Val Kilmer’s Go-To Comedies: His Top Two Picks Revealed

Val Kilmer’s career has spanned a remarkable range of genres, from high-octane blockbusters to westerns and even the odd biopic. While audiences might first recall his roles in action-packed fare or his memorable turn in a certain gunslinger epic, comedy is not the first word that springs to mind when thinking of his filmography. His debut, Top Secret!, was a tongue-in-cheek parody of spy flicks, and he later dipped a toe back into the genre with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Yet, for the most part, his comedic appearances have been few and far between. There was even a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in The Love Guru, though that’s perhaps best left unexamined.

Despite this, Kilmer has never hidden his fondness for a good laugh. In conversation with Cindy Pearlman for her book, You Gotta See This: More Than 100 of Hollywood’s Best Reveal and Discuss Their Favourite Films, he let slip the two films he relies on when in need of a pick-me-up.

“I really like The Full Monty and Anchorman,” he said, “I like those movies, and those are my answers… In fact, I did a musical last year onstage. For the first few weeks during the down times I was running around backstage doing dumb Will Ferrell jokes because he plays this great pompous dumb guy in Anchorman. No one backstage knew what I was even talking about. I like this movie so much that I got a copy of the film and ran it so my 55 cast-mates could understand it.”

Anchorman: A Modern Classic

Released in 2004, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy stars Will Ferrell as a clueless news anchor in 1970s San Diego. The film lampoons the testosterone-fuelled world of local news, with Ferrell’s character at the centre of a series of increasingly absurd situations. Its dialogue has seeped into everyday conversation—if you’ve ever heard someone say something “escalated quickly,” you’ve got this film to thank.

For Kilmer, Ferrell’s portrayal of a self-important, blundering presenter struck a particular chord. He found himself quoting the film backstage during a stage musical, much to the confusion of his fellow cast members. So keen was he to share the joke, he screened the film for the entire company, ensuring everyone was in on the reference.

The Full Monty: Laughter with Heart

On the other hand, The Full Monty offers a very different flavour of humour. Set in Sheffield, it follows a group of unemployed men who, desperate for cash, decide to put on a striptease show. The film is as much about resilience and camaraderie as it is about laughs, weaving in themes of family and personal struggle. It’s perhaps this blend of comedy and drama that led to its nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars—a rare feat for a film that dares to be funny.

Though Kilmer didn’t dwell as much on this choice, it’s clear the film’s mix of wit and warmth left an impression. The contrast between the sun-soaked absurdity of Anchorman and the gritty, heartfelt humour of The Full Monty speaks to the breadth of Kilmer’s taste.

Comedy as Comfort

Whether it’s the surreal antics of a news team in California or the unlikely exploits of Sheffield’s finest, these two films have become Kilmer’s go-to remedies for a gloomy day. If they’re good enough for him, they might just do the trick for anyone in need of a proper laugh.