
Want more recommendations for your family?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration
Austin Powers in Goldmember
By Nell Minow,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
What can we say? See the movie first, then decide.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Report this review
Very funny
Report this review
What's the Story?
In AUSTIN POWERS IN GOLDMEMBER, Mike Myers returns as Austin Powers, his nemesis, Dr. Evil, and the odious Scottish Fat Bastard. He also plays the new title villain, a Dutchman named Goldmember because of an accident that left him with gilded private parts. Our hero must fight his old and new foes, who are bent on world domination.
Is It Any Good?
Another year, another Austin Powers movie; that means 30 very funny minutes surrounded by 60 minutes of far less funny jokes about body parts and body functions, primarily relating to the bathroom. Each of Myers' new characters is less interesting than the one before. Powers takes such pleasure in being himself that he is fun to watch, but Dr. Evil is still his best character since Wayne Campbell and Linda Richman when he was on Saturday Night Live. But the more recent additions are not very memorable. Like Fat Bastard, Goldmember's primary characteristic is disgusting personal habits. Then there are frequent jokes about prejudice against the Dutch. Huh?
The best part of the movie is the appearance by a number of guest stars. Beyoncé Knowles of Destiny's Child gives sweetness and snap to her role as Foxy Cleopatra, a gentle tribute to the Pam Grier characters of 1970's blaxploitation movies. There are some great riffs on situations and relationships from the earlier movies, but there are also some excruciating replays of some of their jokes (mostly apparently gross bodily functions) and even excruciating replays of some of the jokes from this movie.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fact that most of the major characters feel unloved by their fathers. How does that affect them?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 26, 2002
- On DVD or streaming: December 3, 2002
- Cast: Beyoncé , Mike Myers , Seth Green
- Director: Jay Roach
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: New Line
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: gross humor, sexual references, and language
- Last updated: April 29, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Best Family Comedy Movies
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate