While the industry has a strong track record of churning out creatively successful next chapters of your favorite comic book or action movie franchise, studios seems to have a hard time making hit comedy sequels just as good – if not better than – the original. See Hangover Part III, Blues Brothers 2000 and, cringe, the Big Momma’s House trilogy.

But Ron Burgundy hopes to turn it all around with his new movie, Anchorman 2: The Legend Returns. Should the Channel 4 News Team’s much-hyped reunion tour be a hit, expect more comedic sequels at a theater near you. Here are 15 potential comedies from the last decade or so that we want to sequel-ize, along with our story ideas guaranteed to mint box-office dollars.

(Sequels to Ted, 21 Jump Street and Bad Santa are actively in various stages of production, so we left those off.)

By Phil Pirrello

1. South Park 2

There’s been talk of Cartman and the gang’s big-screen return since the first movie was released in 1999. Trey Parker and Matt Stone have stated, in various ways, that they aren’t that interested -- but that hasn’t stopped fans from wanting that which South Park’s creators do not. A Jurassic Park -style return to Imaginationland would be awesome sequel-fodder, as would throwing Terrance and Phillip back into the mix. Just make this sequel happen, please…umkay?

2. Zoolander 2

Mugatu was right. The whole world must be on crazy pills.

That’s the only logical reason for why Ben Stiller’s sequel to his cult hit has languished in development hell for over a decade. Paramount? Apply whatever business model you used to bring A-List talent back for Anchorman 2 – at an affordable price – to this sequel, please. The rumored plot for the film involves a Euro-centric setting, with a retired Derek Zoolander (Stiller) running his modeling school and raising his son, with Hansel (Owen Wilson) in tow. Throw in a villainous Jonah Hill as a plus-sized model bent on making Derek’s kind obsolete – just as the Blue Steel pioneer plots his comeback – and we’re onboard.

3. Step Brothers 2

Any excuse to re-team Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly is a good thing. In fact, in a recent interview, Ferrell claimed that a sequel to the 2008 comedy was this close to happening, but the star and director Adam McKay instead moved forward with Anchorman 2. That only makes us want to see the dysfunctional brothers on screen again even more! We suggest sticking them with sibling Amy Poehler and just let the cameras roll for 90 minutes. At a Catalina Wine Mixer (naturally).

4. Ghostbusters 3

Dan Aykroyd has spent the better part of two decades leading the charge for a threequel that nobody seems to want. Sony supposedly wants two big stars signed on or they will not greenlight the picture. Emma Stone and Jonah Hill were reportedly offered roles in the film, which would find the original crew passing their proton packs to a younger set of those who bustin’ makes feel good. Stone is rumored to have passed, while Hill may still be in talks to lead what is now most likely going to be a reboot. As long as there are at last two ghostbustin’ montages in the movie, we’re happy.

5. Pineapple Express 2

2013’s hit comedy This Is the End gave us a taste of what this sequel could be. Seth Rogen and James Franco enlisted pals Jonah Hill and Danny McBride to swede together a trailer for the film, which showcases the plot Rogen and his writing partner Evan Goldberg want to make if a sequel is ever greenlit. Rogen and Franco’s stoners vs. Woody Harrelson over the legalization of marijuana? We’ve done bought all the tickets.

6. Elf 2

Talk of a sequel to this hit 2003 holiday comedy started the moment the film topped the box office its opening weekend, but plans have cooled since then. Should Anchorman 2 prove to be a hit, perhaps that will be enough to reignite the campaign to bring Buddy back to the big screen? This time, maybe move him from the city to the suburbs on a mission to stop a rogue elf (think Melissa McCarthy) from ruining the holiday for the town’s children. Oh, and because this is a special mission, Buddy’s gonna need the elf equivalent of a strike team – made up of Kristen Wiig, Terry Crews and love interest Emma Stone – to get the job done.

7. Team America 2

Last time Gary and his fellow World Police puppet cops were in action, they kicked evil in the junk with democracy-fueled missiles, and busted Kim Jong Il in the process. A lot has changed since 2004, so let’s watch Gary and Co. catch-up with world politics as they’re forced to join forces with their Canadian equivalents – Avengers -style – and take down Insert World Leader Worth Parodying Here. Throw in some puppet sex and at least 50 “America, F!@# Yeahs!” and we’re set.

8. A MacGruber trilogy

Why a trilogy? Because if the Big Momma’s House films can have one, so should this. Also? Because audiences will want a part three as soon as they’re done belly-laughing at part two.

The titular star of the 2009 comedy, Will Forte, recently stated that he and co-writers Jorma Taccone and John Solomon are actively working on a sequel, but story details are top secret. We do know that it will take place during Christmas – hinting at a possible Die Hard -esque storyline. MacGruber, MacGruber’s mullet and Vicki St. Elmo (Kristen Wiig) forced to stop an evil terrorist at Christmastime? Movie gods, make this happen. Then have the third chapter directly follow the events of this film, where we learn that the mastermind behind Part 2 was none other than *music sting* Von Cunth (Val Kilmer)! Yep, he’s back from the dead. And this time, it’s personal-er.

9. Tropic Thunder 2

Director and star Ben Stiller managed to bring an impressive cast together for this 2008 hit movie-within-a-movie comedy. There’s been talk of sequel off and on for years; a script was written for a spin-off starring Tom Cruise’s character, the surly, dancing movie exec Les Grossman. So what’s the plot? Hot off the success of his recent Oscar win, Tugg Speedman (Stiller) sets his sights on big action franchise, a two-hander starring him and Tom Cruise – who plays himself. While also playing Grossman. The original crew – everyone from Jack Black to Robert Downey, Jr.’s Kirk Lazarus returns – and audiences line up around the block.

10. Superbad 2

This is a tricky one. The obvious path to go is one that finds Michael Cera and Jonah Hill reprising their characters in a college setting – but more in the vein of Judd Apatow’s TV show Undeclared than Animal House. A fun twist might be catching up with Seth and Evan nearing the end of their senior year, only this time on the university level – with the threat of grad school or (lack of) work in the public sector causing comedic situations to ensue. Throw in some McLovin’ and a heartfelt thematic message, something centered on the idea of friendship in a post-graduate, no-more-safety-net real world, and this could be the rare sequel that’s just as good as the original.

11. The Other Guys 2

Is it surprising that Will Ferrell comedies dominate our wish list?

2010’s hit buddy cop comedy featured Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg Keystone Cops-ing their way through a dense plot involving financial schemes and hobos having relations in the back of a stolen Prius. We say less plot twists, more laughs by putting the guys in their version of Heat – taking down a criminal mastermind from their past via some truly hilarious means.

12. Anchorman 3

Sure, it’s a little too early to greenlight this sequel, but you know execs over at Paramount are eager to make the call. Not sure where Burgundy and Co. can go with a part three? How about give a member of the news team a spinoff? Brick Thompson as a QVC-type host? So want to go to there. Paul Rudd’s Brian Fantana shilling for Sex Panther in between teaching Comm I courses at the local learning annex? Yes, please.

13. Shaun of the Dead 2

This past summer, Edgar Wright, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg wrapped up their “Ice Cream” trilogy with the sci-fi action comedy The World’s End. And while the trio has expressed little to no interest in revisiting this universe of films, they didn’t completely rule out the possibility. If they ever sequelize any of their works, Shaun holds the most promise. Zombies are more popular than ever since the original’s 2005 release, so a post-zombocalypse storyline makes the most sense to reconnect with Shaun and the gang.

14. Old School 2

Reunion time with the gang makes the most story sense, if you’re going to revisit this very popular comedy. Ferrell has stated previously in interviews that he would love to come back for Old School 2 -- in fact, a script was reportedly commissioned some years back. Have the crew attend their 10-year college reunion and be forced to get into some more R-rated hijinks. Oh, and resurrect Blue. He’s our boy.

15. The Big Lebowski 2

No, we’re not out of our element here. This is a no-brainer. The Coen brothers have kinda sorta gone on record saying they won’t revisit their cult hit anytime soon, and that’s a shame. Put The Dude on another Raymond Chandler-esque detective case – think Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye but with 70% more bowling – and have Walter just go full Walter. Hollywood? This isn’t ‘Nam, there are rules. And you’re breaking all of them the longer you keep sitting on Lebowski 2.