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Adam McKay, actor & director
Actor & Director

Adam McKay: Movies, Awards & Box Office

films
15
as director
8
on screen
2004–2020
box office
$936M
award win
1
average score
65
Born
April 17, 1968 (age 58)
Birthplace
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Citizenship
U.S.
Occupations
Screenwriter, director, producer
Years active
1986-present
Spouses
Shira Piven
Children
2
Biggest hits

The Best Adam McKay Movies

The films of Adam McKay that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) leads with $174M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.

Full ranking
Career at a glance

Adam McKay's Career in Numbers

Adam McKay's films in numbers — as an actor and a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Adam McKay works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie (2004) to Vice (2018), and the 2000s were the busiest decade.

Adam McKay Movies by Decade

  1. 2000s 6
  2. 2010s 6

The 2000s were Adam McKay's busiest decade, with 6 films.

Adam McKay Movies by Genre

  • Comedy 6
  • Biography 2
  • Action 2
  • Documentary 1
  • Animation 1

Comedy is the genre Adam McKay has worked in most, with 6 films, ahead of biography (2).

Adam McKay Career Milestones

First film
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie 2004
Biggest box office hit
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues $174M worldwide
Best-rated film
Vice Movie Echo Score 65
Newest film
Vice 2018
15 credits

Adam McKay Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Adam McKay is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 8 as director and 4 as actor. Rated films average a score of 65. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Movies Directed by Adam McKay

8
  1. 2018 Vice (2018) movie poster Vice Biography Movie Echo Score: 65
  2. 2015 The Big Short (2015) movie poster The Big Short Biography
  3. 2014 The Unbelievably Sweet Alpacas (2014) movie poster The Unbelievably Sweet Alpacas Animation
  4. 2013 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) movie poster Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Comedy
  5. 2010 The Other Guys (2010) movie poster The Other Guys Action
  6. 2008 Step Brothers (2008) movie poster Step Brothers Comedy
  7. 2006 Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) movie poster Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Action
  8. 2004 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) movie poster Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Comedy

Adam McKay Movies as an Actor

4
  1. 2016 A.C. Green: Iron Virgin (2016) movie poster A.C. Green: Iron Virgin as Producer · Documentary
  2. 2007 Green Team (2007) movie poster Green Team as Erin Gossamer · Comedy
  3. 2007 Good Cop, Baby Cop (2007) movie poster Good Cop, Baby Cop as Policeman · Comedy
  4. 2004 Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie (2004) movie poster Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie as Custodian · Comedy

Adam McKay in Documentaries & Specials

3
  1. 2020 For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close (2020) movie poster For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close as Himself · Documentary
  2. 2015 Thank You, Del: The Story of the Del Close Marathon (2015) movie poster Thank You, Del: The Story of the Del Close Marathon as Self · Documentary
  3. 2014 This Is Comedy (2014) movie poster This Is Comedy as Himself · Documentary
1 win · 14 nominations

Adam McKay: Awards & Nominations

1 win from 14 nominations across 5 award bodies, from 2016 to 2022. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.

All movie awards
  • Golden Globes logo Golden Globes 1 win from 4 nominations
  • BAFTA logo BAFTA 3 nominations
  • Critics' Choice logo Critics' Choice 3 nominations
  • Oscars logo Oscars 2 nominations
  • DGA Awards logo DGA Awards 2 nominations
Biography

Who Is Adam McKay?

Adam McKay was born in Denver, Colorado, U.S. in 1968 and is 58 years old. Credited on films since 2004, as both an actor and a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Adam McKay (born April 17, 1968) is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. He began his career as the head writer for NBC's Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 1995 to 2001, and later rose to prominence for his collaborations with comedian Will Ferrell. He co-wrote a number of comedy films with Ferrell, such as Anchorman (2004), Talladega Nights (2006), Step Brothers (2008), and The Other Guys (2010). McKay and Ferrell later co-produced several television series and films and founded the website 'Funny or Die' through their company, Gary Sanchez Productions. In the 2010s, McKay began branching into more dramatic works. He wrote and directed the satirical films The Big Short (2015), Vice (2018), and Don't Look Up (2021), receiving several Academy Award nominations for each. He has also produced a number of films and television series, including Eastbound & Down and Succession. In 2019, McKay founded a new production company, Hyperobject Industries.

Works with

Who Adam McKay Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Adam McKay shares the most films with. Will Ferrell comes first, with 9 films together, followed by Steve Carell (5).

FAQ

Adam McKay: Questions & Answers

How many movies Adam McKay has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Adam McKay been in?

Adam McKay is credited on 15 films, from 2004 to 2020. 4 of them as an actor and 8 as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Adam McKay's highest-grossing movie?

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) is Adam McKay's biggest box office hit, with $174M worldwide, ahead of The Other Guys (2010) ($170M). Across every film with box office figures, Adam McKay's movies have made $936M.

Adam McKay's biggest hits

What is the best Adam McKay movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Adam McKay's best-rated film is Vice (2018) with a score of 65.

Best Adam McKay movies, ranked

Has Adam McKay won an Oscar?

Adam McKay has been nominated for 2 Oscars but has not won one yet. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Adam McKay has 1 win from 14 nominations.

How old is Adam McKay?

Adam McKay is 58 years old, born on April 17, 1968 in Denver, Colorado, U.S..

What is Adam McKay's newest movie?

The most recent film on Adam McKay's filmography is For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close (2020), in the role of Himself.

Who does Adam McKay work with most often?

Adam McKay shares the most films with Will Ferrell (9 films), Steve Carell (5 films) and Christina Applegate (3 films).

The Best Adam McKay Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 15 credits.

See the ranking

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