Every Adam McKay Movie Ranked From Worst To Best (Including Don't Look Up)
Sarah Parker This is a complete list of every feature film directed by Adam McKay ranked from worst to best, including his new Netflix film Don’t Look Up.
Here is a comprehensive list of every film directed by Adam McKay ranked from worst to best. The filmmaker has been releasing full-length features for nearly 20 years, achieving massive success with his very first film. His projects vary greatly in time and format, ranging from biographical to the outright ridiculous.
McKay first found success as a writer for Saturday Night Live, beginning in 1995 when he was 25 years old. The writer would pen numerous iconic scenes, including the popular “Wake Up And Smile” sketch which would inspire several of his later projects. McKay would be promoted to head writer a year later in 1996 and would remain in the role until 2001. Although he never appeared as a cast member, McKay got his start in directing with a handful of short films for the show, including the original SNL Digital Shorts.
After his time on SNL, McKay teamed up with fellow alum Will Ferrell to form Gary Sanchez Productions to write a series of comedic films. The two would also launch the user-submitted comedy site Funny or Die together in 2007. Although McKay has co-written a great many of Ferrell’s popular movies and shows, he has only directed eight feature films, each with varying degrees of commercial and critical success.
8. Anchorman 2: The The Legend Continues(2013)
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues resumes the tale of Ron Burgundy, who has fallen from grace following the events of the first film. After Veronica is promoted and Ron is fired from a popular news station in New York City, the washed-up news anchor returns to San Diego to be the face of the world’s first 24-hour news network. Made nearly 10 years after the original film, Anchorman 2 is an uninspired rehashing of everything that made the first movie so iconic. The film blatantly recycles jokes from the original, recreating some of its most successful scenes and taking the story to new heights of absurdity. Given that Ferrell recently turned down Elf 2 for fears of being subpar, his willingness to make Anchorman 2 is surprising. It has little of significance to offer to the franchise beyond simply the continuation of it, and frankly, the legacy of the original film would have been better served had the sequel not been made.
7. The Other Guys (2010)
The Other Guys is McKay’s take on a buddy cop movie, with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg starring as a mismatched pair of New York City police officers. Due to their respective histories of incompetence in the field, the two find themselves in desk jobs doing paperwork and team up on a high-profile case in order to redeem themselves. Wahlberg and Ferrell’s comedic chemistry is lackluster, being instantly overshadowed by that of The Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, who only appear in the first few minutes of the movie. Most of the film’s humor comes from either lowbrow slapstick or chaotic yelling, making it perhaps the most forgettable movie in McKay’s catalog. The Other Guys’ inclusion of Michael Keaton and other impressive cameos are among its only redeeming qualities.
6. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
In yet another team-up between McKay and Ferrell, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby tells the story of fictional NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby. Bobby and his racing partner, Cal Naughton Jr. (played by John C Reilly) are at the top of their game when a new rival enters the circuit, causing strife in their careers and in their friendship. Talladega Nights established the comedic partnership between Ferrell and Reilly that would become the cornerstone of both actors’ careers. The story is predictably ridiculous, but Ferrell and Reilly’s rapport carried the film through its more absurd moments and made them one of America’s most beloved duos. The film’s popularity even prompted a real NASCAR driver to copy Talladega Nights’ ending during an actual race.
5. Vice (2018)
Vice is a semi-satirical biography focused on the 43rd Vice President of the United States, Dick Cheney. The film follows Cheney from shortly after his stint at Yale through his time in the Bush administration and beyond. Christian Bale’s portrayal of Cheney is impressive, with the actor putting on a substantial amount of weight and donning impressive prosthetics for the role. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning one for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Despite its accolades, Vice was not exceptionally well-received, boasting largely mediocre reviews from critics and audiences.
4. Step Brothers (2008)
Capitalizing on the popularity of the partnership of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, Step Brothers makes full use of the duo’s on-screen chemistry. As middle-aged men still living at home, the two are forced to cohabitate when their parents are married. Step Brothers updates Ferrell and Reilly’s partnership by featuring them in their rawest form, with most of the comedy stemming directly from their unusual relationship. The childlike bond the two eventually form is ridiculous and wholesome in a way that is perfectly suited to the two actors, and the supporting cast is packed with comedic talent. The film retains a tremendous following to this day and is among the more iconic in both McKay and Ferrell’s careers.
3. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is the first feature film directed by McKay and is arguably his most memorable. Legendary 1970s newscaster Ron Burgundy throws his professional career into turmoil over fears of being overshadowed by his female co-anchor Veronica Corningstone. Will Ferrell and Steve Carrell team up for the first time alongside Paul Rudd and David Koechner as members of the Channel 4 news team. Ferrell is in top form as the film’s lead, delivering one of the most standout performances of his career. The cast of comedic actors that comprise Ron Burgundy’s news team is incredible, with each bringing a distinct character with a unique brand of humor. Anchorman is filled with iconic moments and is still one of the most oft-quoted films of all time.
2. Don’t Look Up (2021)
Don’t Look Up is Adam McKay’s most recent film and is one of his most ambitious. A pair of scientists discover an asteroid on a collision course with Earth and set off on a mission to convince politicians and the media of their impending doom. The film is a thinly veiled allegory for the effects of global warming and the lackluster response from the world at large. The star-studded cast of Don’t Look Up offers memorable performances, and the film’s relevant and significant message makes it arguably the most impactful in McKay’s catalog.
1. The Big Short (2015)
The Big Short follows a group of real-life people who took advantage of one of the worst economic collapses in US history. Shortly before the crash of the housing market in 2007, Wall Street guru Michael Burry predicted the impending recession and invested over $1 billion in a bet against market-based mortgage-backed securities. As a result of his investment, Burry and his associates earned nearly $3 billion after the market collapsed. The Big Short was nominated for five Oscars, winning one for Best Adapted Screenplay. Although it received fewer nominations than Vice, the complex and well-executed story paired with the standout performances from its star-studded cast qualifies it as Adam McKay’s most successful project to date.
