Zoolander (2001)

At the end of his career, a clueless fashion model is brainwashed to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Director:

Ben Stiller

Writers:

Drake Sather (character Derek Zoolander), Ben Stiller (character Derek Zoolander),

Stars:

Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Christine Taylor

1 win & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Stiller	...	Derek Zoolander
Owen Wilson	...	Hansel
Christine Taylor	...	Matilda Jeffries
Will Ferrell	...	Jacobim Mugatu
Milla Jovovich	...	Katinka Ingabogovinanana
Jerry Stiller	...	Maury Ballstein
David Duchovny	...	J.P. Prewitt
Jon Voight	...	Larry Zoolander
Judah Friedlander	...	Scrappy Zoolander
Nathan Lee Graham	...	Todd
Alexandre Manning	...	Brint (as Alexander Manning)
Asio Highsmith	...	Rufus
Alexander Skarsgård	...	Meekus
Donald Trump	...	Donald Trump
Christian Slater	...	Christian Slater

Storyline

Derek Zoolander is VH1's three time male model of the year, but when Hansel wins the award instead, Zoolander's world becomes upside down. His friends disappear, his father is disappointed in him, and he feels that he's not good as a model anymore. But when evil fashion guru Mugato hires Zoolander, he thinks his life has turned back round again, that is until he finds out that Mugato has actually brainwashed him to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Can Zoolander and his new friends find out how to prevent the incident before it's too late?

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Plot Keywords:

fashion | male model | malaysia | reporter | time magazine | 

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Taglines:

3% Body Fat. 1% Brain Activity.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 on appeal for sexual content and drug references

Details

Country:

USA Australia Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 September 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Derek Zoolander

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$381,063 (Spain) (4 January 2002)

Gross:

$381,063 (Spain) (4 January 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, VH1 Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Derek and Hansel disguise themselves and sneak into Maury's office, Hansel's jumpsuit has a name tag on which is printed the name "Kumar". This refers to Kumar Pallana, who has appeared in all of Wes Anderson's films (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, and The Royal Tenenbaums).

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Goofs

When Zoolander is walking in the graveyard with the famous hand model, they pass the same tombstone twice.

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Quotes

[first lines]
(Announcer): And here in Malaysia, there is an almost overwhelming sense of euphoria as the newly-elected prime minister has given this nation a gift of hope promising to raise the substandard minimum wage and end child labor once and for all. Already considered a living saint he has become this small country's greatest hope for a thriving future in the new millennium.

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Connections

Referenced in Drake & Josh: Who's Got Game? (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Love to Love You Baby"
by Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte & Donna Summer
Performed by No Doubt
Produced by Johannes/Shneider & No Doubt
No Doubt performs courtesy of Interscope Records

User Reviews

A Classic of the Idiot Genre

Since Zoolander was released, I think I can safely say that it's become one of the most popular dumb comedies of the past ten years (a decade that was all too saturated with dumb comedies). Maybe it's the tongue-in-cheek attitude, or the clever writing, or the fact that it's immensely quotable ("I'm pretty sure there's more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking"). But whatever it is, it makes for a terrifically fun movie.

Ben Stiller is Derek Zoolander, three-time male model of the year, whose brainpower never quite caught up to his really, really ridiculous good looks. After losing his title to up-and-coming model Hansel (he's so hot right now), played by a Zen-ed out Owen Wilson, and the death of three of his model friends in a tragic gasoline fight accident, he goes on a quest to find his purpose in life. Turns out, his purpose in life is as the face of Mugatu (Will Ferrel with the world's best hair)'s new Derelicte fashion campaign--or so he's led to believe.

The plot is not strong. The characters are not fleshed out. But Ben Stiller keeps Derek's stupidity hysterical instead of irritating, and the rest of the cast adds gimmick after gimmick to keep things running. (Come on, the coal mines of New Jersey? Tell me that's not funny.)