Zoolander (2001)
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A fashion model is tricked into a plot to assassinate a world leader by a ruthless mogul.
The story
In New York City, award-winning male model Derek Zoolander finds himself at a low point after being replaced as the top male fashion model. Amidst the chaos of the industry, fashion mogul Jacobim Mugatu and Derek's agent Maury Ballstein are tasked with finding a model who can be brainwashed into assassinating the new progressive-leaning Prime Minister of Malaysia, whose policies threaten their business interests. Upon seeing Derek's behavior at an awards ceremony, Mugatu hires the confused model to star in his next runway show as part of a brainwashing plan. Derek agrees to work with Mugatu, unaware of the true danger, and soon finds himself in a high-stakes rivalry with his peer, Hansel.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After being ousted as the top male model, Derek Zoolander is recruited by fashion mogul Jacobim Mugatu. Mugatu intends to use Derek as a brainwashed assassin to eliminate the Prime Minister of Malaysia, whose policies would ban cheap child labor. Derek's agent, Maury, is also involved in the conspiracy. Journalist Matilda Jeffries becomes suspicious of Mugatu's motives and warns Derek, who initially ignores her. However, after meeting a former hand model named J.P. Prewett, who reveals the fashion industry's history of political assassinations, Derek and Matilda flee from Mugatu's henchmen. They seek refuge at Hansel's home, where Derek and Hansel bond while investigating the plot. During a runway show, a remix of 'Relax' triggers Derek's programming, but Hansel intervenes to stop it. In the climax, Mugatu attempts to kill the Prime Minister himself, but Derek stops him by performing his 'Magnum' look. The film ends with Derek and Matilda starting a school for children, while Mugatu is arrested.
- First release year
- 2001
- Runtime (minutes)
- 89
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ben Stiller
- Writers
- Drake Sather · screenplay; Ben Stiller · screenplay; Drake Sather · story; Ben Stiller · story
- Cast and characters
- Ben Stiller · Derek Zoolander; Owen Wilson · Hansel; Will Ferrell · Jacobim Mugatu; Christine Taylor · Matilda Jeffries; Milla Jovovich; Jerry Stiller; Jon Voight
- Genres
- comedy; satire
- Themes
- fashion industry satire; identity; conspiracy
- Tone and mood
- wacky; absurd
- Setting
- New York City and rural hometowns during the early 2000s.
- Premise and plot tags
- fashion; assassination; mind control
- Source material / true-story basis
- VH1 Fashion Awards television specials (1996 and 1997)
- Content notes
- sexual content; profanity; drug references
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews and was a box-office success.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 64% · scale: percentage · review count: 135; Metacritic · score: 61 · scale: 100 · review count: 31; CinemaScore · score: C+ · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Teen Choice Award · winning · win
- Production trivia
- The character Derek Zoolander was inspired by real-life models Mark Vanderloo and Johnny Zander.; The original ending featured Derek being struck by a train.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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