Honestly, it’s been over twenty years. Two decades since Mike Myers stepped into those velvet suits for the last time in a major theatrical release. Looking back at Austin Powers in Goldmember, it feels like a fever dream from a totally different era of comedy. Some people think it’s the weakest of the trilogy. Others swear by the opening cameo sequence alone.
But here’s the thing. It wasn't just another sequel; it was a massive cultural event that basically signaled the end of the "super-blockbuster" spoof era.
The Weird Brilliance of the Plot
The story is, frankly, all over the place. Dr. Evil and Mini-Me escape from a high-security prison—which leads to a hilarious "Hard Knock Life" rap parody—and team up with a Dutch madman named Goldmember. Why is he called Goldmember? Well, he had a "unfortunate smelting accident" involving his private parts. He's played by Myers, too. In fact, Myers plays four different characters here: Austin, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard, and the titular villain.
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They kidnap Austin's father, Nigel Powers. This was a stroke of genius casting. Who else could play Austin's dad but Michael Caine? Caine's Harry Palmer films from the 1960s were a primary inspiration for the Austin Powers look to begin with. Seeing them together is a meta-commentary on the genre itself.
To save his dad, Austin jumps into a time-traveling pimpmobile and heads to 1975. That’s where we meet Foxxy Cleopatra.
Beyoncé’s Big Debut
It is easy to forget now that Beyoncé is a global icon, but Austin Powers in Goldmember was her theatrical film debut. She was 20 years old. Fresh out of the main Destiny's Child run. She played Foxxy Cleopatra, a tribute to 70s blaxploitation stars like Pam Grier and Tamara Dobson.
She wasn't just there for the aesthetic, though she looked incredible. She actually had a say in her portrayal. There is a famous story from the set where Beyoncé reportedly asked the marketing team to make her look "tougher" and less edited on the film's poster. She wanted her natural curves kept in, which was pretty revolutionary for 2002.
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Musically, she crushed it too. "Work It Out" and "Hey Goldmember" are still bops. They perfectly captured that disco-funk hybrid the movie needed.
Those Cameos, Though
The first ten minutes of the movie are arguably some of the best in comedy history. You’ve got a movie-within-a-movie called Austinpussy.
- Tom Cruise plays Austin Powers.
- Gwyneth Paltrow is the Bond girl.
- Kevin Spacey is Dr. Evil.
- Danny DeVito is Mini-Me.
- Steven Spielberg is directing the whole thing.
It was a flex. It showed that the franchise had reached a level of fame where the biggest stars in the world wanted to be part of the joke. Even Britney Spears shows up as a Fembot during the opening dance number. It’s peak early-2000s energy.
Why People Get Goldmember Wrong
A lot of critics at the time felt the series was running out of steam. They complained about the "toilet humor." They weren't entirely wrong—there is a lot of it. The "Mole" scene with Fred Savage goes on for an uncomfortably long time. The shadow-play scene where Austin gives a urine sample is classic slapstick, but it’s definitely "low-brow."
However, if you look closer, the movie is actually about fatherhood. Seriously.
The whole third act revolves around the "generation gap." Dr. Evil is trying to connect with Scott (Seth Green). Austin is trying to earn the respect of Nigel. By the end, we find out Dr. Evil and Austin are actually brothers. It’s a total soap opera twist that parodies the absurd reveals of later James Bond films. It’s stupid, but it’s also strangely sweet.
The Financials and the Future
The movie was a monster at the box office. On a budget of about $63 million, it grossed nearly $297 million worldwide. People clearly wanted more.
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So, where is Austin Powers 4?
We've been hearing rumors for years. Mike Myers has said multiple times—most recently in late 2024 and heading into 2025—that he'd be "surprised" if it didn't happen eventually. But there are hurdles. Verne Troyer, who played Mini-Me, passed away in 2018. He was the heart of the comedy in the sequels. It’s hard to imagine the franchise without him. Plus, the landscape of comedy has shifted. Would a character like Fat Bastard work today? Probably not.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’re feeling nostalgic for the "shagadelic" spy, here is how to dive back in:
- Watch the Trilogy in Reverse: Start with Goldmember and work back to International Man of Mystery. You’ll notice how the humor evolved from a dry, British-style satire into a full-blown American slapstick spectacle.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: It’s a masterclass in music curation. From Paul Oakenfold to Beyoncé, it’s a perfect time capsule of the era.
- Check Out the Inspiration: Watch Michael Caine in The Ipcress File (1965). You will see exactly where Mike Myers got the glasses and the attitude. It makes the "Nigel Powers" performance ten times funnier.
- Keep an Eye on New Line Cinema: They still hold the rights, and with the recent trend of "legacy sequels" on streaming platforms, a 2026 announcement isn't out of the question.
The world might have moved on from some of the cruder jokes, but the sheer joy and absurdity of Austin Powers in Goldmember remains a high-water mark for big-budget comedy. It’s groovy, baby. Truly.
To truly appreciate the legacy, re-watch the opening scene today and see how many of those "A-list" cameos still hold weight in the current Hollywood landscape. You might be surprised at who has aged better than the jokes themselves.