Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
An outrageously self-important 1970s news anchor faces professional collapse when a talented woman joins his all-male television team.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- absurdist
- lazy sunday
- group comedy night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film an uneven but highly quotable comedy elevated by Will Ferrell's committed buffoonish performance and a strong supporting ensemble.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Veronica Corningstone's arrival challenges Ron Burgundy's entrenched authority at Channel 4 and turns promotion into a battle over gender.
Ron treats his anchorman status, charisma, and masculinity as unquestionable until Veronica's success and his demotion destabilize him.
The Channel 4 team combines Ron's grandiosity with Brick's dimness, Champ's macho sports persona, and Brian's flamboyant vanity.
The film depicts San Diego television news as a status-driven boys' club during the era when women were entering prominent newsroom roles.
Films like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and why
The Devil Wears Prada
shared screwball comedy, workplace rivalry, battle of the sexes, and an overconfident male protagonist confronting changing social norms
The Other Guys
shared ensemble comedy, quotable absurdist humor, professional competition, and charismatic incompetent characters
The Nice Guys
shared 1970s setting, irreverent comedy, male ego, and satire of changing gender roles
Tropic Thunder
shared workplace comedy, ensemble chemistry, outrageous set pieces, and satirical treatment of professional status
Movie Details
- Director
- Adam McKay
- Release Date
- 2004-06-28
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (4770)
Cast
- Will Ferrell
- Christina Applegate
- Paul Rudd
- Steve Carell
- David Koechner
- Fred Willard
- Chris Parnell
- Kathryn Hahn
- Fred Armisen
- Seth Rogen
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy about?
- An outrageously self-important 1970s news anchor faces professional collapse when a talented woman joins his all-male television team.
- What is Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy as mild.
- What did critics think of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy?
- Critics generally found the film an uneven but highly quotable comedy elevated by Will Ferrell's committed buffoonish performance and a strong supporting ensemble.
- Which films are like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy?
- Films with a similar feel include The Devil Wears Prada, The Other Guys, The Nice Guys, and Tropic Thunder.
- How long is Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy?
- Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy?
- In United States, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy streams on Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel.
