Will Ferrell is a household name. He’s given comedy some of the best content, both from his recurring role on Saturday Night Live and his movies. He began his on-screen work in the mid-’90s and progressed through the early part of his career in both television and film, eventually earning enough to rank among the top 100 paid actors. His many roles in comedy have granted him a place in Hollywood’s class of leading comedy actors, the Frat Pack. The group consists of actors like Steve Carell, Vince Vaughn, and Paul Rudd.
Ferrell’s energy on screen is never to be missed. He’s known for his hysterical commentary and aloof mischievousness. From movie to movie, he never misses the mark on making viewers laugh. His comedies like Anchorman and Talladega Nights display Ferrell’s talent excellently. Though he rarely breaks a smile, he usually has the funniest dialogue on screen, and he delivers his dry humor with perfection every time. Though he has taken many roles in film, most of his highest-grossing movies at the box office might be a surprise.
Let’s take a look at Ferrell’s highest-grossing roles in film.
‘Blades of Glory’ (2006)
$145.7 Million at the Box Office
Ferrell was in top comedic form when he portrayed a washed-up, sex-addicted ex-professional figure skater in the star-studded farce Blades of Glory, which focuses on the debauchery-loving Chazz Michael Michaels as he and his former sworn enemy Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) discover a loophole that would allow the now-banned skaters to compete as partners in the sport they used to dominate. With the help of a determined coach, the mismatched duo duke it out against both each other and their components on the ice rink.
Featuring the additional talents of famous faces like Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, and Craig T. Nelson, Blades of Glory continued a string of box office success for Ferrell, who had previously appeared in films including Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Stranger than Fiction, with the comedy topping its competition its opening weekend and ultimately grossing $145.7 million. Ferrell’s completely uninhibited performance was singled out by fans and critics, and he earned an MTV Movie & TV Award nod for Best Comedic Performance.
‘Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby’ (2006)
$163.4 Million at the Box Office
Ferrell and John C. Reilly at his best gave audiences a taste of the delightful chaos they would bring in Step Brothers when they joined forces for Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, following the SNL alum as he unforgettably appeared as the larger-than-life titular NASCAR driver who finds his reign as the auto racing world’s king compromised with the arrival of the charismatic French driver Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen). After losing it all, Ricky must embrace his fighting spirit once more and reclaim his legacy.
The phenomenal chemistry between Ferrell and Reilly is one of the greatest aspects of Talladega Nights, and the comedy brilliantly blends satire and humor with fearless performances from its colorful cast. The endlessly quotable flick gave Ferrell the largest film opening of his career at the time (grossing $47 million in its first week) and bowed out at the box office with $163.4 million, effectively becoming a beloved hit in the comedian’s dazzling repertoire.
‘Starsky & Hutch’ (2004)
$170 Million at the Box Office
Though his role isn’t credited in Starsky & Hutch, there seems to be a theme in Ferrell’s featured roles where he ends up stealing the show with his iconic hilarity. To make this action comedy come alive, Ferrell stars alongside comedians Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, and Ben Stiller. Wilson and Stiller are the lead detectives who are drug-busting officers.
Ferrell’s role as Big Earl Drennan features him as an incarcerated criminal whom the lead detectives attempt to question while he’s locked up. He doesn’t offer any information until he’s allowed to see the belly button of Detective Hutch, played by Wilson. The film earned $170 million with a $60 million budget, making this remake of the original series worth watching.
‘The Other Guys’ (2010)
$170.9 Million at the Box Office
If there was a movie where Ferrell’s dry humor was epitomized to the tee, The Other Guys would be it. The film was released in 2010 and grossed $170.9 million at the box office on an $85 million budget. Having produced the film as well, Ferrell played a huge role in how his character, Detective Allen “Gator” Gamble, would be received by an audience.
He starred alongside Mark Wahlberg as Detective Terry Hoitz. Together, the two were known as the underdogs of the precinct who rarely ever left the desk. But when they take a low-level case, they uncover a much bigger problem. Plenty of chaos ensues. However, Gator and Hoitz end up solving an embezzlement case and uncover more crime than they set out to, ultimately making their efforts successful.
‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ (2013)
$173.6 Million at the Box Office
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is one of, if not the best, representations of Ferrell’s comedic side. The cast, made up of Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Kristen Wiig, and more, make for hilarious supporting actors and add to the great success of the film. The plot revolves around Burgundy’s news crew, who get fired and rehired due to obscene reporting antics.
Ferrell’s influential comedic role as Ron Burgundy was reprised from the first film of the franchise, Anchorman. Not only does Ferrell appear alongside an all-star cast, but he also wrote and executive-produced the film as well. It grossed $173.6 million at the box office with a $50 million budget, making the film a solid success for all the work Ferrell put into it.
‘Daddy’s Home 2’ (2017)
$180.6 Million at the Box Office
After previously starring alongside Mark Wahlberg in both The Other Guys and Daddy’s Home, Ferrell looked to capitalize on their amusing on-screen camaraderie by reuniting for the aptly named Daddy’s Home 2, centering on reformed fathers Brad Whitaker (Ferrell) and Dusty Mayron (Wahlberg) as they continue to try and peacefully co-parent their two kids while preparing for their own fathers to visit for Christmas. John Lithgow and Mel Gibson hilariously portray the dynamic duo’s polar opposite dads who show up for the holiday season.
Much like its predecessor, Daddy’s Home 2 failed to make a splash with critics but nonetheless received an impressive A− CinemaScore from audiences and went on to become a box office hit, grossing $180.6 million against a $69 million budget. The endearing bromance between Ferrell and Wahlberg, and the entertaining additions of their respective fictional fathers, Lithgow and Gibson, helped the sequel overcome what many felt was a sloppy, formulaic screenplay.
‘The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part’ (2019)
$199.6 Million at the Box Office
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part features Ferrell as Lord Business, but now he is called President Business after settling his disputes with nearly everyone in the Lego universe. This time, instead of fighting each other, the Lego-verse has to come up with a way to defend themselves against the Duplo Aliens, who invaded their habitat at the end of the first film.
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part falls in the middle of Ferrell’s highest-grossing films, having earned $199.6 million at the box office with a budget of $99 million. The movie carries with it the charm of the first, bringing that ideal mix of humor and creativity. While Ferrell remains a supporting character, he is undeniably enjoyable and stands out in the role.
‘Elf’ (2003)
$228.9 Million at the Box Office
The 2003 film Elf is a great holiday comedy. From venturing to NYC all the way from The North Pole to finding his biological dad among bunches of gumdrops, Ferrell absolutely delivers a perfect performance as Santa’s tallest elf, Buddy. He not only finds his family, but he also lands a love interest and creates one of the most magical Christmases in years, raising the spirit meter with his singing and cheer.
Elf grossed $225.1 million at the box office with a minimum budget of $33 million. The film is just as successful now as it was then, as it is one of the most popular Christmas movies of the 2000s, and of all time. The holiday staple has frequently been named as one of the greatest Christmas films of all time, and it showed audiences just what Ferrell was capable of as a comedic performer.
‘Daddy’s Home’ (2015)
$242.8 Million at the Box office
In Daddy’s Home, Ferrell stars alongside Mark Wahlberg, with whom he has excellent chemistry from previous films together. The film made $242.8 million at the box office with a $50 million budget and was followed by the aforementioned sequel, Daddy’s Home 2. In the movie, Ferrell’s Brad marries Sara, who is Dusty’s ex-wife. Dusty, played by Wahlberg, is an alpha male, while Brad is a physically weak and even-tempered guy.
Brad and Dusty have to learn to co-parent the kids while making sure they have a positive experience as a blended family. While the family makes new traditions, they encounter comical mishaps along the way. Ferrell keeps the comedy flowing throughout, embodying an over-the-top yet innocent step-dad persona.
‘Wedding Crashers’ (2005)
$288.5 Million at the Box Office
Released in 2005, Wedding Crashers quickly gained popularity for its explicit and relatable content. Ferrell took a feature role in the film alongside leads like Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, and Rachel McAdams. His role as Chazz is uncredited, but it does not go unnoticed. While Vaughn, as Jeremy, and Wilson, as John, crash weddings for the women, Chazz hilariously decides to crash a funeral to find the most vulnerable catch he can.
With an all-star cast, it’s no wonder that the film did so well, earning $288.5 million at the box office while having a $40 million budget, ultimately becoming the first R-rated comedy to make $200 million domestically and helping revive the adult-oriented comedy. Still, this is another entry, like Starsky & Hutch, where Ferrell only has a moment to shine; he does make the most of it.
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