Anchorman is easily one of the most iconic and beloved comedies of the 2000s, with a wide array of iconic moments and hilarious characters that have made it a widely beloved and successful film. While director Adam McKay and lead actor Will Ferrell have had numerous successful collaborations over the years, Anchorman stands out as the most prominent and iconic of their works. The story of the strand and sometimes moronic 1970s news anchor made a mark on audiences worldwide, with one big factor being the film’s iconic dialogue and multitude of quotable lines.
While many comedies of the 2000s can claim the virtue of having numerous quotable moments, there is a fair argument that Anchorman may be the most quotable comedy of the era. Anchorman‘s multitude of quirky characters and absurd moments allowed for a wide number of insanely quotable moments throughout the film. Especially with the film’s 20th anniversary happening this year, there’s no better time than the present to reminisce on the hilarious and iconic quotes within.
25
“You should find yourself a safehouse or a relative close by. Lay low for a while, because you’re probably wanted for murder.”
Ron Burgundy
One of many absurd quotes that appear in the fallout of the massive battle between news stations, specifically revolving around how Brick Tamland killed someone with a trident. The quote specifically comes from Ron, giving Brick a bit of advice following his act of murder so that he can stay safe from law enforcement. While the quote as a whole is largely overshadowed by other great quotes during this sequence, it’s still a highly entertaining moment that grounds the characters in reality after what had just occurred.
While the battle itself is hilariously absurd enough, this quote cements the true comedy heights coming from the return to normalcy and the ramifications of such a giant brawl in the real world. The quote is also largely memorable thanks to the casual nature of which it is said, treating the act of murder as just a walk in the park issue that can simply be dealt with by lying low for a while. It makes it even funnier that this side plot of Brick possibly being wanted for murder is never brought up again in the film.
24
“I’m so lonely, I paid a hobo to spoon with me.”
Ron Burgundy
This quote comes from the beginning chapter of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, which sees Ron now working at SeaWorld after his time at Channel 6 news has gone under. However, his time at SeaWorld is far from glamorous, as he quickly breaks down in the middle of presenting an event, crying and talking about the pains of his life to a large audience of SeaWorld attendees. Of these painful reveals, easily the goofiest and most memorable is how Ron says that he paid a homeless person to cuddle with him so that he could get a sense of warmth and touch from another person.
The quote as a whole acts as a great way to set up the sequel, showing that it has the same sense of goofy humor as the original film and that Ron himself is the same emotional, chaotic wreck that he’s always been. It certainly helps matters that the concept of paying a homeless person to spoon with them is silly enough by itself, with the comedic sadness of the situation being amplified by Ferrell’s performance of emotional vulnerability at the worst possible time.
23
“She was Brazilian, or Chinese, or something weird. I met her in the bathroom of a K-Mart, and we made out for hours. Then we parted ways, never to see each other again.”
Brian Fantana
It becomes an effective recurring joke for Paul Rudd‘s character of Brian Fantana that, despite having high proclamations of being good with women, this is actually the farthest thing from the truth. This is most prominently shown during this quote, where he relays a story to Ron and the rest of the guys about a time when he possibly experienced “love”. The wildly chaotic story is shortly diminished by Ron, who proclaims that he is pretty sure that what Brian experienced is not love at all.
It’s the distinct combination of the absurdity of the story being told while being presented as a wholesome and affecting story of love that makes this quote such a hilarious and impactful moment. It’s easily one of the highlights of Brian’s character in the film and paints a greater picture of the nonsensical and moronic nature of his character. The scene as a whole enters all-timer status when this quote is immediately followed by another top-notch quote that appears later in the list.
22
“Suicide makes you hungry. I don’t care what anyone says.”
Ron Burgundy
Another immediately memorable quote from the first act of Anchorman 2, this moment comes from a conversation between Ron and Freddie Shapp (Dylan Baker), a newsman who wound up finding and saving Ron during a failed suicide attempt. However, just as is the case with Ron and his shifting tones and styles, he quickly gets over his suicidal tendencies and reluctantly says just how much the act of attempting to end one’s life works up an appetite.
There’s simply an inherent fun and dark twist to finding the lighter side of a deeply painful human experience, as rarely would anyone associate the concepts of suicide and hunger together in such a comedic way. It’s very easy to see this type of dark joke not landing, but the chaotic character of Ron Burgundy manages to make this quote highly memorable, as well as easing both himself and the audience back into a place of comfort after his suicide attempt.
21
“I could be wrong, but I believe diversity is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.”
Ron Burgundy
One of the most recurring and hilarious types of jokes that come from Ron Burgundy throughout the film is his combination of seemingly intelligent statements that, upon further inspection, are incredibly idiotic in nature. One of the most memorable of these Ron Burgundy quotes comes early on in the film, during a staff meeting where Veronica is introduced as a new member of the team as a diversity hire. Before she enters the room, Ron ends up answering the question of what diversity actually is, providing this silly and incredibly incorrect answer.
Diversity continues to be an ever-present topic of discussion well after the release of Anchorman, creating an increased comedic value in this quote that has only grown funnier and funnier as time goes on. It’s a simple yet effective joke that plays into Ron’s best attributes as a comedic caricature, combining his egotistical insistence and belief of higher knowledge with a bumbling and comedically wrong answer to an incredibly simple question.
20
“What do you say we go out on a date? Have some chicken, maybe some sex. You know, see what happens?”
Champ Kind
The first of a handful of attempts from the Channel 4 team to hit on and ask Veronica Corningstone out on a date, David Koechner‘s Champ Kind takes a shocking and incredibly direct approach to the task, resulting in this memorable quote. This quote arrives after Champ has already gotten into an awkward and disturbing spot with Veronica, having just used a fake tripping over oneself as a chance to touch Veronica inappropriately. Combined with the shocking content of this request, Champ is quickly punched in his private parts for his brash and unwanted advancements.
Champ’s character is one that is largely defined by his no-nonsense attitude and relative lack of social awareness, two things that are perfectly amplified by this hilarious and painfully awkward quote. It cuts through all of the foreplay and goes right for the clear and obvious motives behind Champ asking out Veronica, creating an almost refreshing sense of honesty, as refreshing as soliciting sexual acts can be. Despite the quote’s more gross underlying content, it makes for a great moment, as well as a hilarious highlight for Champ’s character.
19
“Why did you do this to me, God?! Why?! Couldn’t you have cured a sick child or created a new animal?!
Ron Burgundy
While many of the most popular and acclaimed quotes come from the original Anchorman, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues has its fair share of exceptional quotes as well, with this easily being one of the best. The quote happens when Ron finds himself truly alone, with all of his friends having just left him to his own devices, and he lives a now lonesome life as a blind man in a lighthouse. In typical Ron Burgundy fashion, not only does he call out “why” to god, but he ponders why God couldn’t have done a miracle instead of ruining his life via blindness.
Ron going blind before the final act of Anchorman 2 is a wild unexpected twist that comes with its own wide array of comedic moments, playing up Ron’s self-entitlement and stupidity to an absurd degree. This quote is just a perfect culmination of all the pain and chaos that Ron has caused by being blind, even if the majority of it is his own doing. It isn’t unlike Ron to call out the pains of life and god, with this scene being a cathartic release of anger and rage from the character.
18
“I would like to extend to you, an invitation to the Pants Party”
Brick Tamland
Steve Carell’s comedic and nonsensical portrayal of Brick Tamland has resulted in a wide array of hilarious and iconic moments that play off of the character’s stupidity and inherent innocence toward the world. This quote serves as one of the character’s funniest moments when Brick is convinced to invite Veronica to a “party in his pants” by Brian following his failed attempts at hitting on her. The sequence plays off of the already failed attempts by the rest of the team, combined with Brick’s complete lack of understanding of what he is even asking and Veronica’s resigned disappointment with the situation.
Carell’s line delivery transforms what is nine times out of ten a sleazy and uninteresting pickup line into a hilarious and off-kilter twist on the phase, transforming it into a strange and confusing invitation that in no way has the original’s raunchy nature. Even just the simple notion of a “pants party” is treated with the same innocence and joy as a children’s slumber party, creating that iconic and memorable disconnect that makes Brick such an iconic character.
17
“Who the hell is Julius Caesar? You know I don’t follow the NBA!”
Ron Burgundy
Paralleling the “diversity” line from the original Anchorman, Anchorman 2 manages to one-up the classic with this absurd remark revolving around Julius Caesar, the legendary emperor of Rome. The line comes from Ron after Veronica compares him to the emperor following Ron’s anger and refusal for Veronica to accept a promotion during the film’s opening act. Not understanding the historical reference, Ron believes that the name “Julius Caesar” must easily be referring to a player in the NBA, creating this hilarious and nonsensical quote.
The short and simple quote immediately shows that Anchorman 2 isn’t just repeating and paralleling what worked in the original film, but proves itself by giving a hilarious twist on concepts from the original film. It helps show that Ron, Veronica, and the rest of the Anchorman world hasn’t changed one bit in the 9 years since the original film and that Anchorman 2 is poised to be yet another quote-filled comedy classic.
16
“This is definitely a man’s world, but while they’re laughing and grab-assing, I’m chasing down leads and practicing my non-regional diction.”
Veronica Corningstone
Acting as more of the straight woman to the chaotic and bumbling Channel 4 news team, Christina Applegate as Veronica Corningstone doesn’t get nearly as many iconic or quotable lines as the rest of the cast, yet in one of her first lines, she immediately establishes her strengths and the zeitgeist of the film. After getting firsthand experience of witnessing the sexist and misogynist comments and actions by the rest of the Channel 4 news team, Veronica has this effective inner monologue, showing that these same old comments won’t stop her and her goals of success.
This quote stays true and consistent well after it is initially stated in the film’s first act, as it cuts to the core of Veronica’s no-nonsense and hard-hitting attitude towards work and self-determination. Even outside the context of the film, this quote and Veronica by extension, act as an effective rallying cry, dismantling the warped perspectives of this era, showing competence and strength even when faced with a hostile working environment.