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Whether it’s Frank the Tank, Buddy, Ron Burgundy, or a one-scene wonder like Chazz Reinhold, Will Ferrell is a comedic wizard. With a keen ability to physically embody the varying energies of the characters he inhabits, his talents have been unparalleled throughout his career, perhaps even undervalued. To pay tribute to the actor and producer, who is celebrating his 55th birthday, Variety is ranking the 12 best film performances of his career so far.
Ferrell started with the Los Angeles-based improvisational group The Groundlings before getting his big break on NBC’s long-running sketch comedy “Saturday Night Live.” He was a cast member from 1995 to 2002, where he anchored some of the best sketches, including “More Cowbell” with Christopher Walken and the hilarious digital short “Dissing Your Dog.” For his penultimate season, he received his first Emmy nom for outstanding individual performance in a variety or music program (which is no longer active).
After “SNL,” his star continued to grow. With over three dozen film roles, Ferrell’s movies have collectively grossed over $2.7 billion worldwide, placing him in the top 100 of any actor. Some of those memorable roles include fashion antagonist Jacobim Mugatu in “Zoolander” (2001) and NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby in “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” (2006). But he’s also showcased more than his comedic side.
Continuing my long-held theory that some of our greatest comedians can often be our most gifted dramatic actors, Ferrell showed his ability to convey emotion and a refreshing sense of mortality in Marc Forster’s “Stranger Than Fiction” (2006), which earned him his second consecutive Golden Globe nomination following the film adaptation of the Broadway musical “The Producers” (2005).
Without many other swings at deeply complex characters, he still has opportunities to surprise cinephiles, especially as he moves deeper into the producing realm. Now an Emmy-winning producer for HBO’s “Succession” and the Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig comedy “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” (2021), he has interesting projects on the horizon including the Sundance flick “Am I OK?” with Dakota Johnson and co-starring with Ryan Reynolds in “Spirited,” a musical version of the Charles Dickens story.
Read Variety’s ranking of Ferrell’s 12 best film performances below. Also: watch the best scene from each selection by clicking on the picture.
Honorable mentions: “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” (2020), “Melinda and Melinda” (2004), “Wedding Crashers” (2005)
Kicking & Screaming (2003)
Role: Phil Weston
Director: Jesse Dylan
Writer(s): Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick
Distributor: Universal PicturesThe scene that proves it: “You go to hell, and while you’re there, get me a juice box.”
This Jesse Dylan sports comedy has more of a reputation for causing two searches on IMDb, often getting confused with Noah Baumbach’s “Kicking and Screaming” (1995), minus the ampersand. But once found, Ferrell’s soccer coach that tells his team to “break some clavicles” is probably one of his more underrated (and underseen) comedic beats. If not experienced, it’s well worth your time.
Megamind (2010)
Role: Megamind
Director: Tom McGrath
Writer(s): Alan Schoolcraft, Brent Simons
Distributor: Paramount PicturesThe scene that proves it: “Ah yes, the spee-ider. Even the smallest bite from Arachnus Deathicus will instantly paralyze.”
In an industry that continues to not value the work of voice-acting enough, Tom McGrath’s funny and heartwarming animated comedy — in which Ferrell takes on the titular evil genius — really stands out in a pre-oversaturated MCU world of superhero movies. With a finely tuned ensemble including Tina Fey, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and David Cross, the slick medium still has all the right moves.
The LEGO Movie (2014)
Role: Lord Business / The Man Upstairs
Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Writer(s): Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Dan Hagerman, Kevin Hagerman
Distributor: Warner BrosThe scene that proves it: Revealing Lord Business’ plan
A combination of voice-work and live-action, Will Ferrell’s high-pitched whine gives the villainous Lord Business personality and redemption. When his father figure is revealed in the Phil Lord and Chris Miller comedy, he’s able to balance and execute without overcooking the cinematic meal.
Zoolander (2003)
Role: Jacobim Mugatu
Director: Ben Stiller
Writer(s): Drake Sather, Ben Stiller, John Hamburg
Distributor: Paramount PicturesThe scene that proves it: “Foamy latte”
Directed, co-written and starring Ben Stiller, Ferrell’s overzealous villain Jacobim is a riot. It took much longer for people to discover “Zoolander’s” charm, as it opened in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, but its dedicated fans have been passionate and loud, keeping it alive for new discoveries with upcoming generations.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Role: Ricky Bobby
Director: Adam McKay
Writer(s): Will Ferrell, Adam McKay
Distributor: Sony PicturesThe scene that proves it: “Dear Lord Baby Jesus”
Produced by Judd Apatow and Jimmy Miller, the NASCAR driver who’s only focus is on winning has Ferrell leading another perfect ensemble with John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Amy Adams, the late Michael Clarke Duncan and more. With all the product placements for Wonder Bread and Powerade, along with cameos by racing legends Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jamie McMurray, the film is always worth a few laps.
Blades of Glory (2007)
Role: Chazz Michael Michaels
Director: Will Speck, Josh Gordon
Writer(s): Jeff Cox, Craig Cox, John Altschuler, Dave Krinsky, Busy Philipps
Distributor: Paramount PicturesThe scene that proves it: “They laughed at Louis Armstrong when he said he was gonna go to the moon. Now he’s up there laughing at them.”
The “Fire and Ice” routine with the musical backdrop of Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” is enough for Ferrell’s ice skating sports flick to get a spot on the list. With partner Jon Heder in his post-Napoleon Dynamite outing along with Will Arnett, Amy Poehler and others, love for “Blades of Glory” has only grown over the years.
The Other Guys (2010)
Role: Detective Allen “Gator” Gamble
Director: Adam McKay
Writer(s): Adam McKay, Chris Henchy
Distributor: Sony PicturesThe scene that proves it: “Gator don’t play no sh*t.”
As the paper-pushing detective with a troubled past as a pimp, Ferrell designs a complicated man who battles a life where Eva Mendes is his wife, Mark Wahlberg is a Derek Jeter-shooting mess and a Prius inspires him to yell “America!” One rule still remains, “Gator’s bitches better be using Jimmies.”
The cop-comedy will always hold a special place in my heart personally because it’s the film my wife and I went to go see during our honeymoon. Not particularly romantic but utterly memorable.
Step Brothers (2008)
Role: Brennan Huff
Director: Adam McKay
Writer(s): Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, John C. Reilly
Distributor: Sony PicturesThe scene that proves it: “I’m going to take a pillowcase, and fill it with bars of soap, and beat the sh*t out of you.”
John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell. Period. End of sentence. The hysterical antics of two 40-year-olds who still live at home continues to get better even almost 15 years later (huh?). Between building bunk beds, fighting elementary school kids, pursuing the love of his therapist (played by Andrea Savage) and touching his stepbrother’s drum set, nearly every moment lingers. Serving as a screenwriter for the movie, along with Reilly and director Adam McKay, it stands as my favorite outing of his in the comedy realm, bolstered by co-stars Mary Steenburgen, Adam Scott, Richard Jenkins and Kathryn Hahn.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Role: Ron Burgundy
Director: Adam McKay
Writer(s): Will Ferrell, Adam McKay
Distributor: DreamWorks PicturesThe scene that proves it: “It stings the nostrils.”
Many will point to Ferrell’s news anchor as the most significant work of his comedic career, redefining the term “wall-to-wall comedy.” Depending on the day, they would be correct, but today, it’s most certainly in the top-tier of his filmography. While the existence of the direct-to-video counterpart “Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie” elevates it, the standalone effort is a stomach-hurting venture. He leads a bombastic cast that includes Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, Christina Applegate and David Koechner, making the character synonymous with his legacy. In addition, the movie gets extra points because he brought the iconic role to the Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber, which I still rewatch every few months.
Old School (2003)
Role: Frank “The Tank” Ricard
Director: Todd Phillips
Writer(s): Todd Phillips, Scot Armstrong, Court Crandall
Distributor: DreamWorks PicturesThe scene that proves it: “We’re going streaking…”
Quotable movies ripple in history, and that’s the case with Todd Phillips’ college comedy that has Ferrell going streaking through the quad and letting the world know, “You’re my boy, Blue!” It showcases the actor’s comedic brilliance, working expertly off his co-stars Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn. The hilarious movie even exhibits Ferrell singing an extraordinary rendition of Kansas’s classic song “Dust in the Wind,” which may surpass the television series “Highlander” as the best use of the track ever.
Elf (2003)
Role: Buddy
Director: Jon Favreau
Writer(s): David Berenbaum
Distributor: New Line CinemaThe scene that proves it: “I just like to smile, smiling’s my favorite.”
Who doesn’t love a Christmas classic that shows Will Ferrell sitting on Bob Newhart’s lap? In director Jon Favreau’s hilarious comedy, Ferrell plays Buddy, a human who is adopted by Santa’s elves and eventually ventures into the world to find his biological father (played by the late great James Caan). With a cast that includes Ed Asner as Santa and Zooey Deschanel as a singing love interest, the movie has become a staple watch of the holiday season (and also outside of it).
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Role: Harold Crick
Director: Marc Forster
Writer(s): Zach Helm
Distributor: Sony Pictures ReleasingThe scene that proves it: “I want you.”
The first leading dramatic role of Ferrell’s career was with director Marc Forster, coming off getting Halle Berry an Oscar for “Monster’s Ball” (2001) and earning a best picture nom for “Finding Neverland” (2004). Standing confidently alongside Oscar winners Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman, in addition to electric chemistry with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ferrell’s interpretation of Zach Helm’s exquisite script demonstrates a restrained execution. Not showing any signs of his usual comic tricks, Ferrell’s portrayal of an IRS auditor who becomes the subject of narration only he can hear is sensitively sublime — resulting in an offering that provides a superb examination of life, death and the mystery of tomorrow. The way he kisses Gyllenhaal in bed whispering, “I adore you,” gets me every time.
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