From the Rat Pack in the sixties to the Brat Pack in the eighties, several acting groups have existed throughout Hollywood history. In the 2000s, however, there emerged a group of comedy actors that have since come to be known as the Frat Pack.
The members typically associated as the founders of the Frat Pack include Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jack Black, and two of the Wilson Brothers: Owen and Luke. However, several other well-known thespians have joined the Frat ranks throughout the past couple of decades, like Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and David Koechner. There are of course others often associated with the group, but none that stand out as prominently.
It's worth noting, too, that this list will be ranking the funniest movies from the group. Not the best overall product. Ultimately, though, no matter who you consider an official part of the group or a subsidiary thereof and no matter how you feel about the film as a valuable piece of work, these are the ten funniest movies from the Frat Pack, ranked.
10 Starsky and Hutch
Directed by Todd Phillips, the buddy cop action-comedy Starsky and Hutch (2004) is actually a remake of the television series of the same name that aired a few decades before, in the 1970s. The film, though, stars Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson as the titular characters, David Starsky and Ken “Hutch” Hutcherson.
The show is arguably stolen by Will Ferrell in a supporting role, but credit needs to be given to Stiller for his work as Starsky. It’s among the funniest roles of his career, which may not be saying much in terms of sidesplitting hilarity, but it’s worth noting nonetheless. With another supporting role from Vince Vaughn as the film’s primary antagonist, this remains an iconic piece of Frat Pack culture.
9 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
The only sequel of the list, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) picks up right where the original left off, same cast and all. Well, not with regard to the minor characters of the original. Though, then again, Frat Pack original Vince Vaughn does reprise his role as Wes Mantooth, the primary antagonist of the first entry.
Obviously, Will Ferrell stars as Ron Burgundy, while Paul Rudd and David Koechner again play Brian Fantana and Champ Kind, respectively. And of course, Steve Carell returns as Brick Tamland. While it would have been difficult for this project to ever live up to the original entry of the series, The Legend Continues indeed continues the legend of Burgundy in hilarious fashion.
8 Zoolander
At the time of release, no film had starred as many members of the Frat Pack as Zoolander (2001) — another stint directed by Ben Stiller. His costars include his wife Christine Taylor as Matilda along with Owen Wilson as Hansel, with other roles from both Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell.
While not among the most critically acclaimed films you’ll read about today, most fans loved Zoolander, with decent money made in theaters and an impressive audience score of 80% on consensus review website Rotten Tomatoes. Its humor is seriously the silliest on the whole list, but that fact doesn't always play out as a negative criticism of the film's overall quality. Immaturity is at the heart of Zoolander, and that often times produces favorable results.
7 Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
For those unfamiliar with this film's off-the-wall premise: Vince Vaughn’s character Peter Lafleur owns a gym called Average Joe’s, while Ben Stiller’s character White Goodman operates one known as Globo Gym. As the name Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004) suggests, the two gyms take part in a nation-wide dodgeball tournament, going head-to-head in a hilarious battle of middle school activities.
It was directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, and the cast also features Christine Taylor — Ben Stiller’s wife — as real estate and tax lawyer Kate Veatch. These three main characters share terrific dynamics, but the stars of the show are of the supporting variety: Justin Long, Alan Tudyk, and specifically Rip Torn as the legendary Patches O’Houlihan. He alone makes the film worth watching.
6 Wedding Crashers
Directed by David Dobkin, this was his second collaboration with leading man Owen Wilson following their work on Shanghai Knights (2003). He plays a guy who, quite literally, crashes weddings — showing up to the ceremony pretending to be an old friend, a coworker, or even a distant relative of one member of the respective couples. But, speaking of couples: Owen doesn’t operate alone here in Wedding Crashers (2005).
He's joined by fellow funny Frat man Vince Vaughn as they romp through people’s personal lives for a single night of fun. The film features a supporting performance by Will Ferrell, but Owen and Vince remain the stars. It’s easily among the funniest Frat Pack films in large part due to their performances.
5 Meet the Parents
Directed by Jay Roach, Meet the Parents (2000) stars Ben Stiller (whose character is named Gaylord “Gregory” Focker) opposite Robert De Niro — the latter of whom arguably stole the show as Jack Byrnes. It’s probably the funniest role of De Niro’s career, replete with classic one-liners and stone-cold facial expressions that exude overwhelming senses of sarcasm and, frankly, intimidation.
However, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson (who plays Kevin Rawley, the ex-boyfriend of Greg’s fiancé Pam) also delivered hilarious performances. Much like the following entry, the humor of Meet the Parents remains subtle all throughout, which means neither film ranked as high as if the criteria was based sheerly on quality. However, number five still isn’t bad.
4 The Royal Tenenbaums
If this list were ranking these films in terms of overall quality, The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) by Wes Anderson would come out on top, and it would hardly even be close. However, from its moments of strong poignancy to its niche style of humor, it’s hard to consider it among the uproarious best of the Frat Pack films. And it’s definitely not one that’s frequently viewed as their most iconic just because Anderson has a massive following in his own right, and the film is more often associated with him. As it should be.
Although, Luke and Owen Wilson are two of the director’s most frequent collaborators, and they star here in Tenenbaums as Ritchie Tenenbaum and Eli Cash. Ben Stiller is also among the lead cast, playing Richie’s older brother Chas Tenenbaum. Everyone in this film has tremendous chemistry, and that includes the Frats thereof.
3 Tropic Thunder
Directed by and starring Ben Stiller with a supporting role from Jack Black about the making of a film called, well, Tropic Thunder (2008). And in an anomalous role of comedic inclinations was Tom Cruise, who arguably stole the show as studio exec Les Grossman. Several other comedians show up in either a minor or supporting fashion, but none that are associated with the group at hand.
This is up there as the most fan-favorite film from the Frat Pack. Particular praise was given to Robert Downey Jr.’s performance as Kirk Lazarus, and it was also rendered the most critically acclaimed film on the list as well. Though, that margin isn't too large compared to Wedding Crashers. Either way, though, decades down the line, this could very well still be cited as the funniest film from the Frats.
2 Old School
This could perhaps be viewed as the quintessential Frat Pack film just off the premise alone. Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Will Ferrell star as three friends in their late-twenties that start a fraternity at their local college. It’s directed by perennial comedy director Todd Phillips — who made the aforementioned Starsky Hutch, along with stuff like Road Trip (2000) and The Hangover (2009). And Old School (2003) could very well be his funniest film.
From Will Ferrell streaking by himself despite thinking his friends and fellow party members are with him to his subsequent drugged-out scene with the dart in the jugular — these were some of the first truly sidesplitting scenes that featured the famous comedy actor. It may very well be his best work, too.
1 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
The directorial debut of Adam McKay follows a news crew at a fictional, local station called KVWN Channel 4. It stars Will Ferrell as the titular character, while guys like Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, and David Koechner are his utterly hilarious coworkers. Plus, Christina Applegate plays his competition-turned-love interest, and they provide some truly hilarious moments together.
However, what’s most appropriately worth noting here are the minor roles from other members of the Frat Pack: Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, Jack Black, Ben Stiller, and Seth Rogen for example. That is, if you count that last member as a legitimate part of the group. Again, the lines thereof are fine. But either way, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) features by far and away the most Frat members of any movie they’ve worked on, and it’s also the absolute funniest. Those facts will forever remain.