History YMMV / AustinPowers

** Gifs of Austin somehow jamming an entire hallway with a motorized cart saw a surge of popularity after the 2021 Evergreen incident (where a ship ran aground sideways in the Suez canal, causing a maritime traffic backup so bad some ships ended up going around Africa instead).

** In the RentAZilla scene from the third movie, there's a cameo by Creator/MasiOka - now with all the time-travel involved, where was [[Series/{{Heroes}} Hiro Nakamura]] when you needed him?

* PresumedFlop: ''Goldmember'' is widely considered the weakest in the trilogy and has a reputation as a FranchiseKiller, yet was just as successful as ''The Spy Who Shagged Me'', earning more money domestically and only slightly less worldwide. It also has the highest Metacritic score. The real reason why there was never a fourth film was because Creator/MikeMyers wanted to make ''Film/TheLoveGuru'' -- which ''did'' prove a major critical and commercial failure, and proved his StarDerailingRole.

** Foxxy mentions having a fling with Austin about 8 years prior to their reunion in ''Goldmember''. Beyonce was only 20 when she was cast, so if Foxy is meant to be the same age as her then...

* ValuesResonance: In recent years, having sex with an intoxicated person while one party is sober had become a hot-button issue, but back in the late '90s, it wasn't as controversial. In the '60s, people were even more loose about consent. So Austin, from the '60s in the 90s and refusing to have sex with Vanessa when she comes on to him while drunk, is incredibly refreshing to see.

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Frau stopping Dr. Evil from dumping Scott into the fire pit just comes off as a random joke where [[EvenEvilHasStandards she is trying to curb Dr. Evil's behavior]] [[spoiler: but then the sequel reveals she's actually Scott's mother. Her actions were just motivated by her trying to make her boss treat his son better, she was protecting her own son.]]

** While snooping around Alotta Fagina's penthouse in the first movie, Austin discovers a folder with some of Virtucon's evil plots listed inside. In between "Human Organ Trafficing" and "Project Vulcan" is... [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking "Carrot Top Movie"]]. In the following year, they made ''Film/ChairmanOfTheBoard''.

** In ''The Spy Who Shagged Me'', when Dr. Evil tells Austin "I am your father", Austin says "Really?" in a rather hopeful tone of voice. Come the third movie, and you find that his relationship with his father is traumatic enough that he might have actually ''wanted'' Dr. Evil to be his dad.
*** It's also crazy to hear that line, since it is revealed that they are in fact brothers.

** You may never look at Random Task from ''Man of Mystery'' [[http://www.avclub.com/articles/austin-powers-actor-convicted-of-torture-for-role,61087/ the same]] [[http://www.avclub.com/articles/austin-powers-actor-who-received-life-sentence-for,63245/ way again.]] Made even more horrible when you realize Son had already committed this atrocious crime ''seven years before the movie was released'', without anyone with the film finding out. Imagine how uncomfortable the actors must feel knowing they had been on set with this monster during filming—especially Creator/ElizabethHurley, who had to film a scene with him while she was (supposedly) naked.

*** The film's murderer count was potentially raised to two when Creator/RobertWagner was suddenly named a person of interest in the death of Creator/NatalieWood in 2018.

** Creator/KevinSpacey's cameo as himself playing Dr. Evil in a movie in ''Goldmember''. After he was revealed to be a long time sexual predator, this is ''not'' a guy you want "making housecalls."

** Dr Evil's lair being hidden under the guise of a legitimate Hollywood organisation hits a little too close to home with the reveal that prominent Hollywood figures like Harvey Weinstein and Creator/BrettRatner had been getting away with sexual abuse.
** Scott and Dr. Evil appear on a Jerry Springer segment revolving around villainous fathers. Among the guests are skinhead with a Neo-Nazi father and a hillbilly whose father is from the KKK. After the rise of the Alt-Right, some progressives have criticized the media for what they see as validating viewpoints that could be considered bigoted if not outright dangerous.

** Dr. Evil's plan to frame Prince Charles for an affair so he would have to divorce Diana. Number Two shoots it down by revealing that actually happened, but shortly after the film's release came an even worse reason it wouldn't work, as Diana died in a car accident. (Indeed, that plan was [[EditedForSyndication removed in the UK prints]] since the movie was released there [[TooSoon not long after she died]].)

** Austin's IconicOutfit from the second film. A FakeBrit wearing a red suit and a ClassyCravat? Sounds an awful lot like [[Franchise/AceAttorney a certain prosecutor]] [[note]] especially once the latter started wearing glasses post-TimeSkip[[/note]]. Especially hilarious considering [[BunnyEarsLawyer Aus]][[LovableSexManiac tin]] and [[BritishStuffiness Edge]][[ChasteHero worth]] have almost nothing in common outside of that.

** The sight of the [[{{Gorn}} guard's decapitated neck]] after his head is eaten by Dr. Evil's mutant bass in ''Internation Man of Mystery''. In such a goofy and lighthearted movie, [[SurpriseCreepy it's immensely out of place.]] [[AudienceSurrogate Austin]] gives an understandably disgusted grunt upon seeing it.

** Dr. Evil's plan to frame Prince Charles for an affair so he would have to divorce Diana. Number Two shoots it down by revealing that actually happened, but shortly after the film's release came an even worse reason it wouldn't work, as Diana died in a car accident.

* DirectorDisplacement: ''Austin Powers'' is better known as the work of Creator/MikeMyers, who wrote and starred in the films, than Jay Roach, who directed.

* EvilIsSexy: Alotta Fagina and Ivana Humpalot are this because they are TheVamp for their movies.
** The Britney Spears fembot from ''Goldmember'' is this, too, thanks to her revealing black outfit, the beauty of the pop singer in her early 20s, her personality and the sensual dance moves that she pulls out on Austin Powers.

** In the second movie when Dr. Evil tells Austin "I am your father", Austin says "Really?" in a rather hopeful tone of voice. Come the third movie, and you find that his relationship with his father is traumatic enough that he might have actually ''wanted'' Dr. Evil to be his dad.

** Austin telling Felicity that the 70s weren't that exciting became this once ''Goldmember'' was released, as Austin only spends a few minutes in the 70s before going back to the present.
** In the third movie it's revealed that Austin Powers and Dr. Evil [[spoiler: are [[LongLostRelative actually brothers]]]]. This reveal would be used in earnest in the 2015 Bond film ''Film/{{Spectre}}'', where [[spoiler:James Bond and Ernst Stavro Blofeld are revealed to be adoptive brothers.]]
** In the second film Austin suggests that the 70s and 80s aren't worth bothering with, and are disposable decades. Ironically, this is now a popular sentiment for the 90s, with many people outside of the Millennial and Zoomer generations considering the entire period from the Fall of Communism to 9/11 to be quite unmemorable.

** Gwyneth Paltrow being cast as the woman who can make a notorious lady-killer fall in love would [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse become a very lucrative decision in the future]].

** In the second film, the song "I'm A Believer" by the Monkees is played during the montage of Austin and Felicity spending time in London. 2 years later, the song (covered by Smash Mouth) would also be used in ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}},'' in the final scene in which Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) and Fiona get married.

** In the first movie, due to Dr. Evil's sharks being an endangered species, they're forced to use ill-tempered sea bass in their place. Come 2001, and ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' gives completionists a good reason why sea bass are actually the worse outcome. Bonus points for ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossingNewLeaf'' adding sharks.
** The teaser for The Spy Who Shagged Me tricked us into thinking Emperor Palpatine had somehow come back from the dead on the ruins of the Death Star. Then ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'' happened...

* IdiotPlot: In the first movie Dr. Evil threatens to set off every volcano on Earth if he isn't given $100 billion. He tells Austin that he plans to set the volcanoes off after he has been paid anyway. If every volcano on Earth erupted, entire continents- including North America, where Dr. Evil and his cohorts are based- would be annihilated (by supervolcanoes like Yellowstone, for instance), the sky would be covered in black ash for thousands if not millions of years, and virtually every living thing on Earth would die, including humanity. So, firstly, Dr. Evil's money would be worthless, and secondly, and a bit more annoyingly from his point of view, Dr. Evil and everyone in his organization would be ''dead''. {{Justified|Trope}} since its a spoof film plus, of course, it's [[StupidEvil Dr. Evil]].

* NightmareFuel: The JumpScare of Mini-Me ambushing Austin in the second film.
** The sight of the [[{{Gorn}} guard's decapitated neck]] after his head is eaten by Dr. Evil's mutant bass in the first movie. In such a goofy and lighthearted movie, [[SurpriseCreepy it's immensely out of place.]] [[AudienceSurrogate Austin]] gives an understandably disgusted grunt upon seeing it.

** "Nothing's more pathetic than an aging hipster" is a paraphrase of a line from '50s comedian Lenny Bruce, "Nothing's sadder than an old hipster."

* PresumedFlop: ''Goldmember'' is widely considered the weakest in the trilogy and has a reputation as a FranchiseKiller, yet was just as successful as ''The Spy Who Shagged Me'', earning more money domestically and only slightly less worldwide. It also has the highest Metacritic score. The real reason why there was never a fourth film was because Michael Myers wanted to make ''Film/TheLoveGuru'' -- which ''did'' prove a major critical and commercial failure, and proved his StarDerailingRole.

* TheScrappy: Goldmember. Most fans see him as little more than a half-baked attempt to capitalise on Fat Bastard's fanbase. Myers even says in the commentary that he has no memory of playing the character.

* ValuesDissonance: Mustafa. First and foremost, he was played by the very white Will Ferrell wearing brown facepaint. Secondly, his only purpose in the first two movies is to suffer horrifying injuries.

* PresumedFlop: ''Goldmember'' is widely considered the weakest in the trilogy and has a reputation as a FranchiseKiller, yet was just as successful as ''The Spy Who Shagged Me'', earning more money domestically and only slightly less worldwide. It also has the highest Metacritic score.

** The Britney Spears fembot from Goldmember is this, too, thanks to her revealing black outfit, the beauty of the pop singer in her early 20s, her personality and the sensual dance moves that she pulls out on Austin Powers.

* FountainOfMemes: Any character played by Mike Meyers is very quotable.

** Creator/WillFerrell as Mustafa.

** ''Austin Powers Pinball'', one of the later releases for the original [=PlayStation=]. It was clearly made as cheaply as possible, and has [=SNES-level=] graphics and LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading.

* AcceptableTargets:
** Nigel hates Dutch people for no good reason. His hate for the Dutch might be justified or at least understandable. See FreudianExcuse on the main page. He's also not fond of Belgians because "they share a border with the Dutch" (Creator/MichaelCaine makes this line awesome).
** Austin himself hates carnies (carnival workers) because they have "small hands.... and smell like cabbage."

** The Britney Spears fembot from Goldmember is this, too, thanks to her black outfit, the beauty of the pop singer in her early 20s, her personality and the sensual dance moves that she pulls out on Austin Powers.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment:
** At the end of ''Goldmember'', Fat Bastard loses weight "like Jared" on the Subway diet and has so much excess skin, he says his neck looks like a vagina. Considering Jared Fogle got in trouble in 2015 for sex with underage girls and possession of child porn, hearing Jared and vagina in the same sentence is kind of jarring.
** The opening scene from ''The Spy Who Shagged Me'' where Austin is strutting around a resort in the nude, startling several women along the way doesn't seem as innocent as it used to with indecent exposure being taken much more seriously.
** Gifs of Austin somehow jamming an entire hallway with a motorized cart saw a surge of popularity after the 2021 Evergreen incident (where a ship ran aground sideways in the Suez canal, causing a maritime traffic backup so bad some ships ended up going around Africa instead).

* AssPull: A deliberately tongue-in-cheek example from the sequel; [[spoiler:Vanessa]] being a Fembot comes completely out of nowhere and ''clearly'' makes no sense at all. The film practically [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] how it's obviously making this up so [[spoiler:Austin can be single again]], justifying it with copious amounts of RuleOfFunny. After all, it's not like [[GirlOfTheWeek any of James Bond's squeezes]] ever made a return appearance.

** Basil telling Felicity that she and Austin aren't meant to be. Felicity didn't even get a mention in ''Goldmember''. (There are persistent rumors that Creator/HeatherGraham shot a cameo for the film explaining her exit - similar to Creator/ElizabethHurley's brief appearance in the second film - but if this is true, it has never surfaced, and nobody involved with the film has even gone on record confirming its existence.)

** Basil telling Felicity that she and Austin aren't meant to be. Felicity didn't even get a mention in ''Goldmember''.

** When Dr. Evil goes to the past and mentions ideas that happen to be the same as something popular in the future, are these just coincidences, or is he actually aware of them but taking credit since his minions in the past do not know about them yet?
*** Given Scott calls him out on several things in this regard - like naming something ''The Alan Parsons Project'' - it seems likely he was given a similar crash course for the modern day as Austin, so the latter.

** Enforced with FatBastard who is deliberately written to be this.
** Austin drinking diarrhea, getting some of it on his upper lip and saying "it's a bit nutty" without a care in the world.

** The teaser for The Spy Who Shagged Me tricked us into thinking Emperor Palpatine had somehow come back from the dead on the ruins of the Death Star. Then Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker happened...

* MST3KMantra: When Austin contemplates the complexities of time travel, Basil tells him this. He and Austin then [[BreakingTheFourthWall pass it along to the audience]].

** Dr. Evil's suggestive rocket is even funnier in the wake of the Blue Origin NS-16 launch, which used a spacecraft that also drew widespread comparisons to phallic imagery. The similarities [[https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-compared-to-austin-powers-villain-dr-evil-2021-7 didn't go unnoticed]] by some viewers of the launch, especially as both Jeff Bezos and Dr. Evil are both ultrawealthy men profiting from vastly profitable Seattle-based corporations (Amazon and Starbucks).

* AssPull: A deliberately tongue-in-cheek example from the sequel; [[spoiler:Vanessa]] being a Fembot comes completely out of nowhere and ''clearly'' makes no sense at all. The film practically [[HangALampshade lampshades]] how it's obviously making this up so [[spoiler:Austin can be single again]], justifying it with copious amounts of RuleOfFunny. After all, it's not like [[GirlOfTheWeek any of James Bond's squeezes]] ever made a return appearance.