Editing Will Ferrell (section)

=== 2002–2010: Film stardom ===
[[File:Will Ferrell LF adjusted.jpg|thumb|left|190px|Ferrell at the premiere of ''[[Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story]]'', December 2007]]
During his time on ''Saturday Night Live'', Ferrell appeared in several movies: ''[[Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery]]'' (1997), ''[[A Night at the Roxbury]]'' (1998), ''[[Superstar (1999 film)|Superstar]]'' (1999), ''[[The Ladies Man (2000 film)|The Ladies Man]]'' (2000), ''[[Dick (film)|Dick]]'' (1999), ''[[Drowning Mona]]'' (2000), ''[[Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me]]'' (1999), ''[[Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back]]'' (2001), and ''[[Zoolander]]'' (2001). His first starring role after his departure from ''Saturday Night Live'' was as Frank "The Tank" Richard in ''[[Old School (2003 film)|Old School]]'' (2003). The film "belongs to Mr. Ferrell," declared ''The New York Times'', which described how he "uses his hilarious, anxious zealotry to sell the part."<ref>{{cite news| last= Mitchell | first= Elvis | title= Never Too Late to Have an Adolescence| work= The New York Times | date= February 21, 2003 }}</ref> ''Old School'' was a success and Ferrell received an [[MTV Movie Awards]] nomination for Best Comedic Performance.

The title role in ''[[Elf (film)|Elf]]'' (2003) followed, as did another MTV Movie Awards nomination. Ferrell continued to land comedy roles in 2004 and 2005 in films such as ''[[Melinda and Melinda]]'', ''[[Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy]]'', and ''[[Starsky & Hutch (film)|Starsky & Hutch]]'' earning himself a place among Hollywood's [[Frat Pack]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Wloszczyna |first= Susan |url= https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-06-15-frat-pack_x.htm |title= Wilson and Vaughn: Leaders of the 'Frat Pack' |work=USA Today |date=June 15, 2004 |access-date=September 11, 2010}}</ref> In 2005, Ferrell earned {{Nowrap|$40 million}}.<ref>{{cite web|first=Lacey|last=Rose|url=http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/invest/forbes/P147872.asp|title=The world's best-paid actors and actresses|work=Forbes|via=Moneycentral.msn.com|date=March 20, 2006|access-date=September 11, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100531193546/http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/invest/forbes/p147872.asp|archive-date=May 31, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2006, Ferrell starred in ''[[Stranger than Fiction (2006 film)|Stranger Than Fiction]], [[Curious George (film)|Curious George]],'' and ''[[Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby]]''.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381971/fullcredits |title=Curious George (2006)|access-date=2024-05-28 |via=IMDb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420223/fullcredits |title=Stranger Than Fiction (2006)|access-date=2024-05-28 |via=IMDb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0415306/fullcredits |title=Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)|access-date=2024-05-28 |via=IMDb}}</ref> Both received critical and box office success. Ferrell's performance in ''Stranger Than Fiction'' introduced audiences to the dramatic potential of Ferrell's acting talents, while ''Talladega Nights'' was his highest grossing live-action opening as of 2010 at $47&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=willferrell.htm&sort=gross&order=DESC&p=.htm|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|title=Will Ferrell Movie Box Office Results|access-date=September 13, 2015}}</ref> On {{Nowrap|December 27}}, 2006, ''The Magazine'' named Ferrell as one of its three actors of the year in their 2006 year in review issue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wearethemagazine.com/0103/themagazine.htm |title=TheMagazine – Volume 1 Issue 3, December 27, 2006 |website= wearethemagazine.com |access-date=December 7, 2012 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121103121605/http://www.wearethemagazine.com/0103/themagazine.htm |archive-date= November 3, 2012  }}</ref> A sequel to Anchorman, ''[[Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues]]'', was released in 2013.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/18205139|title=Will Ferrell's Anchorman 2 to begin filming in 2013|work=BBC|first=Chi Chi| last=Izundu|date=May 25, 2012 |access-date= May 25, 2011}}</ref>

In 2008, Ferrell starred in the movie ''[[Step Brothers (film)|Step Brothers]]'' with John C. Reilly. The movie also starred [[Adam Scott (actor)|Adam Scott]], [[Kathryn Hahn]], [[Mary Steenburgen]], and [[Richard Jenkins]]. It was directed by frequent Ferrell collaborator [[Adam McKay]], who was also a co-writer of the movie. The movie earned $128&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://the-numbers.com/movie/Step-Brothers#tab=summary| title=The Numbers | website= The-numbers.com|access-date= May 4, 2016}}</ref> The film received mixed reviews but has since become a [[cult classic]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.gq.com/story/step-brothers-is-10-years-old|title= Step Brothers Is 10 Years Old and Also Timeless|website= GQ|date= July 25, 2018|accessdate= July 31, 2023}}</ref> Chris Hewitt of ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' praised the chemistry of two leads writing, "Ferrell and Reilly are a superb double-act, Reilly's cockiness meshing well with Ferrell's puppy dog innocence. They're fine separately, but when the two are together, be it during an extended fight scene with a bunch of kids, or a demented sleepwalking sequence, the movie is a blast."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/step-brothers-review/|title= Step Brothers Review|website= Empire|date= January 8, 2008|accessdate= July 31, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Will Ferrell as MegaMind by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|Ferrell dressed as Megamind at the 2010 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]]]
Ferrell is also known for his promotional appearances including acting as part of a pre-game video package for the Rose Bowl along with [[University of Texas at Austin]] alum [[Matthew McConaughey]]. Ferrell sang a song at the [[ESPY Awards]] in 2006 about [[Lance Armstrong]] and [[Neil Armstrong]]. He and John C. Reilly performed a spot during the 2008 ESPY Awards within which they made demands in order for them to appear at the ESPYs, such as asking [[Portland Trail Blazers]]' center [[Greg Oden]] to tuck them in at night and tell them stories of the old times or to bring back the Cold War so the Olympics can be interesting again. Ferrell has worked as a voice actor in several animated television programs and films, including his portrayal of Bob Oblong, a 1950s-style father with no arms or legs, in the short-lived animated television series ''[[The Oblongs]]'' which ran on [[The WB]] and [[Adult Swim]].

He has had several guest appearances on ''[[Family Guy]]'' where he played the Black Knight in "[[Mr. Saturday Knight]]", as well as Fat Greek Guy and Miles "Chatterbox" Musket in ''[[Fifteen Minutes of Shame]]''. He had a recurring cameo role as Bitch Hunter in the [[sitcom]] ''[[30 Rock (TV series)|30 Rock]]''. Ferrell also starred as Ted (a.k.a. [[The Man in the Yellow Hat]]) in the film ''[[Curious George (film)|Curious George]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002071/|title=Will Ferrell |website= IMDb|access-date=October 11, 2017}}</ref> and guest voiced on an episode of the FOX sitcom ''[[King of the Hill]]'' as a [[Political correctness|politically correct]] soccer coach. He voiced the title character in the 2010 [[DreamWorks Animation]] feature film ''[[Megamind]]'' (replacing both [[Robert Downey Jr.]], who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, and [[Ben Stiller]], who also turned down the role and was instead cast in a minor role as Bernard the curator) as well as President Business in ''[[The Lego Movie]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Beinart |first=Peter |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/02/-em-the-lego-movie-em-further-evidence-of-will-ferrells-subversive-genius/283739/ |title=The Lego Movie: Further Evidence of Will Ferrell's Subversive Genius – Noah Gittell |magazine= [[The Atlantic]] |date= February 12, 2014 |access-date= April 6, 2014}}</ref> released in 2014. He reprised the latter role in ''[[The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part]]'', released in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2019-01-26|title=The Lego Movie 2 Will Screen Two Weeks Early at Select Theaters|url=https://www.cbr.com/the-lego-movie-2-early-screenings/|date=24 January 2019|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-date=February 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204000817/https://www.cbr.com/the-lego-movie-2-early-screenings/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ferrell has presented numerous times at the [[Academy Awards]]. He sang a humorous song "Get Off the Stage" with [[Jack Black]] in [[76th Academy Awards|2004]] and sang a song about comedies being snubbed by the voters in favor of dramas John C. Reilly and Jack Black in [[79th Academy Awards|2007]]. Ferrell made his [[Broadway theater|Broadway]] debut taking on departing U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] in a one-man show called ''[[You're Welcome America|You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush]].'' The show started performances on {{Nowrap|January 20}}, 2009, in previews—Bush's final day in office—at the [[James Earl Jones Theatre|Cort Theatre]] and opened officially on {{Nowrap|February 1}}. The limited engagement played through {{Nowrap|March 15}}, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.broadway.com/shows/youre-welcome-america-a-final-night-with-george-w-bush/buzz/97774/will-ferrell-to-star-in-youre-welcome-america-a-final-night-with-george-w-bush-on-broadway/|title= Will Ferrell to Star in You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush on Broadway|website= Broadway.com|date= October 16, 2008|access-date= June 6, 2011}}</ref>

In May 2009, it was announced that Ferrell was in talks to star in a feature film, ''Neighborhood Watch'' (later ''[[The Watch (2012 film)|The Watch]]''), a comedy about an urbanite who moves to the suburbs and uncovers a conspiracy. In negotiations to direct was [[David Dobkin (director)|David Dobkin]], who gave Ferrell a cameo in ''[[Wedding Crashers]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Will Ferrell might join 'Neighborhood'|work=Variety|date=May 5, 2009|url= https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/will-ferrell-might-join-neighborhood-1118003236/|access-date=May 5, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509074625/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003236.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|archive-date=2009-05-09|first=Dave|last=McNary}}</ref> In August 2009, Ferrell decided not to do the film.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1= Markovitz |first1= Adam |title=Will Ferrell leaves Fox's 'Neighborhood Watch'| url= https://ew.com/article/2009/08/03/ferrell-neighborhood-watch|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date= June 28, 2016|date=August 3, 2009}}</ref>
Ferrell starred in the feature film ''[[Land of the Lost (film)|Land of the Lost]]'' (2009). It was a commercial and critical flop, earning {{Nowrap|$19 million}} on opening weekend—about two-thirds of what the studio expected.<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Is America over Will Ferrell? | url= https://www.today.com/popculture/america-over-will-ferrell-wbna31156974 | last= Nashawaty | first=Chris |magazine= Entertainment Weekly | date=June 7, 2009 | access-date=June 8, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Down goes">{{cite web| title=Down goes Ferrell! Down goes Ferrell! |url=http://blog.redbox.com/redblog/2009/06/down-goes-farrell-down-goes-farrell.html |last=Peterseim |first=Locke |publisher=Redblog |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=June 9, 2009 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090612062044/http://blog.redbox.com/redblog/2009/06/down-goes-farrell-down-goes-farrell.html |archive-date=June 12, 2009 }}</ref> In 2010, he was the executive producer and star of ''[[The Other Guys]]'', a [[buddy cop]] film which also has an [[ensemble cast]] including [[Mark Wahlberg]], [[Eva Mendes]], [[Michael Keaton]], [[Steve Coogan]], [[Ray Stevenson (actor)|Ray Stevenson]], [[Samuel L. Jackson]], and [[Dwayne Johnson]]. The film was a commercial success earning over $140&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite web| url= https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ferrellwahlberg2010.htm |title= 'The Other Guys' |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=December 7, 2012}}</ref> and was positively reviewed by critics.