Austin Powers in Goldmember

Mike Myers returns for a third outing as the groovy British spy Austin Powers, this time facing off against a new villain from the 1970s: Goldmember, a Dutch gold-obsessed kingpin with a skin-graft fetish. Directed by Jay Roach, the film also stars Beyoncé Knowles as Foxxy Cleopatra, a nod to 1970s blaxploitation films. The cast includes familiar faces: Seth Green as Scott Evil, Michael York as Basil Exposition, Robert Wagner as Number Two, and Mindy Sterling as Frau Farbissina. Produced on a budget of $63 million, the movie grossed nearly $297 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the series. This comedy crime caper blends slapstick, sexual innuendo, and pop-culture references, continuing the franchise's tradition of parodying spy films and 1960s/70s aesthetics.

The film's opening sequence, a parody of James Bond's gun-barrel intro, was shot in 3D for theatrical release. Mike Myers plays four characters: Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Goldmember, and Fat Bastard. Beyoncé's acting debut as Foxxy Cleopatra helped launch her film career. The production built a $250,000 submarine shaped like a male organ. Celebrity cameos include Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, Britney Spears, and John Travolta. The soundtrack features Beyoncé's "Work It Out" and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Boogie Wonderland."[edit]

The year is 1975. Austin Powers, the world's most flamboyant secret agent, is attending the premiere of his own film when Dr. Evil crashes the party. The bald villain has escaped prison using a clone and now threatens Earth with a giant laser on the moon. Austin's mission is complicated when his father, legendary spy Nigel Powers, is kidnapped by a new foe: Goldmember, a Dutch criminal who collects gold and has a peculiar habit of peeling his own skin.

To rescue Nigel, Austin travels back to 1975, where he reunites with Foxxy Cleopatra, a tough secret agent who runs a nightclub. Together they infiltrate Goldmember's lair hidden beneath a Japanese-themed club in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Dr. Evil struggles with family issues: his son Scott feels neglected, and his mini-clone Mini-Me is jealous. Dr. Evil and Goldmember form an alliance to launch a doomsday device concealed inside a giant gold asteroid heading toward Earth.

The plot follows Austin and Foxxy as they race to stop the asteroid, encountering absurd gadgets, slapstick chases, and a parade of double entendres. The story explores Austin's strained relationship with his father, who disapproves of his son's frivolous lifestyle. As the asteroid hurtles closer, Austin must prove his worth as a spy and reconcile with his family.[edit]