Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Austin Powers lives a double life as a swinging 1960s fashion photographer and an over-the-top British secret agent whose confidence and style are stuck in the era of mini skirts and go-go boots. After his nemesis, the bald Dr. Evil, cryogenically freezes himself and reappears decades later, Austin is accidentally revived to confront a world that has left his sensibilities behind. Paired with the competent and skeptical Vanessa Kensington, he tries to stop Dr. Evil's renewed plot while his old-school flirtations and retro gadgets collide with 1990s attitudes. The movie keeps a jokey, tongue-in-cheek spirit, trading complex plotting for sight gags, period humor, and a steady stream of pop culture wink-winks.

Released in 1997, the film was directed by Jay Roach and created by Mike Myers, who also stars as Austin Powers and Dr. Evil, with Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York, Mimi Rogers, and Robert Wagner in key roles.

The movie proved to be a commercial hit, turning a modest comedy into a genuine franchise. Its success led to sequels and made the central characters and style staples for late 1990s marketing and merchandising.

Lines like "Yeah, baby!" and the word "shagadelic" entered everyday slang, and Dr. Evil's exaggerated villain mannerisms became instantly recognizable. The look and sound of the film reintroduced 1960s fashion and campy spy motifs to mainstream audiences, inspiring parodies, Halloween costumes, and repeated references in TV and advertising.

Critics and audiences were split, reflected in a user score near 6.6 out of 10, but many praised Mike Myers' ability to play multiple roles and the film's affectionate lampooning of spy cinema. Major themes include a satire of genre conventions, the awkward humor of culture clash between decades, and a deliberately silly take on sexual bravado and male ego.