"Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" premiered in 2006.

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Adam McKay remembers the moment he realized his 2006 comedy "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" would be a hit.It was the movie's opening weekend in Los Angeles, and the director and his co-writer and star, Will Ferrell, were driving around the city sneaking into sold-out showings when they encountered comedy royalty in the audience."We're standing in the back, everyone was laughing, and we hear someone go, 'Hey!' We look over, and it's Adam Sandler sitting in the back with one of his kids on his lap, and he gives us a thumbs up," McKay told Business Insider."What other person at that level does that? Opening weekend in a packed theater. Zero competitiveness — truly happy for us. It's a moment from making that movie that I'll never forget."

Will Ferrell and Adam McKay at the premiere of "Talladega Nights" in 2006.

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