Austin Powers in Goldmember
The world's most shagadelic spy continues his fight against Dr. Evil. This time, the diabolical doctor and his clone, Mini-Me, team up with a new foe—'70s kingpin Goldmember. While pursuing the team of villains to stop them from world domination, Austin gets help from his dad and an old girlfriend.
Despite a moderate budget of $63.0M, Austin Powers in Goldmember became a financial success, earning $296.9M worldwide—a 371% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) demonstrates meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Jay Roach's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Austin Powers
Dr. Evil
Goldmember
Foxxy Cleopatra
Nigel Powers
Fat Bastard
Scott Evil
Mini-Me
Main Cast & Characters
Austin Powers
Played by Mike Myers
A swinging British spy from the 1960s who must stop Goldmember and Dr. Evil from world domination while reconciling with his father.
Dr. Evil
Played by Mike Myers
Austin's arch-nemesis who teams up with Goldmember to use a tractor beam weapon, while dealing with daddy issues of his own.
Goldmember
Played by Mike Myers
A Dutch disco-loving villain from the 1970s with a fondness for gold and peeling skin, who kidnaps Austin's father.
Foxxy Cleopatra
Played by Beyoncé
A former flame of Austin's from the 1970s who teams up with him to rescue his father and stop Goldmember.
Nigel Powers
Played by Michael Caine
Austin's father, a legendary British spy who raised his son in the espionage business but struggled to show affection.
Fat Bastard
Played by Mike Myers
A morbidly obese Scottish henchman working for Goldmember who undergoes weight loss transformation.
Scott Evil
Played by Seth Green
Dr. Evil's rebellious son who craves his father's approval while maintaining a cynical, modern attitude.
Mini-Me
Played by Verne Troyer
Dr. Evil's clone who is one-eighth his size, serving as his silent but loyal companion.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The elaborate "Austinpussy" movie-within-a-movie opening establishes Austin Powers as a beloved international celebrity and successful secret agent living his best life in 2002.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Austin discovers his father Nigel Powers has been kidnapped by Goldmember, forcing him to confront his unresolved father issues and lost past.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Austin actively chooses to travel back in time to 1975 to infiltrate Studio 54 and confront Goldmember, fully committing to the mission to save his father., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False defeat: Austin captures Goldmember but his father is NOT there - Nigel has already been moved to the present day. The rescue plan has failed and the stakes are raised., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 67 minutes (71% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Dr. Evil succeeds in capturing Austin's father again and activates the tractor beam to pull a meteor toward Earth. Austin feels like a failure - unable to save his father or stop the doomsday plot. His father is about to be killed., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Austin learns the shocking truth: Dr. Evil is his brother Douglas Powers. This revelation reframes everything - his enemy is family. Austin realizes he must save both his father AND his brother through acceptance., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Austin Powers in Goldmember's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Austin Powers in Goldmember against these established plot points, we can identify how Jay Roach utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Austin Powers in Goldmember within the comedy genre.
Jay Roach's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Jay Roach films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Austin Powers in Goldmember takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jay Roach filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Jay Roach analyses, see Meet the Parents, Dinner for Schmucks and Mystery, Alaska.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The elaborate "Austinpussy" movie-within-a-movie opening establishes Austin Powers as a beloved international celebrity and successful secret agent living his best life in 2002.
Theme
Basil Exposition mentions that everyone has "daddy issues" when discussing Dr. Evil, foreshadowing the film's central theme about father-son relationships and accepting one's heritage.
Worldbuilding
Austin's world as a famous spy is established, Dr. Evil escapes prison with Mini-Me, we learn about the mysterious Goldmember, and discover that Austin's father Nigel has been kidnapped.
Disruption
Austin discovers his father Nigel Powers has been kidnapped by Goldmember, forcing him to confront his unresolved father issues and lost past.
Resistance
Austin debates traveling back to 1975 to save his father. Basil briefs him on Goldmember and the mission. Austin is hesitant but realizes he must face his past.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Austin actively chooses to travel back in time to 1975 to infiltrate Studio 54 and confront Goldmember, fully committing to the mission to save his father.
Mirror World
Austin meets Foxxy Cleopatra in 1975, his former lover who knew him before he had unresolved issues. She represents his connection to his authentic past self and will help him understand acceptance.
Premise
Austin and Foxxy team up in the funky 1975 world, investigating Goldmember's lair, engaging in disco battles, and pursuing leads. The "fun and games" of 1970s spy comedy parody unfolds.
Midpoint
False defeat: Austin captures Goldmember but his father is NOT there - Nigel has already been moved to the present day. The rescue plan has failed and the stakes are raised.
Opposition
Austin returns to 2002 with Goldmember as prisoner but Dr. Evil's plans escalate. Dr. Evil prepares "Preparation H" tractor beam. Austin's relationship with his father becomes strained when they're reunited, revealing deep emotional wounds. Goldmember escapes.
Collapse
Dr. Evil succeeds in capturing Austin's father again and activates the tractor beam to pull a meteor toward Earth. Austin feels like a failure - unable to save his father or stop the doomsday plot. His father is about to be killed.
Crisis
Austin processes his failure and father issues. In his darkest moment, he realizes what truly matters - accepting family despite flaws. Foxxy helps him see that love and acceptance are the key.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Austin learns the shocking truth: Dr. Evil is his brother Douglas Powers. This revelation reframes everything - his enemy is family. Austin realizes he must save both his father AND his brother through acceptance.
Synthesis
Austin infiltrates Dr. Evil's base, confronts his father and brother, appeals to Dr. Evil's humanity and their shared childhood pain. Through acceptance and love, Austin turns Dr. Evil good, stops the meteor, and reconciles the entire family including Scott Evil.
Transformation
The closing image shows the reunited Powers family - Austin, his father Nigel, his brother Douglas (Dr. Evil), and Scott - all together celebrating. Austin has transformed from someone avoiding his past to someone who embraces family despite its imperfections.