Summary

• The Austin Powers franchise consists of three movies that are both successful at the box office and critically acclaimed, with the series revolving around the character Austin Powers and his rivalry with Dr. Evil.
• Mike Myers is at the center of the franchise, having written, produced, and starred in all three films. He was inspired to create the character of Austin Powers while listening to "The Look of Love" by Burt Bacharach.
• Fans can watch the Austin Powers movies in either release order or chronological order, with the first movie premiering in 1997 and the third and final movie released in 2002.
• Despite rumors of a fourth film, the trilogy is seen as a suitable end to the series.

The Austin Powers franchise began in the late 1990s and would go on to spawn two successful movies, both at the box office and with critics and audiences, and there is an order in which to watch the films. Although the series (tentatively) ended in the early 2000s, the spy comedy movies continue to be popular today and some of Mike Myers' best work — aside from Wayne's World and Shrek, of course. The trilogy revolves around the titular character Austin Powers, a 1960s British spy, and his rivalry with an evil genius appropriately named Dr. Evil. The films delve deep into the satirical genre as they consistently acknowledge other spy movies, like James Bond and Jason King.

Myers is at the center of the Austin Powers franchise, having written (or co-written), produced, and starred (as multiple characters) in all three films. When Myers was driving and listening to "The Look of Love" by Burt Bacharach, he was inspired to develop a character who embodied the Swinging Sixties culture. Each installment continues Austin Powers' story as a spy trying to defeat Dr. Evil once and for all and living the life of a bachelor. Although the third movie aired more than 20 years ago, rumors surrounding a fourth one live on. While fans hope and pray for another Austin Powers film, they can watch the first three in release or chronological order.

Austin Powers Movies In Release Order

The Austin Powers film series kicked off in the spring of 1997, and even though the first movie received mixed reviews and was a bit of a disappointment at the box office, the production company ordered a sequel. The second installment was much more successful than the first, leading to the third film a few years later, and the rest is history. Here is how to watch every Austin Powers movie in order of release date.

Austin Powers Movies In Chronological Order Of Events

Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery

Box Office: $67.7 million | Runtime: 1 hour, 29 minutes

Cast: Mike Myers as Austin Powers/Dr. Evil, Elizabeth Hurley as Vanessa Kensington, Robert Wagner as Number 2, Seth Green as Scott Evil, Mindy Sterling as Frau Farbissina, Michael York as Basil Exposition, Fabiana Udenio as Alotta Fagina, Will Ferrell as Mustafa, Mimi Rogers as Mrs. Kensington, Joe Son as Random Task, Paul Dillon as Paddy O'Brien, Charles Napier as Commander Gilmour, Elya Baskin as General Borschevsky, Clint Howard as Johnson Ritter, Neil Mullarkey as Quartermaster Clerk, and Brian George as UN Secretary

Cameos: Tom Arnold as Texan, Carrie Fisher as Therapist, and Burt Bacharach as Himself

Even though the Austin Powers movies jump around in time, their chronological order is the same as the release order. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery introduced the world to Mike Myers' British spy character. The film established the rivalry between Austin Powers and Dr. Evil in London in 1967. After the villain escaped into space and cryogenically froze himself, the spy also decided to enter cryostasis so that he could stop Dr. Evil when he returned in the future. Thirty years later, their fight continued, and Austin enlisted the help of Agent Vanessa Kensington to thwart the evil genius.

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

Box Office: $312 million | Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes

Cast: Mike Myers as Austin Powers/Dr. Evil/Fat Bastard, Heather Graham as Felicity Shagwell, Michael York as Basil Exposition, Robert Wagner as Number 2, Rob Lowe as Young Number 2, Mindy Sterling as Frau Farbissina, Seth Green as Scott Evil, Verne Troyer as Mini-Me, Elizabeth Hurley as Vanessa Kensington, Gia Carides as Robin Spitz-Swallows, Will Ferrell as Mustafa, Oliver Muirhead as British Colonel, Clint Howard as Johnson Ritter, Kristen Johnston as Ivana Humpalot, Jeff Garlin as Cyclops, Charles Napier as General Hawk, Tim Robbins as Richard Nixon, Kevin Durand as Bazooka Marksman Joe, and Fred Willard as Mission Commander

Cameos: Burt Bacharach as Himself, Elvis Costello as Himself, Jerry Springer as Himself, Steve Wilkos as Himself, Rebecca Romijn as Herself, Woody Harrelson as Himself, and Willie Nelson as Himself

The first Austin Powers sequel — Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me — picked up with Austin and Vanessa newly married. Unfortunately, Dr. Evil replaced Austin's wife with a fembot, and Austin was resigned to move on. It didn't take him too long to find another partner, though, and the spy teamed up with Agent Felicity Shagwell to face off against Dr. Evil. The villain used time travel to go back to 1969 to remove Austin's mojo from his body in cryostasis.

Austin Powers In Goldmember

Box Office: $296.7 million | Runtime: 1 hour, 34 minutes

Cast: Mike Myers as Austin Powers/Dr. Evil/Fat Bastard/Goldmember, Aaron Himelstein as young Austin Powers, Josh Zuckerman as young Dr. Evil, Beyoncé Knowles as Foxxy Cleopatra, Michael York as Basil Exposition, Eddie Adams as young Basil Exposition, Michael Caine as Nigel Powers, Robert Wagner as Number 2, Rob Lowe as Middle Number 2, Evan Farmer as Young Number 2, Seth Green as Scott Evil, Verne Troyer as Mini-Me, Mindy Sterling as Frau Farbissina, Fred Savage as Number Three, Clint Howard as Radar Operator Johnson Ritter, Kinga Philipps as Mrs. Powers, Carrie Ann Inaba as Fook Yu, Diane Mizota as Fook Mi, Nobu Matsuhisa as Mr. Roboto, and Jeannette Charles as Queen Elizabeth II

Cameos: Tom Cruise as Himself as Austin Powers, Danny DeVito as Himself as Mini-Me, Gwyneth Paltrow as Herself as Dixie Normous, Kevin Spacey as Himself as Dr. Evil, Steven Spielberg as Himself, Quincy Jones as Himself, John Travolta as Himself as Goldmember, Britney Spears as Herself, Donna D'Errico as Female Vendor, Fred Stoller as Melon Guy, Ozzy Osbourne as Himself, Sharon Osbourne as Herself, Kelly Osbourne as Herself, Jack Osbourne as Himself, Burt Bacharach as Himself, Nathan Lane as Mysterious Disco Man, and Katie Couric as Georgia State Prison guard

The final Austin Powers film — Austin Powers in Goldmember — featured the introduction of a new supervillain, Johann van der Smut, aka Goldmember, who kidnapped Austin's father, Nigel. Austin time-traveled to 1975, where he teamed up with his former lover, Agent Foxxy Cleopatra, to save his father. The third Austin Powers movie ends with a handful of surprises and plot twists (and the making of a fictional film, Austinpussy, based on Austin's life), making it a suitable end to the trilogy.