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File:Austin-powers-cocktail-glass-4900072.jpg

You said it, Austin.


A movie trilogy about a temporally displaced British Ministry of Defence agent Austin Powers, and his archnemesis, Dr. Evil, who is obsessed with bringing The End of the World as We Know It and whose plans Austin consistently foils.

The three films are parodies of the Spy Drama genre, particularly James Bond, to the point that two of the three movie titles are direct spoofs of James Bond movie titles. (Word of God has also acknowledged Jason King as an influence, but they don't make such a big deal of it because modern audiences are more likely to have heard of James Bond.) Lampshade Hanging is everywhere, and forget Leaning on the Fourth Wall, Austin dances on top of it. The series consists of:

Mike Myers played four major characters: Austin, Dr. Evil, his henchman Fat Bastard, and the third movie's co-villain Goldmember. Other characters include:

  • Basil Exposition, Austin's literal Mr. Exposition. Played by Michael York, though Eddie Adams played a younger version of the character.
  • Austin's female sidekicks: Mrs. Kensington, her daughter Vanessa (after Austin travels from 1967 to 1997 by means of cryonic freezing), Felicity Shagwell and Foxxy Cleopatra - parodies of "Bond girls" who usually disappear from the face of the Earth after just one movie. Played respectively by Mimi Rogers, Elizabeth Hurley, Heather Graham, and Beyonce.
  • Austin's father, Nigel Powers. He is also Dr. Evil's father, thus making Austin and Dr. Evil brothers, although they're unaware of this until the end of the third movie. Played by Michael Caine.
  • Dr. Evil's son Scott, played by Seth Green.
  • Dr. Evil's vertically challenged clone Mini-Me, played by Verne Troyer.
  • Dr. Evil's henchmen: Number Two, Frau Farbissina, Random Task, Mustafa, and numerous Mooks (who are nonetheless mourned by their friends and relatives after being killed). Number Two was played by Robert Wagner, with Rob Lowe and Evan Farmer playing younger versions. Farbissina was played by Mindy Sterling. Random Task was played by Joe Son. Mustafa was played by Will Ferrell.
    • Lesser known henchwomen included Alotta Fagina, Ivana Humpalot, Robin Swallows (née Spitz). Played respectively by Fabiana Udenio, Kristen Johnston, and Gia Carides.

Trope Namer for the following[]


These movies provide examples of:[]

  • Above the Influence: In the first film, Austin, for all his womanising, turns down a kiss from Vanessa because she's drunk.
  • Abusive Parents: Dr. Evil's ridiculously traumatic upbringing.
  • Academy of Evil: The evil medical school Dr. Evil went to.
  • Actor Allusion: When Dr. Evil drops Mini-Me and he hops back up, Dr. Evil exclaims "And he's okay!" just like Myers did about Stacey as Wayne's World.
  • Affectionate Parody: The first is mostly, as mentioned below, a parody of James Bond knockoffs and sixties culture in general. This is mostly continued in the second one, with various bits of sci-fi thrown in with all the time travel abuse. The third movie parodies Blaxploitation movies and, well, the Austin Powers franchise itself.
  • Anachronism Stew: Elvis Costello performed in The Spy Who Shagged Me. But the scene in question took place in 1969, which meant he would've only been fifteen years old (and looked much older than that). Of course, this is played for laughs like everything else.
  • Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: When Number Two shows a map of the United States with miniature models of businesses he acquired in the first movie during Dr. Evil's time frozen, he concludes the list with a small factory that makes miniature models... of factories.
    • While snooping around Alotta Fagina's penthouse in the first movie, Austin discovers a folder with some of Virtucon's Evil Plans listed inside. In between "Human Organ Trafficking" and "Project Vulcan" is... "Carrot Top Movie".
  • Artistic License Geology: A pretty minor example; Dr. Evil refers to the Earth's core as the "liquid hot magma core." For one thing, the Earth's core is not liquid, but is solidified by the intense pressure around it. Another thing, it's made of iron and nickel, not magma.
  • Auto Cannibalism: When he isn't collecting it in a box, Goldmember enjoys eating pieces of his own skin.
  • Bald of Evil: Dr. Evil. In the third movie, as Scott becomes more evil, he loses his hair too.
  • The Baroness: The Rosa Klebb type is spoofed with Frau Farbissina.
  • Beleaguered Assistant: Number 2, who, to add to the indignity, was happily running Virtucom as a legitimate multi-billion dollar company before Dr. Evil was unfrozen.
  • Berserk Button: Apparently, despite having little care for Scott Evil for "not being evil enough", his father does not take it well whenever someone goes so far as to imply that Scott is some sort of freak, as evidenced by his behavior on the Jerry Springer show, where his reaction was apparently not faked.
  • Big Little Man: Mini-Me's introduction in the second movie.
  • Big No: Two in International Man of Mystery. A guard while Austin is driving toward him with a steamroller (actually a "STOOOOOOOOOP"), and Austin himself before leaping to push the underground drill's abort button.
      • The steamroller bit goes into Overly Long Gag territory because the Mook stands there for a full 15 seconds shouting "STOOOOOP!" before the steamroller slowly crushes him.
    • And again in The Spy Who Shagged Me. When Dr. Evil hits the self-destruct button, then throws the bottle containing Austin's "mojo" into the air, Both Austins do this while they try to catch the jar.
  • Big Red Button: Two in International Man of Mystery. One aborts the underground drill carrying the nuke, the other activates the base's Self-Destruct Mechanism.
  • Bland-Name Product: Nigel Powers appears on the cover of PYLABYO magazine in Goldmember.
  • Bond Girl: In each film.
  • Bond One-Liner: Spoofed. A lot.
  • Bond Villain Stupidity: Used and lampshaded, most notably in the scene where Scott asks "Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?"
  • Borrowed Catchphrase: At the end of Goldmember, Dr. Evil says "Yeah baby!" Everyone stares blankly at him, and he adds: "No? Just trying it on."
  • Brain Bleach: "Margaret Thatcher naked on a cold day! Margaret Thatcher naked on a cold day!"
  • Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick: Austin's "Things To Do Before I Die" checklist in the third movie:
Cquote1

 Become International Man Of Mystery.

Save World From Certain Doom.

Find True Love.

Go To Outer Space.

Travel Through Time, Backward and Forward.

Be Cryogenically Frozen.

Catch Dr. Evil in the First Act.

Threesome With Japanese Twins.

Earn Daddy's Respect.

Cquote2
  • Brick Joke: In the first film, Austin claims to hate Carnies (or "circus folk") because they "smell like cabbage". Two films later, his father is ambushed by Mini-Me. His response? "I thought I smelled cabbage."
    • When the first movie begins Austin has just propositioned a pair of Japanese twins before he's called away to save the world, much to his dismay. Two movies later (again) the list above appears.
    • In the first movie, Dr. Evil says to Austin that they are 'not so different' (which also doubles as a comedic Actor Allusion). In the third movie it is revealed that they are brothers.
  • British Royal Guards: The Spy Who Shagged Me has a montage where Austin and Felicity goad a royal guard into participating in a Motionless Makeover.
  • British English: In Goldmember there's a scene where Nigel Powers is talking about his sexual exploits and Austin requests that they speak in "English" English in front of the Americans. The proceeding conversation has subtitles.
  • British Teeth: Austin's teeth are so horrible they crack his car's mirror. Becomes a Brick Joke later when Vanessa tells him to use the toothpaste explosive and he responds "I know, I have bad teeth!"
  • Bulletproof Human Shield: Robin Swallows, from The Spy Who Shagged Me.
Cquote1

 Austin: Why Won't You Die??!

Cquote2
Cquote1

 "Your fajah is about to have an unfortunate smelting accident!"

Cquote2
Cquote1

 Dr. Evil: He would make outrageous claims, like he invented the question mark.

Cquote2
  • Culture Equals Costume: In International Man of Mystery. When Dr. Evil calls up the United Nations Secret Meeting Room to give his ultimatum, many of the occupants are dressed in costumes indicating their native countries (two Japanese are dressed as a geisha and a sumo wrestler, a British representative is wearing a Beefeater costume, a Spaniard is dressed as a matador, etc.). One of the characters (presumably an American) is dressed as a cowboy.
    • When we first see Fat Bastard he's wearing a tam o'shanter and a kilt while bagpipe music plays.
  • Cut Lex Luthor a Check (spoofed): Dr. Evil keeps pursuing outlandish things instead of going on to the much easier evil-world dealings. Like Starbucks.
    • This annoys Number Two to no end, since his completely legitimate businesses are hugely successful even as Dr. Evil's plots are always dramatic failures.
  • Dancing Theme
  • Death Trap: Parodied, of course!
Cquote1

  Dr. Evil: "No Scott, I have a better idea. I'm going to place him in an easily escapable situation involving an overly elaborate and exotic death..." (Beat) "...what?"

Cquote2
Cquote1

 "Welcome to my UNDERGROUND LAIR!!"

Cquote2
Cquote1

  John Travolta as Goldmember: Hey guys, do I have time for one last smoke and pancake or what!?

Cquote2
  • Flirting Under Fire: In The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin and Felicity have a tender moment... while standing in a laughably pathetic Death Trap.
  • Formally-Named Pet: Mr. Bigglesworth.
  • Freudian Excuse: Supposedly, one of the mains reasons Dr. Evil became, well, evil was that he was raised in Belgium.
  • Freudian Slip: In Goldmember, Austin repeatedly saying "dad" or "father" instead of other words.
  • Frickin' Laser Beams: Trope Namer.
  • Gag Penis: Aside from everything Nigel says about Mini-Me's endowments, there's the fact that when Mini-Me lowers his pants, there is an audible thump.
    • Goldmember has a gold...er, member.
  • Genre Savvy: Scott Evil, who loves mocking his father's unoriginal plans in the first two movies. In the third, he just gives up altogether and pretends to support his father's plan (even though he's still actually making fun of it).
    • And later, Austin's father.
Cquote1

  "Look at you. You haven't even got a name tag! You've got no chance. Why don't you just fall down?"

Cquote2
Cquote1

 Austin: "This coffee smells like shit."

Basil: "It is shit, Austin."

Austin: "Oh, good, then it's not just me. (drinks more) It's a bit nutty."

Cquote2
Cquote1

  Dr. Evil: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my submarine lair. It's long, hard and full of seamen! (nobody laughs) Nothing? Not even a titter?

Cquote2
  • Inflation Negation: One meeeeeeeee-llion dollar ransom. Memetic Mutation as well.
    • This was so ubiquitous, even King Hussein of Jordan joked around with it.
  • Inventor of the Mundane: During a group therapy session Dr. Evil mentions that his father claimed to have invented the question mark (among many other, equally strange declarations).
  • Iron Butt Monkey: Mustafa, who can withstand quite a bit of punishment before finally dying.
  • Ironic Echo Cut: Without an actual cut, though.
  • It's Personal: Both Dr. Evil and Austin say this this in the second movie, in reference to how Dr. Evil's stolen Austin's mojo.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Nigel Powers.
  • Juggling Loaded Guns: Austin can be seen shaking his arms and blinking uncontrollably whenever he fires his gun. Mike Myers notes in the commentary that it was done only half-intentionally, as Mike himself had never fired a gun before.
  • Just in Time: Played for laughs in the first film. Austin has well over ten seconds to stop Dr. Evil's drill from reaching the Earth's core, but deliberately waits until there's just a second to spare, so that his Big No will look more dramatic.
  • Kavorka Man
  • Kukris Are Kool: Mustafa wields one.
  • Lame Rhyme Dodge: In the first film:
Cquote1

 Dr. Evil: Son, wouldn't you like to see what daddy does for a living?

Scott Evil: Blow me.

Dr. Evil: What?

Scott Evil: Show me.

Cquote2
    • And the TV edited version, which arguably works just as well:
Cquote1

 Dr. Evil: Son, wouldn't you like to see what daddy does for a living?

Scott Evil: Bite me.

Dr. Evil: What?

Scott Evil: Might be - fun.

Cquote2
  • Lampshade Hanging: Ubiquitous.
  • Latex Perfection
  • Laughably Evil: Dr. Evil and his minions.
  • Laugh with Me: Dr. Evil doesn't like to make an Evil Laugh by himself. Parodied in the last scene of the third movie where Scott laughs alone and desperately turns in every direction for someone to join in.
  • London England Syndrome: The Trope Namer was referring to this film.
  • Luke, I Am Your Father: Spoofed in the first film.
    • Gender-swapped in the second film, when Frau Farbissina admits she is Scott's mother.
    • Played straight in the third film, when it's revealed Austin and Dr. Evil are brothers.
    • Spoofed in the second with Dr. Evil and Austin.
  • Made of Iron: Robin Swallows, who survives a barrage of bullets, a rocket, and falling out of a tall building, all while mocking Austin while he uses her as a human shield.
  • Male Gaze: In IMoM, our first view of Vanessa Kensington via a slow pan up her entire body. Felicity Shagwell is introduced in a similar way.
  • Marshmallow Hell
  • Medium Awareness: Austin uses the subtitles to understand Japanese in the third movie. What makes it funny is that the white subtitles are sometimes placed in front of white items, resulting in the subtitles looking entirely lewd.
Cquote1

 "Why don't I just-a speak in English?"

"Yes, that would be helpful! Then we wouldn't continue to misread your subtitles, making it seem that you're saying things that are dirty!" *cracks smile just before camera cuts away*

Cquote2
  • Meta Guy: Scott is the only one who seems to see through Dr. Evil's ridiculous plans and is well-aware they won't work.
  • Mood Whiplash: In the extended version of the first film, every time Austin kills a Mooks, the film immediately clips to about 30 seconds worth of the mook's mourning friends and family.
    • The opening of the first movie may count, too. Dr. Evil kills off his minions who have deceived him... cue Austin dancing to Soul Bossa Nova!
    • In the second and third films, Fat Bastard gives a heartfelt speech about his weight... then farts.
  • Mook Chivalry: "Look, here's how it goes, you attack me one at a time and I knock you out with one punch, okay? Go."
  • Morton's Fork: In The Spy Who Shagged Me:
Cquote1

  Dr. Evil: Save the world... or save your girlfriend.

Cquote2
  • Mr. Exposition: Basil, whose last name IS Exposition.
  • Ms. Fanservice: Alotta Fagina from the first movie is a pretty straight example. Her only real role (besides acting as a plot device to drive a temporary wedge between Austin and Vanessa) was to look hot.
  • Naked People Are Funny: The opening credits of The Spy who Shagged Me play over a scene wherein Austin decides to celebrate his newfound singleness by taking a stroll through the hotel in the buff, his naughty parts concealed by various objects.
  • Never the Selves Shall Meet: Averted in The Spy Who Shagged Me, when Austin not only interacts with a ten-minute-younger version of himself, but the two of them apparently wind up engaging in a three-way with Felicity Shagwell.
Cquote1

 "Technically it's not cheating, baby!"

Cquote2
Cquote1

 Japanese Man 1: "RUN! IT'S Godzilla!"

Japanese Man 2: "It looks like Godzilla, but due to international copyright laws, it's not."

Japanese Man 1: "STILL! WE SHOULD RUN LIKE IT IS GODZILLA!"

Japanese Man 2: "Though it isn't." *winks at camera*

Cquote2
  • No Fourth Wall: The third film. An obvious example is when Austin and Fat Bastard are fighting and Fat Bastard does "the ultimate wire-fighting maneuver", only for one of his wires to break.
    • Not to mention the numerous times when Austin looks directly at the camera when saying something. One example is during the Mr. Roboto scene. Austin, after misreading several subtitles for Mr. Roboto's dialogue, is pretty weirded out. Mr. Roboto says "Why don't I just speak English?" This leads to:
Cquote1

 Austin: Yeah, why don't you? That way I wouldn't misread the subtitles making it seem like you are saying things which are dirty. [looks at camera]

Cquote2
      • In fact, the whole misreading of the subtitles is probably a more blatant example than anything else.
      • Another camera look occurs when Austin is shot at on the ladder near the end and falls, pulling down Dr. Evil's pants to stop his fall. He says:
Cquote1

 Austin: You know, Dr. Evil, I used to think you were crazy.

Dr. Evil: I know.

Austin: But now I can see you're nuts. [looks at camera] Ah, thank you.

Cquote2
Cquote1

  "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! NOOOOOOOAAAAAHHHHH-" *Steam Roller runs him over.*

Cquote2
  • Papa Wolf:
    • Let's just say that Dr. Evil did not react well at all to a Klansman calling Scott Evil a freak on Jerry Springer. To put it another way, if there was any doubts as to whether the violence that's infamous on Jerry Springer was staged or not, Dr. Evil's reaction puts those doubts to rest by showing that that instance at least wasn't staged at all.
    • Nigel Powers is also this when he stops Austin from shooting his other son, Dr. Evil.
  • Pixellation: Used on a woman's bare breasts in the "Hard Knock Life" music video in Goldmember.
  • Playing with a Trope: Arguably one of the entire purposes of the series, as it parodies, spins, exaggerates, lampshades, and puts an odd twist on everything from random dance scenes to celebrity cameos to under-the-credits scenes.
  • Preemptive Shh
  • Pretty Fly for a White Guy: Dr. Evil and Mini-Me performing a music video to the tune of It's A Hard Knock Life in Goldmember is all this.
  • Pretty in Mink: The models in the second movie, and Austin wearing a pimp coat in the third.
  • Prove I Am Not Bluffing: In The Spy Who Shagged Me, Dr Evil blows up the White House to demonstrate his giant moon based laser... except it was actually just footage from Independence Day.
  • Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: "DO! YOU! WORK! FOR! NUMBER! TWO!??" (original release version, while the current releases use the clip of Austin shouting "Who... does... Number Two... work for?!")
  • Punny Name: A lot of them, usually mocking James Bond characters.
    • Let's see, there's Alotta Fagina, Ivana Humpalot, Fook Mi and Fook Yu (the Japanese twins), Dixie Normas... anyone else?
      • Felicity Shagwell.
  • Refuge in Vulgarity: Numerous examples, not the least of which was the coffee gag in the second film.
  • Rent-A-Zilla
  • Reverse Mole: Number Three. Try not to think about it too much.
  • Reverse Polarity: Trying to stop the MIDAS asteroid from crashing into Earth and flooding it.
  • Right-Hand-Cat: Mr. Bigglesworth.
  • Rule of Funny: Honestly, the series has a time-traveling car that travels not by accelerating to 88 miles per hour, but by bouncing really hard on its seventies-style tricked out suspension. If you can swallow that but not Vanessa being a fembot, you need to recite the mantra.
  • Rule of Three: Spoofed in the second film, where one of Dr. Evil's assassins always answers a question truthfully the third time it's asked, because he can't stand being asked the same question three times.
    • Unless you ask a different question in between (like "Do I really have to ask you two more times?") which resets the counter.
  • Sassy Black Woman: Foxxy Cleopatra.
  • Scenery Censor: Spoofed multiple times.
  • Screens Are Cameras: Dr. Evil tends to do this a lot. He has typical villain ultimatums with various world leaders through closed circuit televisions, yet there are no cameras that would allow him to see anything.
  • Sealed Evil in a Can: The freezing of Dr. Evil.
  • Sealed Good in a Can: Ditto for Austin.
  • Self-Destruct Mechanism: Dr. Evil's underground base in International Man of Mystery has one.
  • Sequel Reset: I'm single again! Yeah!
  • The Seventies and The Eighties: "You're not missing anything. There was a gas shortage, and A Flock of Seagulls."
  • Sexy Backless Outfit: Felicity Shagwell.
  • Shark Pool: The third movie.
    • Attempted in the first movie, but they couldn't get sharks due to environmental regulations. They had to make do with (mutant, ill-tempered) sea bass instead.
  • Shoe Phone: Spoofed with the ridiculous items Austin gets from Basil, including a toothpaste tube containing plastic explosive.
  • Shoe Slap: Random Task throws his shoe, as a parody of Oddjob's doing the same with his hat.
  • Shout-Out: According to the Word of God, Austin Powers is a parody to all of the British James Bond-knockoffs in the United Kingdom in the late 60's and early '70s that Mike Myers used to enjoy, though there are plenty of James Bond references as well.
    • Star Wars is frequently referenced in the second film as well.
  • Show Some Leg: Felicity Shagwell says that to guard of Dr. Evil's Volcano Island.
    • Also used by Vanessa to distract guards.
  • Show Stopper: Parodied.
  • Show Within a Show: Austinpussy, originally the intended title of the third film (a parody of Octopussy)), which they couldn't get past the censors. It was directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Tom Cruise as Austin, Gwyneth Paltrow as the Bond Girl, Kevin Spacey as Dr. Evil, Danny DeVito as Mini-me, and John Travolta as Goldmember.
  • Sigil Spam
  • Silence, You Fool: "SILENCE! I will not tolerate your insolence!"
  • The Sixties
  • Skirts and Ladders: Austin can't help but stare when Vanessa climbs up a ladder ahead of him.
    • Austin also can't help but stare when Dr. Evil climbs up a ladder ahead of him (so that he can use a pun with "your nuts" and "you're nuts").
  • Smoking Hot Sex: Number 2 and Number 2.
  • Something Else Also Rises: Austin puts the lotion on Felicity Shagwell's back.
  • Sound Effect Bleep: Utilized during the cutaway to the Osbournes in Goldmember.
  • Spell My Name with an "S": A rather infamous error on the setting titles renders Japan's largest city as "Toyko". Yeah.
  • Stating the Simple Solution: Scott Evil keeps goading his father to just shoot Austin.
  • Suddenly Shouting:
Cquote1

 Basil Exposition: The shouting is a temporary side effect of the unfreezing.

Austin Powers: Yes... I'm having difficulty controlling THE VOLUME OF MY VOICE.

Cquote2
  • Supervillain Lair: "Welcome to my underground lair!!"
    • Brought to its ultimate when Dr. Evil travels back in time and starts getting all the stuff he's used to having as a sixties supervillain:
Cquote1

 "Dr. Evil! Welcome to your secret island lair!"

"Is it a hollowed-out volcano with my face on it as requested?"

"Of course."

Cquote2
Cquote1

  Dr. Evil: Why must I be constantly surrounded by frickin' idiots?

Cquote2
  • Talking Is a Free Action: Generally used, but the second movie is the most blatant about it. Austin time-travels ten minutes back in time to just when Felicity's chamber was being flooded with poison gas... and pauses to have a chat with himself that lasts longer than it originally took the chamber to flood with gas. Time apparently just halts for this, and doesn't start up again until past-Austin shoots some Mooks.
  • Talk to the Hand: Dr. Evil does this, much to the pop culture lacking president's confusion.
    • Not so much lacking in pop culture as Dr. Evil's using 90's-era pop culture lines... in 1969.
  • Tap on the Head
  • Terminator Twosome: Inverted, as Austin and Dr. Evil both travel to the future in the first movie, and played straight, as they travel to the past in the second.
  • Think Unsexy Thoughts: "Margaret Thatcher naked on a cold day! Margaret Thatcher naked on a cold day!"
  • Time Travel
  • Token Romance: Foxy Cleopatra in Goldmember.
  • Torpedo Tits: The basic weapon of the fembots.
  • Trailer Spoof
  • Twin Threesome Fantasy: Austin and the Japanese girls from the third film.
  • Twisted Echo Cut: Used multiple times in the famous 'Johnson' joke montage.
  • Uncanny Family Resemblance: Ms. Kensington looks remarkably similar to her mother Mrs. Kensington.
  • Undisclosed Funds
  • Uranus Is Showing: At the end of the first movie, Austin makes this joke.
  • Unstoppable Rage: Dr. Evil, after a Klansmen called Scott Evil a "freak", ends up going ballistic: He ends up fighting even when being restrained by Steve Wilkos and the other members of security, and after seemingly calming down, he then rushes to attack him again (something that never happens on the Jerry Springer show). And then instigates a full-out brawl on the set. Eventually, he seems calmed down... until Jerry Springer tells security to get Dr. Evil out of the premises, upon which his rage was reawakened, and starts fighting with the host, eventually managing to smash a globe in the ensuing stage riot.
  • Vader Breath: Mocked when Dr. Evil's spacesuit is damaged, giving him a deeper voice and interrupted breathing. Naturally, he takes this moment to tell Austin he is his father. (He isn't really.)
  • Video Phone: Austin has one in his car. Very helpful for Basil Exposition to talk to him.
  • Villain Ball: Dr. Evil doesn't hold the Villain Ball so much as have it surgically implanted where his brain should be.
  • The Watson: Scott.
  • Wave Motion Gun: The "Death Star". (Ripoff!).
  • "Well Done, Son" Guy: Austin just wants his father's approval.
    • Inverted with Scott, who wants nothing to do with Dr. Evil despite his father's attempts at bonding, then finally wins his dad's respect. Too bad his dad becomes Good.
  • What Are Records: Inverted, with Austin trying to play a CD on a turntable.
  • What Happened to the Cat?: Mr. Bigglesworth disappears from Goldmember.
  • What Measure Is a Mook?: Mocked in deleted scenes from IMoM. We see the family of the dead guard that Austin smashes with the steamroller learning of his death. It's notable that the British and Australian cuts included these scenes.
  • Where Did I Go Wrong?: Dr. Evil asks this question about Scott.
  • Why Won't You Die?: In The Spy Who Shagged Me.
  • Wire Fu: Parodied. Fat Bastard tries to use a Wire Fu attack on Austin in the third movie (to the point of actually visibly held up by wires and calling attention to the people in the background holding him up.) One of the wires breaks halfway through, though, and he's just left dangling in the air.
  • You Have Failed Me: Dr. Evil punishes his minions by dumping them through a trapdoor to be burned alive. When he tries it again in the '90s, the unfortunate Mook is left alive but "very badly burned" and is finally dispatched by another Mook with poor aim. His botched execution is Played for Laughs.
  • You Just Told Me: Austin tricks Alotta Fagina into admitting her boss is into "big underground drills".
  • Your Princess Is in Another Castle
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