccessful attempts by the team to seduce her, she finally agrees to a "professional tour" of the city with Burgundy, culminating in a sexual relationship. Despite agreeing to keep the relationship discreet, Burgundy announces it on air.

After a dispute with a motorcyclist ends in Burgundy's beloved dog Baxter being punted off the San Diego–Coronado Bridge, Burgundy is late to work. Corningstone fills in for him on-air, receiving higher ratings than Burgundy usually receives, and the couple break up when he bemoans her success. Corningstone is promoted co-anchor, to the disgust of the team. The co-anchors become fierce rivals off-air while maintaining a phony facade of cordiality on-air.

Depressed, the team (barring Corningstone) decide to buy new suits, but Tamland, leading the way, gets them lost in a shady part of town. Confronted by main competitor Wes Mantooth and his news team, Burgundy challenges them to a fight. When several other news teams converge onsite (which includes the Channel Two News team, the Public News Team, and the Spanish-language News team), a full-on melee battle ensues, only broken up by police sirens that cause them to flee. Realizing that having a female co-anchor is straining their reputation, Burgundy gets into another heated argument with Corningstone, and they get into a physical fight after she insults his hair.

After one of Corningstone's co-workers informs her that Burgundy will read whatever is written on the teleprompter, she sneaks into the station and changes the text in revenge. The next day, he (unaware of what he is saying) concludes the broadcast with "Go fuck yourself, San Diego!" instead of his signature closing line, "You stay classy, San Diego!" triggering an angry mob outside the studio and prompting Harken to fire him.

Realizing she went too far, Corningstone phones Burgundy to apologize but finds she can't speak to him. Unemployed, friendless, and heavily antagonized by the public, Burgundy grows depressed while Corningstone enjoys her new-found fame, with Fantana, Kind, and Tamland begrudgingly working with her. Harken has warned against them talking to Burgundy, under threat that they'd be fired as well.

Three months later, when a panda is about to give birth, every news team in San Diego rushes to the zoo to cover the story. In an attempt to sabotage her, a rival news anchor pushes Corningstone into a Kodiak bear enclosure. When Harken is unable to locate her, he recruits and rehires Burgundy.

Once at the zoo, Burgundy, with his morale restored, jumps into the bear pen to save Corningstone as the public watches. The rest of the news team then jump in to save them. Just as a bear is about to attack, Burgundy's dog Baxter, who miraculously survived his fall, intervenes and encourages the bear to spare them. As the group climbs out of the pit, Mantooth appears and holds the ladder over the bear pit, threatening to drop Burgundy back in, saying that deep down, he has always hated him, but then admits he does respect him before pulling him to safety.

After Burgundy and Corningstone reconcile, it is shown that, in the years to come, Fantana becomes the host of a Fox reality show named Intercourse Island, Tamland is married with 11 children and is a top political adviser to George W. Bush, Kind is a commentator for the NFL before getting fired after being accused by Terry Bradshaw of sexual harassment, and Burgundy and Corningstone are co-anchors for the CNN-esque World News Center.

{{multiple image

| align = right

| total_width = 400

| perrow = 3

| footer = (Top, left to right) Will Ferrell (pictured in 2012), Christina Applegate (2014), and Paul Rudd (2015); (Bottom) Steve Carell (2014), David Koechner (2013), and Fred Willard (2008)

| image1 = Will_Ferrell_2012.jpg

| image2 = Christina_Applegate_2014_Comic_Con_(cropped).jpg

| image3 = Paul_Rudd_(cropped)_2.jpg

| image4 = Steve_Carell_November_2014.jpg

| image5 = David_Koechner_(11024155545).jpg

| image6 = FredWillardApr08.jpg

}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy – Anchorman for a small news station in San Diego called KVWN Channel 4.
• Christina Applegate as Veronica Corningstone – Intelligent news anchor beside Ron Burgundy for KVWN Channel 4.
• Paul Rudd as Brian Fantana – Friend, field reporter, and coworker of Ron Burgundy. Known for being a ladies' man.
• Steve Carell as Brick Tamland – Weatherman at KVWN Channel 4. Known for being mentally challenged and part of Ron Burgundy's crew.
• David Koechner as Champ Kind – Sportscaster at KVWN Channel 4. Comes across as masculine, sexist, and enthusiastic.
• Chris Parnell as Garth Holliday
• Kathryn Hahn as Helen
• Fred Armisen as Tino
• Fred Willard as Ed Harken
• Vince Vaughn as Wes Mantooth
• Jerry Minor as Tino's Bassist
• Laura Kightlinger as Donna
• Danny Trejo as a Bartender
• Jack Black as a Motorcyclist
• Judd Apatow as a News Station Employee
• Paul F. Tompkins as a Cat Fashion Show Host
• Jay Johnston as a Member of the Eyewitness News Team
• Adam McKay as a Janitor
• Tim Robbins as the Public News Anchor
• Luke Wilson as Frank Vitchard
• Ben Stiller as Arturo Mendez
• Missi Pyle as a Zoo Keeper
• Seth Rogen as Scotty
• Bill Kurtis as The Narrator

{{div col end}}

Will Ferrell and Adam McKay wanted Ed Harris to play Ed Harken, which was eventually given to Fred Willard. Dan Aykroyd was considered for the role of Garth Holiday. Alec Baldwin was considered for the role of Frank Vitchard. James Spader was considered for the role of Brick Tamland. Bob Odenkirk, Ben Stiller and Ron Livingston were all considered for the role of Brian Fantana. John C. Reilly was originally considered for the role of Champ Kind. Amy Adams, Leslie Mann, and Maggie Gyllenhaal auditioned for the role of Veronica Corningstone.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/amp/2011/07/the-lost-roles-of-anchorman.html|title = The Lost Roles of Anchorman|date = July 21, 2011}}{{Cite web|url = http://www.ballerstatus.com/2013/12/10/qa-director-adam-mckay-talks-anchorman-2-casting-memories/|title = Q&A: Director Adam McKay Talks 'Anchorman 2', Casting Memories & Kanye|date = December 10, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web|url=http://gawker.com/5600664/ron-livingston-may-be-the-one-person-in-the-world-who-doesnt-like-paul-rudd|title = Ron Livingston May be the One Person Who Doesn't Like Paul Rudd| work=Gawker | date=July 30, 2010 | last1=Jefferson | first1=Whitney }}

File:Newseum - Anchorman Newsdesk (14428084408).jpg

While still at Saturday Night Live, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay began working on a script titled August Blowout, which Ferrell would later describe as "Glengarry Glen Ross meets a car dealership". Although the script was popular around Hollywood, the resulting movie never got made. One of the readers was Paul Thomas Anderson who offered to "shepherd" a script written by the pair.{{cite web|last1=Simmons|first1=Bill|title=Will Ferrell on the Bizarre Path 'Anchorman' Took to the Box Office|url=https://theringer.com/anchorman-development-will-ferrell-bill-simmons-podcast-bef9b909da38|website=The Ringer|date=June 16, 2017|access-date=June 26, 2017}} McKay has stated that the idea for the film that would become Anchorman came about after "Will saw an interview with a 70s anchorman, talking about how sexist they were. And it was that tone of voice he loved."{{cite web|last=Leader|first=Michael|title=Adam McKay interview: The Other Guys, action comedy, Michael Moore and Will Ferrell|url=http://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/16336/adam-mckay-interview-the-other-guys-action-comedy-michael-moore-and-will-ferrell|website=Den of Geek|date=September 16, 2010|access-date=October 1, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001075750/http://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/16336/adam-mckay-interview-the-other-guys-action-comedy-michael-moore-and-will-ferrell|url-status=live}}

An early version of the script was a parody of the disaster film Alive with a group of news people, after Ron Burgundy crashes their plane, stranded in the wilderness trying to make their way back to civilization. A subplot would involve the characters trying to escape from a group of ninjastar wielding orangutans. Adam McKay stated that a version of the script originally included "a musical number with sharks". Anderson, who at the time was scheduled to produce the film was taken aback by the script's bizarre nature, so much so that afterwards he left production, although in retrospect he mentioned lightheartedly, "I blew that [opportunity]."{{cite web|author1=The Director's Cut|title=Episode 7: The Big Short With Adam McKay and Paul Thomas Anderson by The Director's Cut|url=https://soundcloud.com/thedirectorscut/episode-7-the-big-short-with-adam-mckay-and-paul-thomas-anderson|website=SoundCloud|publisher=SoundCloud Ltd.|access-date=February 1, 2016|date=January 16, 2016|archive-date=April 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416082931/https://soundcloud.com/thedirectorscut/episode-7-the-big-short-with-adam-mckay-and-paul-thomas-anderson|url-status=live}}

Even though Anchorman is set in San Diego, the real San Diego is almost exclusively seen in brief aerial shots which visibly include numerous buildings in downtown San Diego which had not yet been built or opened during the 1970s. According to the official production notes and "making of" documentary (both included on the DVD), Anchorman was mainly filmed in Los Angeles, Glendale, and Long Beach on sets which were made to look like San Diego during the 1970s. The film does not explicitly state the year in which it takes place, but the characters knowing the lyrics to "Afternoon Delight", as well as a reference to Gene Tenace playing for the San Diego Padres, places the film in 1977 or shortly thereafter.{{cite web|url=https://movie-locations.com/movies/a/Anchorman.php|title=Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy|website=Movie Locations|access-date=June 19, 2023|archive-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620042536/https://movie-locations.com/movies/a/Anchorman.php|url-status=live}}

The film initially centered around the reporters tracking down a clumsy yet elusive group of hippie bank robbers known as "The Alarm Clock".{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/at-the-movies/a536455/wake-up-ron-burgundy-the-anchorman-sequel-you-probably-havent-seen.html |title=Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Anchorman sequel you probably haven't seen – Movies Blog |publisher=Digital Spy |date=December 14, 2013 |access-date=January 20, 2014}} This version of the film was met with poor test audience results, which Ferrell attributed to uncomfortable lampooning of the Patty Hearst kidnapping, and a significant portion of the film was re-written and re-shot to replace the Alarm Clock with the panda story that appeared in the final version. The original Alarm Clock version was re-edited, along with alternate takes of existing scenes and new narration, to form a separate direct-to-video film entitled Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie. It was released straight to DVD on December 28, 2004.{{cite web|title=Find The Film movie trivia|url=http://www.findthefilm.com/movies/anchorman_the_legend_of_ron_burgundy.php|access-date=June 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106043121/http://www.findthefilm.com/movies/anchorman_the_legend_of_ron_burgundy.php|archive-date=November 6, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |author=Sharf, Zack |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/will-ferrell-anchorman-original-ending-poor-test-screenings-1236063798// |title=Will Ferrell Says First 'Anchorman' Test Screening Tanked as Film Scored a 50/100: We 'Lost the Audience' With the Original Kidnapping Ending |work=Variety |date=July 9, 2024 |access-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709223405/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/will-ferrell-anchorman-original-ending-poor-test-screenings-1236063798/ |url-status=live }}

The physical appearance of the Ron Burgundy character may have been modeled after real-life news anchorman Harold Greene, who worked at KCST-TV and KGTV in San Diego during the mid-1970s and early 1980s.{{cite web|url=http://www.10news.com/entertainment/former-10news-anchor-jack-white-talks-about-consulting-on-anchorman-movie-050313 |title=Former 10News anchor Jack White talks about consulting on Anchorman movie – Entertainment Story |publisher=KGTV |access-date=January 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201220018/http://www.10news.com/entertainment/former-10news-anchor-jack-white-talks-about-consulting-on-anchorman-movie-050313 |archive-date=February 1, 2014 }} Prior to the release of the 2013 sequel to Anchorman retired news anchor Mort Crim, best known for his work at KYW-TV in Philadelphia and WDIV in Detroit, claimed that he was chosen by Ferrell as the inspiration for Ron Burgundy.{{cite web |author=Lee, Jolie |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2013/12/09/mort-crim-ron-burgundy-anchorman-will-ferrell/3889937/ |title=Meet Mort Crim: The inspiration for Will Ferrell's 'Anchorman' |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=December 9, 2013 |archive-date=December 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212071202/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2013/12/09/mort-crim-ron-burgundy-anchorman-will-ferrell/3889937/ |url-status=live }}

Among Crim's colleagues during his time in Philadelphia was Jessica Savitch, who would later go on to a prominent role at NBC News. Savitch served as a model for the character of Veronica Corningstone, played by Christina Applegate.

Although he does not appear in the final film, John C. Reilly attended an early read-through and impressed Ferrell so much that a part in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby was developed for him; he would later appear in the 2013 sequel.{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Mekado|title=SXSW 2015: Will Ferrell Discusses Fraternities, 'Get Hard' and More|url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/17/sxsw-2015-will-ferrell-answers-readers-questions/|website=New York Times|date=March 17, 2015|access-date=November 22, 2015|archive-date=September 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910152942/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/17/sxsw-2015-will-ferrell-answers-readers-questions/|url-status=live}}

Ferrell and McKay recorded an audio commentary for the film's home release which consists of random, mostly facetious discussions of no relevance to the film or its production.{{cite web |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/20-things-we-learned-from-the-anchorman-commentary-3f3c753f50d7/ |title=20 Things We Learned from the 'Anchorman' Commentary |publisher=Filmschoolrejects.com |date=June 27, 2013 |access-date=January 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413110751/http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/20-things-we-learned-from-the-anchorman-commentary.php |archive-date=April 13, 2015 |url-status=live }}

{{main|Anchorman: Music from the Motion Picture}}

The film's musical score was composed by Alex Wurman.{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Anchorman-Alex-Wurman/dp/B0002BO0Q2 |title=Anchorman: Alex Wurman, Various Artists: Music |website=Amazon |access-date=January 20, 2014 |archive-date=January 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114083121/http://www.amazon.com/Anchorman-Alex-Wurman/dp/B0002BO0Q2 |url-status=live }} A soundtrack album compiling the songs used in the film was released on July 9, 2004. The "jazz flute" solo heard in the film is played by Katisse Buckingham, a Los Angeles-based studio musician.{{cite web | url=http://www.katisse.com/bio.html | title=Bio | publisher=Katisse Buckingham | access-date=April 8, 2012 | archive-date=March 1, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301122139/http://www.katisse.com/bio.html | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=https://movies.yahoo.com/person/katisse-buckingham/ | title=Katisse Buckingham | publisher=Yahoo! Movies | access-date=April 8, 2012 | archive-date=November 6, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106020105/http://movies.yahoo.com/person/katisse-buckingham/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/288094/Anchorman/credits | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105115635/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/288094/Anchorman/credits | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 5, 2013 | department=Movies & TV Dept. | work=The New York Times | date=2013 | title=Anchorman (2004) | access-date=April 8, 2012}}

{{Anchor|Release|Reception}}

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy grossed $85,288,303 in North America, and $5,285,885 in other countries, for a worldwide total of $90,574,188.{{cite news | title = Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy | work = Box Office Mojo | url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=anchorman.htm | access-date = June 6, 2008 | archive-date = August 10, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170810060312/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=anchorman.htm | url-status = live }} In North America, the film opened at number two in its first weekend, with $28,416,365, behind Spider-Man 2.{{cite web |title=Domestic 2004 Weekend 28 |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2004W28/ |access-date=July 15, 2023 |publisher=Box Office Mojo |archive-date=July 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716004327/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2004W28/ |url-status=live }} In its second weekend, the film dropped to number three in the United States, grossing an additional $13,849,313.{{cite web |title=Weekend Box Office Results for July 16–18, 2004 |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2004&wknd=29&p=.htm |access-date=January 20, 2014 |publisher=Box Office Mojo |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116083847/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2004&wknd=29&p=.htm |url-status=live }} In its third weekend, the film dropped to number six in the United States, grossing $6,974,614.{{cite web |title=Weekend Box Office Results for July 23-25, 2004 |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2004&wknd=30&p=.htm |access-date=January 20, 2014 |publisher=Box Office Mojo |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106084520/http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2004&wknd=30&p=.htm |url-status=live }} In its fourth weekend, the film dropped to number nine in the United States, grossing $3,132,946.{{cite web |date=August 1, 2004 |title=Weekend Box Office Results for July 30 – August 1, 2004 |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2004&wknd=31&p=.htm |access-date=January 20, 2014 |publisher=Box Office Mojo |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116083841/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2004&wknd=31&p=.htm |url-status=live }} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade "B" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= Cinemascore |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= December 20, 2018 }}

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy received generally positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 66% based on 202 reviews, with an average rating of 6.30/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Filled with inspired silliness and quotable lines, Anchorman isn't the most consistent comedy in the world, but Will Ferrell's buffoonish central performance helps keep this portrait of a clueless newsman from going off the rails."{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/anchorman/ |title=Anchorman – The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (2004) |publisher=Fandango Media |work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=May 2, 2024 |archive-date=April 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425203636/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/anchorman |url-status=live }} Another review aggregation website, Metacritic, assigned a weighted average score of 63 out of 100, based on 38 reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy |title=Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Reviews |publisher=CBS Interactive |work=Metacritic |access-date=January 20, 2014 |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102162412/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy |url-status=live }}

The film is now considered by many to be one of the best comedy films of the 2000s.{{cite web |date=November 9, 2018 |title=The 35 Best Comedies of the 21st Century So Far |url=http://collider.com/best-comedies-of-the-21st-century-so-far/#anchorman |access-date=November 16, 2018 |website=Collider |archive-date=August 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828010857/https://collider.com/best-comedies-of-the-21st-century-so-far/#anchorman |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Adamczyk |first=Laura |date=July 11, 2016 |title=The 50 best comedies since 2000 |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-50-best-comedies-since-2000-1798250301 |access-date=November 17, 2018 |website=The A.V. Club |archive-date=March 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321144826/https://film.avclub.com/the-50-best-comedies-since-2000-1798250301 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |author1=Kevin Lincoln |author2=Scott Tobias |author3=Keith Phipps |author4=Noel Murray |author5=Jenna Scherer |author6=Amy Nicholson |author7=Tim Grierson |author8=Eric Hynes |author9=Bilge Ebiri |date=June 11, 2018 |title=50 Greatest Comedies of the 21st Century |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-lists/50-greatest-comedies-of-the-21st-century-630244/anchorman-2004-628006/ |access-date=November 17, 2018 |magazine=Rolling Stone |author10=David Fear |author11=Kory Grow |author12=Sean T. Collins |author13=Kristen Yoonsoo Kim |author14=Brian Tallerico |author15=Stephen Garrett |author16=Judy Berman |author17=Vikram Murthi |author18=Esther Zuckerman |author19=Jason Bailey |archive-date=April 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425191538/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-lists/50-greatest-comedies-of-the-21st-century-630244/anchorman-2004-628006 |url-status=live }} Empire magazine ranked Ron Burgundy #26 in their "The 100 Greatest Movie Characters" poll.{{cite news | title = The 100 Greatest Movie Characters | work = Empire | url = http://www.empireonline.com/100-greatest-movie-characters/default.asp?c=26 | access-date = December 2, 2008 }} Empire also ranked Anchorman at number 113 in their poll of the 500 Greatest Films Ever.{{cite web |url=http://www.empireonline.com/500/77.asp |title=Empire's 500 Greatest Movies Of All Time |publisher=Empireonline.com |date=December 5, 2006 |access-date=January 20, 2014 |archive-date=October 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015212510/http://www.empireonline.com/500/77.asp |url-status=live }} Entertainment Weekly ranked Burgundy #40 in their "The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years" poll and Ferrell said, "He is my favorite character I've played, if I have to choose one ... Looking back, that makes it the most satisfying thing I've ever done".{{cite magazine | last = Ferrell | first = Will | title = The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | page = 64 | date = June 4–11, 2010 }}

Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review, saying "Proving that even infantile humor can be funny, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy does make you laugh even if you hate yourself for doing so."{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/anchorman/reviews/?type=top_critics |title=Anchorman – The Legend Of Ron Burgundy – Movie Reviews |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=January 20, 2014}} Brian Lowry of Variety gave the film a positive review, saying "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."{{cite web|first=Brian |last=Lowry |url=https://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy-1200532507/ |title=Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy |work=Variety |date=June 29, 2004 |access-date=January 20, 2014}} Manohla Dargis of the Los Angeles Times gave the film a positive review, saying "Tightly directed by newcomer Adam McKay, a former head writer on Saturday Night Live who cooked up the screenplay with Ferrell, Anchorman never reaches the sublime heights of that modern comedy classic There's Something About Mary. Big deal—it's a hoot nonetheless and the scaled-down aspirations seem smart".{{cite news|last=Dargis |first=Manohla |title=Anchorman |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 9, 2004 |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-dargis9jul09,2,588852.story |access-date=May 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626161417/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-dargis9jul09%2C2%2C588852.story |archive-date=June 26, 2008 }} Claudia Puig of USA Today gave the film three out of four stars, saying "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".{{cite news | last = Puig | first = Claudia | title = Tune in to 'Anchorman' | work = USA Today | date = July 8, 2004 | url = https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2004-07-08-anchorman_x.htm | access-date = May 4, 2010 }} Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a C+, saying "Yet for a comedy set during the formative era of happy-talk news, Anchorman doesn't do enough to tweak the on-camera phoniness of dum-dum local journalism".{{cite magazine|last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |title=Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 7, 2004 |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,661411,00.html |access-date=December 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211123624/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C661411%2C00.html |archive-date=December 11, 2008 |url-status=dead }} Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave the film three out of four stars, saying "If you sense the presence of recycled jokes from Animal House onward, you'd be right. But you'd be wrong to discount the comic rapport Ferrell has with his cohorts, notably the priceless Fred Willard as the harried station manager".{{cite magazine | last = Travers | first = Peter | title = Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy | magazine = Rolling Stone | date = July 14, 2004 | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/6298127/review/6298160/anchorman_the_legend_of_ron_burgundy | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130202032644/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/6298127/review/6298160/anchorman_the_legend_of_ron_burgundy | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 2, 2013 | access-date = December 2, 2008 }} Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars, saying "Most of the time... Anchorman works, and a lot of the time it's very funny".{{cite news|last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=July 9, 2004 |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040709/REVIEWS/407090301/1023 |access-date=December 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211100625/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20040709%2FREVIEWS%2F407090301%2F1023 |archive-date=December 11, 2008 |url-status=live }}

James Berardinelli of ReelViews gave the film three out of four stars, saying "Ferrell carries the movie on his broad shoulders, nailing the character perfectly."{{cite web |url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/a/anchorman.html |title=Reelviews Movie Reviews |publisher=Reelviews.net |date=July 9, 2004 |access-date=January 20, 2014 |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130122209/http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/a/anchorman.html |url-status=live }} Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune gave the film two and a half stars out of four, saying "It's a cute, silly, likable movie without much weight or intensity, but it's also pretty funny."{{cite web|last=Wilmington |first=Michael |url=http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/movies/mmx-040707-movies-review-mw-anchorman,0,1966482.story |title=metromix.com – Chicago movie theaters, movie reviews, movie photos, movie news |access-date=January 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040813175611/http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/movies/mmx-040707-movies-review-mw-anchorman%2C0%2C1966482.story |archive-date=August 13, 2004 }} Ella Taylor of L.A. Weekly gave the film a negative review, saying "It's a long string of heavy-footed sight and sound gags that must have seemed a stitch at the drawing board, but made me squirm in my seat." Bill Muller of The Arizona Republic gave the film three out of four stars, saying "For every gag that works, there's one that doesn't, and the story is too thin to keep us engaged otherwise." Terry Lawson of the Detroit Free Press gave the film two out of four stars, saying "Little more than an extended Saturday Night Live skit with better wigs, real locations and a script that sputters as soon as its one-joke premise is exhausted."{{cite web|url=http://ae.freep.com/entertainment/ui/michigan/movie.html?id=150456&reviewid=15524 |title=Movie: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy |date=November 29, 2007 |access-date=January 20, 2014 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Rene Rodriguez of the Miami Herald gave the film two out of four stars, saying "It's a flat, dull picture marked by sporadic flashes of ridiculous brilliance." A.O. Scott of The New York Times gave the film three out of five stars, saying "It is not as maniacally uninhibited as Old School or as dementedly lovable as Elf, but its cheerful dumbness is hard to resist."{{cite news |first=A. O. |last=Scott |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/09/movies/film-review-when-the-hair-made-the-man.html |title=FILM REVIEW; When the Hair Made the Man |newspaper=New York Times |date=July 9, 2004 |access-date=January 20, 2014 |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224102345/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/09/movies/film-review-when-the-hair-made-the-man.html |url-status=live }} Stephen Cole of The Globe and Mail gave the film two and a half stars out of four, saying "Knights of Columbus! Wouldn't it be great if TV-based comedians weren't afraid of making movies that were funnier than they are?"{{cite web|author=Stephen Cole |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/movie/MOVIEREVIEWS/20040709/ANCHOR09 |title=Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=June 29, 2004 |access-date=January 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040805170108/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/movie/MOVIEREVIEWS/20040709/ANCHOR09 |archive-date=August 5, 2004 }} Geoff Pevere of the Toronto Star gave the film two out of five stars, saying "Like most of these sofa-spud comedies, Anchorman bears its attention-deficit disorder proudly, as it shifts tone and abruptly sidetracks."

Ty Burr of The Boston Globe gave the film two and a half stars out of four, saying "Sloppy, crude, pursuing the most far-flung tangents in hopes of a laugh, Anchorman still gave me more stupid giggles than I'd care to admit if I weren't paid to." Michael Booth of The Denver Post gave the film three and a half stars out of four, saying "Always affectionate toward its people, especially when they are at their most ridiculous, Anchorman meticulously builds America's dimmest news team. And we root for them." Jack Mathews of the New York Daily News gave the film three out of four stars, saying "As much credit as Ferrell deserves for keeping this nonsense from slipping off the screen, Applegate deserves as well." Megan Lehmann of the New York Post gave the film two out of four stars, saying "Ferrell is funny spouting his weird stream-of-consciousness rants, but too often the plot leaves him hanging and he resorts to just Yelling Really Loud." Jay Boyar of the Orlando Sentinel gave the film two out of five stars, saying "Most of it isn't even as funny as those supposedly humorous features that local news broadcasts sometimes end with." Joe Baltake of The Sacramento Bee gave the film three out of four stars, saying "There isn't a second that goes by without Ferrell filling it with some form of comic shtick – a well-turned punch line, a goofy facial expression, a pratfall or some other kind of physical comedy business." Moira MacDonald of The Seattle Times gave the film two out of four stars, saying "While the film is sporadically funny, it was done much better on the small screen, decades ago."{{cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Moira |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20040709/anchorman09/anchorman-plays-like-a-small-screen-rerun |title="Anchorman" plays like a small-screen rerun |work=Seattle Times Newspaper |date=July 9, 2004 |access-date=January 20, 2014 |archive-date=September 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922110730/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?slug=anchorman09&date=20040709 |url-status=live }} Anna Smith of Time Out gave the film a positive review, saying "Takes a joke and runs with it – sometimes too far, but usually long enough to wear you down and force you to submit to its craziness."{{cite web|first=Anna |last=Smith |url=http://www.timeout.com/london/film/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy |title=Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy |work=Time Out London |date=September 10, 2012 |access-date=January 20, 2014}}

In the years following its release, Anchorman has reached cult status,{{cite news |last1=Barber |first1=Nicholas |title=Well that escalated slowly: The cult of Anchorman |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/well-that-escalated-slowly-the-cult-of-anchorman-8973253.html |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=The Independent |date=December 1, 2013 |quote=For one thing, there's the abundance of lines which barely register when you first hear them – 'You stay classy, San Diego', say, or 'Sixty per cent of the time, it works every time' – but which have since been repeated often enough to assume catch-phrase status.}} with the film being described as a "cult comedy",{{cite web |last1=Dolak |first1=Kevin |title=Anchorman 2 Confirmed: Will Ferrell Announces Sequel to Cult Comedy Favorite |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/03/anchorman-2-confirmed-will-ferrell-announces-sequel-to-cult-comedy-favorite |publisher=ABC News |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=March 29, 2012 |quote=cult comedy favorite 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy'}} a "cult classic",{{cite news |last1=Sinha-Roy |first1=Piya |title=Anchorman 2 revives cult classic, but has Ron Burgundy sold out? |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/anchorman-2-revives-cult-classic-but-has-ron-burgundy-sold-out-idUSBRE9BH032/ |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=Reuters |date=December 18, 2013}} a "cult hit",{{cite news |last1=Buckwalter |first1=Ian |title=Ron Burgundy, Still A Legend In His Own Tiny Mind |url=https://www.npr.org/2013/12/17/251645698/ron-burgundy-still-a-legend-in-his-own-tiny-mind |access-date=November 3, 2024 |publisher=NPR |date=December 17, 2013 |quote=But Anchorman didn't go from modest box-office success to quotable cult hit because of Burgundy's redemption.}} and having a cult or cult-like following{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Scott A. |title=Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy |url=https://exclaim.ca/film/article/anchorman_legend_of_ron_burgundy-directed_by_adam_mckay |website=Exclaim! |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=August 16, 2013 |quote=[N]othing clearly indicated that the story of a prototypical privileged white American male – vain, misogynistic, prodigiously ignorant and oh-so-successful – would ... develop the kind of cult following for a dirty comedy not seen since The Big Lebowski{{nbsp}}....}}{{cite web |last1=Eisenberg |first1=Eric |title=10 Hilarious Anchorman Lines We're All Still Quoting Today |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/10-Hilarious-Anchorman-Lines-We-re-All-Still-Quoting-Today-40796.html |website=CinemaBlend |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=December 19, 2013 |quote=Medium-sized as the movie's initial audience may have been, it has exponentially grown in size in the nine years since, and it has a cult-like following that can quote exact lines for hours on end. And it's that quotability that has allowed the film to permeate through the veins of pop culture over the last decade.}}{{cite news |last1=Fernandez |first1=Jay A. |title=Anchorman Director Adam McKay Reveals the Sequel Backstory (Q&A) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/anchorman-sequel-adam-mckay-will-ferrell-310120/ |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 11, 2012 |quote=[T]he film's quotable lines and 1970s San Diego TV news setting helped generate a cult following on DVD}}{{cite news |last1=Marechal |first1=AJ |title=Ron Burgundy to Appear on Conan |url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/ron-burgundy-to-appear-on-conan-1200778416/ |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=Variety |date=October 30, 2013 |quote='Anchorman,' the comedy that amassed a cult-like following, slew of quotes and costumes, and transformed Ron Burgundy into a viral legend of a character}} by the time its sequel was released in 2013; such characterizations have been reiterated since then.{{cite news |last1=Lang |first1=Brent |title=Deadpool to Pummel Box Office Competition Over President's Weekend |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/box-office/deadpool-box-office-opening-presidents-weekend-1201701261/ |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=Variety |date=February 9, 2016 |quote=In comparison, 'Anchorman 2,' another follow-up to a cult comedy earned $26.2 million when it debuted in 2013.}}{{cite web |title=Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy |url=https://www.viennale.at/en/films/anchorman-legend-ron-burgundy |website=Vienna International Film Festival |access-date=November 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421080059/https://www.viennale.at/en/films/anchorman-legend-ron-burgundy |archive-date=April 21, 2024 |quote=This cult comedy launched the stratospheric careers of Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and Steve Carell{{nbsp}}.... |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Rose |first1=Lacey |title=Will Ferrell Just Wants to Entertain You (and Himself) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/feature/will-ferrell-shrink-next-door-christmas-carol-spirited-1235037010/ |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 28, 2021 |quote=In remarkably quick succession, he released two more cult classics: 2004's Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy{{nbsp}}....}}{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Colette |title=The Original Scrapped Version Of Anchorman Actually Sounds Amazing |url=https://screenrant.com/anchorman-original-version-alive-parody-scrapped/ |website=Screen Rant |access-date=November 2, 2024 |date=July 12, 2024 |quote=[T]he Anchorman we know today is a cult classic with iconic comedic moments and a strong cast. ... Critics had mixed responses to Adam McKay's directorial debut when it released in 2004. However, the movie has since become a much-quoted cult classic{{nbsp}}....}}

Anchorman is known for its quotability, containing many memorable lines,{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Robert |title=The 15 Best Quotes in Anchorman, Ranked |url=https://collider.com/anchorman-best-quotes/ |website=Collider |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=August 16, 2024 |quote=While many comedies of the 2000s can claim the virtue of having numerous quotable moments, there is a fair argument that Anchorman may be the most quotable comedy of the era.}}{{cite news |last1=Goodykoontz |first1=Bill |title=Laughs come and go, but local news never changes: Why Anchorman holds up after 20 years |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/movies/billgoodykoontz/2024/07/09/anchorman-at-20-will-ferrell/74257479007/ |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=July 9, 2024 |quote=The film is a quote machine. 'Boy, that escalated quickly.' 'I don't know how to put this, but I'm kind of a big deal.' 'They've done studies, you know; 60% of the time it works every time.'}}

{{cite web |title=Anchorman{{'}}s Greatest Gift to Cinema Is How Quotable It Is {{!}} CineFix Top 100 |url=https://www.ign.com/videos/anchormans-greatest-gift-to-cinema-is-how-quotable-it-is-cinefix-top-100 |website=IGN |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=October 6, 2024}} and it has been called one of the most quotable comedies{{cite web |last1=Fashingbauer Cooper |first1=Gael |title=Stay classy, Will Ferrell: Anchorman 2 offers more catchy quotes |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/stay-classy-will-ferrell-anchorman-2-offers-more-catchy-quotes-2d11767029 |website=Today |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=December 18, 2013 |quote='Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,' has to be one of the most quotable comedies of the modern era{{nbsp}}....}}{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Jia Yee Bridgette |title=Anchorman and 9 Other Most Quotable Comedy Films Of All Time |url=https://collider.com/most-quotable-comedy-films/ |website=Collider |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=May 25, 2022}} as well as one of the most quotable films in general.{{cite web |last1=Frank |first1=Michael |title=These classic movies turn 20 in 2024 |url=https://www.nme.com/features/film-features/these-classic-movies-turn-20-in-2024-3585034 |website=NME |access-date=November 2, 2024 |date=February 10, 2024 |quote=Anchorman, one of the most quotable movies of all time}}{{cite web |last1=Urquhart |first1=Jeremy |title=The 10 Most Quotable Screenplays of the 21st Century, Ranked |url=https://collider.com/quotable-21st-century-screenplays-ranked/ |website=Collider |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=April 3, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Jeremy |title=The 50 most quotable films of all time |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_50_most_quotable_films_of_all_time/s1__29266412 |website=Yardbarker |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=August 15, 2019}} Well-known lines include "boy, that escalated quickly",{{cite web |title=The 100 Greatest Movie Quotes of the 21st Century |url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/best-movie-quotes |website=Thrillist |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=April 14, 2021}} "60% of the time, it works every time",{{cite web |last1=Giles |first1=Jeff |title=25 Memorable Movie Lines of the Last 25 Years |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-25-memorable-movie-lines-of-the-last-25-years/ |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=May 3, 2023}} "milk was a bad choice",{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Maria |title=Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy – "Milk was a bad choice" |url=https://www.acmi.net.au/stories-and-ideas/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy-a-bad-choice/ |website=ACMI |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=January 1, 2021}} and "I love lamp".{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Troy L. |title=50 greatest movie quotes of the 21st century |url=https://www.cleveland.com/life-and-culture/erry-2018/08/d5bac062c27795/50-greatest-movie-quotes-of-th.html |website=Cleveland.com |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=August 22, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Macke |first1=Johnni |title=Anchorman Turns 15 & We're in a Glass Case of Emotion Thanks to These Iconic Quotes |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1055042/anchorman-turns-15-we-re-in-a-glass-case-of-emotion-thanks-to-these-iconic-quotes |website=E! News |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=July 9, 2019}} Ferrell stated in 2013 that he had no idea that the film would take off like it did, saying "We had no idea that certain lines would be quoted the way they are and that the film would just take on this life after it left theatres, but thank God it did."{{cite web|last=Browning |first=Justine |url=http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/talking-cast-anchorman-2-legend-continues-nyc-premiere/|title=Talking To The Cast And Director Of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues At The NYC Premiere|website=We Got This Covered |date=December 19, 2013|access-date=December 22, 2013}}

BBC presenter Andrew Marr (in 2021) and Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan (in 2023) both closed the final broadcast of their long tenures at their respective channels (21 years and 15 years, respectively) with a reference to Ron Burgundy's signature closing line "Stay classy, San Diego".{{cite news |last1=Wolfe-Robinson |first1=Maya |title='Stay classy, San Diego': Andrew Marr signs off from BBC with Anchorman line |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/dec/19/stay-classy-san-diego-andrew-marr-signs-off-bbc-anchorman |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=December 19, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Martin-Pavitt |first1=Ross |title='You stay classy San Diego': Andrew Marr signs off final show with BBC |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/you-stay-classy-san-diego-andrew-marr-signs-off-final-show-with-bbc-b2178319.html |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=The Independent |date=December 19, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Charlotte |title=Dermot Murnaghan signs off from Sky News by referencing Anchorman film |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/dermot-murnaghan-sky-news-will-ferrell-christina-applegate-philip-b2292008.html |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=The Independent |date=March 1, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Hines |first1=Dominique |title='Stay classy, Planet Earth': Dermot Murnaghan signs off on final Sky News show with Anchorman film quote |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/sky-news-dermot-murnaghan-anchorman-film-quote-b1064090.html |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=Evening Standard |date=March 2, 2023}}

Some Anchorman quotes served as the basis for Internet memes such as "Well, that escalated quickly" (also referred to as "That escalated quickly"), which is a variation on the aforementioned quote from the film,{{cite web |last1=Plante |first1=Chris |title=Why Anchorman{{'}}s 'that escalated quickly' escalated quickly |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/21/11474470/anchorman-quote-that-escalated-quickly-meme |website=The Verge |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=April 21, 2016}}{{cite web |last1=Kiley |first1=Rachel |title=How did 'well that escalated quickly' become such a popular internet meme? |url=https://www.dailydot.com/news/well-that-escalated-quickly/ |website=The Daily Dot |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=November 12, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Biery |first1=Christopher |title=10 Iconic Movie Quotes That Became Hilarious Memes |url=https://collider.com/best-movie-quotes-memes/ |website=Collider |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=February 22, 2023}} and "I'm not even mad; that's amazing".{{cite web |last1=West |first1=Phil |title=Anchorman memes: They're kind of a big deal |url=https://www.dailydot.com/news/anchorman-memes/ |website=The Daily Dot |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=April 15, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Land |first1=Ashley |title=10 Movie Scenes That Became Instant Memes |url=https://www.cbr.com/movie-scenes-that-became-memes/ |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=December 25, 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Chrysostomou |first1=George |title=10 Anchorman Memes That Are Too Hilarious For Words |url=https://screenrant.com/hilarious-anchorman-movie-memes/ |website=Screen Rant |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=November 28, 2019}}

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy was released on VHS and DVD (as well as an unrated DVD) on December 28, 2004 by DreamWorks Home Entertainment.{{cite web|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Anchorman-The-Legend-of-Ron-Burgundy-DVD/11201/ |title=Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy DVD: Unrated Widescreen Edition |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=January 20, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Anchorman-The-Legend-Ron-Burgundy/dp/B00061QK16 |title=Anchorman – The Legend of Ron Burgundy [VHS]: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Fred Willard, Chris Parnell, Kathryn Hahn, Fred Armisen, Seth Rogen, Paul F. Tompkins, Danny Trejo, Thomas E. Ackerman, Adam McKay, David B. Householter, David O. Russell, Judd Apatow, Shauna Robertson: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |access-date=January 20, 2014}} It was released on Blu-ray on March 15, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Anchorman-The-Legend-of-Ron-Burgundy-Blu-ray/19768/ |title=Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Blu-ray |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=January 20, 2014}} Ahead of the 20th anniversary of its release, Paramount Home Entertainment released the film on 4K UHD on July 2, 2024.

{{Main|Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues}}

A sequel, titled Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, was released on December 18, 2013.{{cite magazine |last=Barrett |first=Annie |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/11/27/anchorman-2-release-date/ |title='Anchorman 2' gets new release date | Inside Movies |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=November 27, 2013 |access-date=January 20, 2014 |archive-date=January 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118082104/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/11/27/anchorman-2-release-date/ |url-status=live }} Adam McKay, the director of the first film, returned as director. The main cast, including Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, and Christina Applegate reprised their roles. New cast included Meagan Good, James Marsden and Kristen Wiig.

• Anchorman: Music from the Motion Picture
• Frat Pack
• List of media set in San Diego

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• [http://www.anchormanmovie.com/ AnchormanMovie.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024191055/http://www.anchormanmovie.com/ |date=October 24, 2013 }} – Official Website
• {{AFI film|62970|Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy}}
• {{IMDb title|0357413|Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy}}
• {{TCMDb title|411876}}
• {{mojo title|anchorman|Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy}}
• {{rotten-tomatoes|anchorman|Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy}}
• {{Metacritic film|title=Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy}}

{{Anchorman (film series)}}

{{Adam McKay}}

{{Judd Apatow}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anchorman 2004}}

Category:Anchorman (film series)

Category:American films with live action and animation

Category:American comedy films

Category:American satirical films

Category:Apatow Productions films

Category:DreamWorks Pictures films

Category:2000s English-language films

Category:Films about television

Category:Films set in San Diego

Category:Films set in 1977

Category:Films shot in California

Category:Films shot in Los Angeles

Category:Films about journalism

Category:Films about the mass media in the United States

Category:Films directed by Adam McKay

Category:Films scored by Alex Wurman

Category:Films produced by Judd Apatow

Category:Films with screenplays by Adam McKay

Category:Films with screenplays by Will Ferrell

Category:2000s American films

Category:2004 directorial debut films

Category:2004 films

Category:2004 comedy films

Category:Films set in television stations