# Austin Powers

By [bocil](https://paragraph.com/@bocil) · 2023-01-19

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**_Austin Powers_** is a series of American [spy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spy_film) [action](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_film) [comedy films](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy_films): [_Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Powers:_International_Man_of_Mystery) (1997), [_Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Powers:_The_Spy_Who_Shagged_Me) (1999) and [_Austin Powers in Goldmember_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Powers_in_Goldmember) (2002). The films were produced and written by [Mike Myers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Myers), who also starred as [the title character](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Powers_\(character\)) and [Dr. Evil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Evil). They were directed by [Jay Roach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Roach) and distributed by [New Line Cinema](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Line_Cinema).

The franchise parodies numerous films and characters, including the [_James Bond_ series](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond) and [_Jason King_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_King_\(TV_series\)), and incorporates myriad other elements of [popular culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_culture) as it follows a British spy's quest to bring his nemesis down. The character of Powers represents an archetype of 1960s [Swinging London](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swinging_London), with his advocacy of [free love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_love), his use of obscure impressions and his clothing style.

The films poke fun at the outrageous plots, rampant sexual [innuendo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innuendo), and one-dimensional [stock characters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_character) associated with 1960s [spy films](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spy_films).

The general theme of the films is that the arch villain Dr. Evil plots to extort large sums of money from governments or international bodies but is constantly thwarted by Powers, and (to a degree) his own inexperience with life and culture in the 1990s.

In _Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery_, Austin and Dr. Evil are awakened after being placed in [cryonic suspension](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryonic_suspension) for thirty years. Continuing to incorporate cultural elements of the 1960s and 1970s, _Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me_ and _Austin Powers in Goldmember_ feature [time travel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_travel) as a [plot device](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plot_device) and deliberately overlook inconsistencies. A proposed fourth film, _Austin Powers 4_, has reportedly been in development since 2005, but has since been [stalled](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_hell).

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*Originally published on [bocil](https://paragraph.com/@bocil/austin-powers)*