Will Ferrell's 10 best films

Will Ferrell is one of the funniest actors of his generation, with a list of successful comedy films that have aged brilliantly. Will Ferrell first came to prominence as a cast member in Saturday night live in the 1990s. He had some minor film roles during this period, such as his memorable cameos in two Austin Powers films and his extravagant villainous role in Zoolander, but he didn't make his best films until he left SNL.

Will Ferrell's best comedy films often see him playing ignorant childish characters, as in Talladega Nights: Ricky Bobby's Ballad and Step Brothers. Ferrell may opt for crude comedy, slapstick and broad humor, but he's also smart and reserved when he needs to be. This subtle variety means that Ferrell's biggest hits are more varied than they might first appear, with animated films, sports comedies and more showing that he has endless ways to make his audience laugh.

10

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

Haroldo Crick

Stranger than fiction It doesn't get as much attention as many of Will Ferrell's other comedy films, as it has a slightly different style than what he's used to, but it's still a charming and quirky story that deserves more love. Ferrell plays a man who begins to hear a woman's voice narrating his life and soon discovers that he is a character in someone's novel. The author in question is played by Emma Thompson.

Ferrell gives a more reserved performance than usual in Stranger than fiction, and it's surprisingly effective. There are times when the premise of a man being controlled by an omniscient narrator indulges in a bit of farce, but Stranger than fiction turns out to be a surprisingly intelligent film about the age-old debate about destiny and determinism. It's still a great comedy, but it's more serious and upbeat than many of Ferrell's other films.

9

Old School (2003)

Frank “The Tank” Ricard

Old school was Will Ferrell's first leading role, although he made memorable contributions to a few films while still a cast member of Saturday night live. Ferrell began his post-SNL career with a raucous college comedy, and it remains one of his funniest films. He stars alongside Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn as a group of friends who try to relive their college days by starting a fraternity at a nearby college.

Will Ferrell's wildcard character steals the show in Old school. While Luke Wilson does an admirable job of playing straight, Ferrell and Vince Vaughn have more freedom to get weird and rise to the occasion. Old school is a typical college date movie in many ways, indulging in slapstick whenever possible, but it works wonderfully well. Ferrell shows early and often that he is the funniest part of the film.

8

Step Brothers (2008)

Brennan Huff

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly have worked together many times over the years, but Half-siblings is the only film that showcases their hilarious chemistry better than any other. They play two male child characters who are forced to live together when they become stepbrothers, as they both still live with their parents. They start out as enemies but soon become friends, which is even more destructive.

Half-siblings revels in immature humor and asks the audience to root for its dysfunctional main characters. They are the two childish clowns who make light of a world that wants to force them to grow up and fit into a cubicle. Somehow, Ferrell and Reilly are charming enough to pull this off, and their misjudged antics are a joy to watch. The ridiculous but strangely captivating musical performance at the end sums up the film's approach.

7

Megamind (2010)

Megamind

Will Ferrell has had a few voice roles in animated filmsincluding Curious George and 2024 Despicable Me 4but The Lego Movie and Megamind are by far his most prominent voice roles. While he plays the villain opposite Chris Pratt in The Lego Movie, Megamind gives him a starring role. He's still a villain, but just like in Despicable Me, the villain is the main character.

Megamind has become more popular over the years, thanks in part to the meme-worthy moments that have spread across the internet. However, Megamind it must be appreciated for what it is. Since the comparisons Despicable Me can be placed aside, Megamind ends up being a funny take on the superhero genre. Ferrell declined to return for the sequel, which was probably a wise choice since Megamind vs. The Syndicate of Doom was eviscerated by critics.

6

The Other Guys (2010)

Detective Allen Gamble

The other guys It's a great crime comedymaking the most of the unlikely duo of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. The other guys begins with what could be a glimpse of a much cooler movie, with Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson playing two tough detectives with a propensity for blowing things up and making cool jokes. After they die, Ferrell and Wahlberg's much weaker detectives must take responsibility.

The other guys There are a lot of great jokes included in the script, but some of its funniest ideas can't be summed up in a quote. Ferrell's character is married to Eva Longoria and seems to resent her for some reason. Michael Keaton's Captain keeps quoting TLC lyrics, although he seems oblivious to the fact. Johnson and Jackson's hero cops die in the most absurdly hilarious way possible. These are just some of the fun jokes that keep popping up The other guys, giving the film a lot of originality, even if the detective genre has already been destroyed.

5

Blades of Glory (2007)

Chazz Michael Michaels

Will Ferrell has made a habit of appearing in sports comedies, especially those that focus on esoteric sports that few people watch. Blades of Glory It's one of his best. He plays arrogant playboy Chazz Michael Michaels, who is forced to compete in the world's first same-sex figure skating couple with his rival, Jimmy MacElroy. Chazz and Jimmy are perfect opposites, which drives the tension and comedy of Blades of Glory.

Will Ferrell and Jon Heder are great to watch Blades of Glory, and they play off each other's characters with much comic cunning. Jimmy MacElroy is the more likable of the two, which allows Ferrell to get plenty of laughs as a boorish, self-obsessed idiot. Although their comedic chemistry keeps the dialogue enjoyable Blades of Glory There are also some fun moments of physical comedy on the ice.

4

Barbie (2023)

CEO of Mattel

When Will Ferrell appeared in BarbieIt had been many years since he had done his funniest comedies. Although he doesn't have a starring role in Greta Gerwig's Oscar-nominated comedy, Ferrell's supporting role is enough to remind audiences that he's as funny as ever. Margot Robbie plays a Barbie who escapes the confines of Barbieland, and Ferrell plays the unnamed CEO of Mattel who tries to put her back in a box and cover up the whole situation.

The CEO of Mattel is just one of many people Barbie meets in the real world who show her the pervasive evils of the patriarchy. Ferrell's performance is what helps the character stand out. Barbie has a great cast, but Ferrell leaves his mark on the film with an absurd chase scene through the Mattel offices and some jokes that highlight how funny he can be when playing a villain, as he does in The Lego Movie and Zoolander.

3

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Ricky Bobby

Will Ferrell is often funniest when given the chance to play obnoxious jerks like Ricky Bobby, so it makes sense that Talladega Nights still stands as one of his best films. Ricky Bobby is a negative stereotype of stupid NASCAR drivers, until he faces a crisis that forces him to actually undergo some personal growth, even though he lacks the introspective skills necessary to do so.

Talladega Nights is full of funny quotes, many of which are equally amusing when stripped of their context. Ferrell adopts a deadpan style that highlights some of the most ridiculous and ignorant things that Ricky Bobby sincerely believes. Alongside Ferrell is his frequent co-star John C. Reilly, and they're joined by Sacha Baron Cohen, Gary Cole and Michael Clarke Duncan, all of whom get their fair share of jokes in the fast-paced comedy.

2

Elf (2003)

Partner

Elf has managed to make its way into the annual Christmas movie rotation in millions of homes around the world and continues to get better with age. The Christmas classic stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised among the elves in Santa's workshop who travels to New York to find his biological family. It's a hilarious fish-out-of-water story that allows Ferrell to deliver a big, exuberant performance that still manages to tug at the heartstrings when needed.

One reason why Elf works so well is that Ferrell is surrounded by a cast geared to make the most of his spectacular performance. The godfather star James Caan is the perfect straight man to corral Ferrell's playful buffoonery. Like all great Christmas movies, however, Elf In the end, he puts his cynicism aside. It's unusual for a Will Ferrell comedy to be so emotionally sincere, but Elf strip.

1

Host: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Ron Burgundy

Presenter: The Legend of Ron Burgundy It's not just Will Ferrell's best film. It also benefits from exceptional performances from Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner and Christina Applegate. Ferrell is in top form as obnoxious reporter Ron Burgundy, whose life is thrown out of order when a woman gets a job as co-anchor. This rattles the cage of an ignorant misogynist who believes that reading the news makes him a big celebrity.

Anchor it was almost a very different film, with a draft script that saw Ron and his team stranded after a plane crash. Fortunately, the story remains grounded in the writing, and that means the comedy can run wild. Anchor is one of the most quoted comedies of all time, but it also features some hilarious physical comedy, like the surreal street fight between rival news teams. The sequel failed to reach such high standards, but Anchor It's still as funny as ever.