• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Ben Stiller explains why he was ‘blindsided’ by Zoolander 2 failure

Home> Celebrity> News

Published 16:05 24 Apr 2024 GMT+1

Ben Stiller explains why he was ‘blindsided’ by Zoolander 2 failure

Ben Stiller opened up on David Duchovny's new podcast by exploring the sequel to his 2001 hit

Ella Sankey

Ella Sankey

Following the success of the comedy Zoolander in 2001, Ben Stiller revealed why he was 'blindsided' by the reaction to the movie's sequel.

Stiller, the writer, producer, director and star of the 2016 sequel, recently appeared on the Lemonada Media produced podcast, 'Fail Better' with his former co-star, David Duchovny.

The actors began their long-lasting friendship in 2001, when they both appeared in the first Zoolander - a movie that remains a fan favorite.

Advert

The movie has an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 80 percent, and fans are still taking to X to describe it as 'hilarious' more than 20 years later.

However, its 2016 sequel wasn't so well received.

Despite the film starring major actors and celebrities including the likes Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Penelope Cruz and cameos from Katy Perry and Justin Bieber, the film failed to breakeven on its $50 million budget, only making a domestic sum of $29 million.

Speaking on the Fail Better podcast, which is set to air on 7 May and explore the topic of failure, Stiller recalled how he thought the public wanted the sequel after the first film was such a box office success.

Advert

It was used for several famous memes and quotes - but when it came to the second movie, he told Duchovny: "And then it's like, 'Wow, I must have really f****d this up'."

Ben Stiller (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Ben Stiller (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Stiller expressed how he was 'freaked out' because he was unaware the sequel was 'that bad' - with the movie sitting at just 22 percent on Rotten Tomato's Tomatometer.

He continued: "What scared me the most on that one was l'm losing what I think what's funny, the questioning yourself ... on Zoolander 2, it was definitely blindsiding to me. And it definitely affected me for a long time."

Advert

When asked by Duchovny why he didn't want to create another comedy, Stiller responded with: "It was just hurt."

Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller and Penelope Cruz in Zoolander 2.
Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller and Penelope Cruz in Zoolander 2.

He added: "I always loved directing. I always loved making movies. I always, in my mind, loved the idea of just directing movies...and not necessarily comedies."

So, was this failure actually a new dawn for Stiller's production career?

Advert

Stiller says this period of reflection and introspection in fact, fueled new projects and allowed him to direct the crime drama Escape at Dannemora in 2018 (for which he won a DGA Award for Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film) as well as produce and direct the Emmy-nominated series, Severance in 2022.

Featured Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Topics: Film and TV, Podcast, Celebrity, Entertainment

Ella Sankey
Ella Sankey

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • 31-year-old man 'proud' to be a virgin explains why he hasn't had sex yet
  • Ben Stiller reveals reason his ‘incredibly dicey’ film could never be made today in ‘honest’ admission
  • Ben Stiller reveals how long fans will have to wait for the third season of 'best TV show ever'
  • John Cena explains why he never wants to have children

Choose your content:

12 hours ago
a day ago
  • 12 hours ago

    Justin Bieber slammed by fans after revealing brutal insult he gave wife Hailey during 'huge fight'

    Many were left stunned over Bieber's original Instagram caption

    Celebrity
  • a day ago

    Diddy’s former personal assistant details how he would allegedly prepare hotel rooms and what they were stocked with

    David James was an assistant to the rapper between 2007 and 2009

    Celebrity
  • a day ago

    Cassie's mom claims Diddy wanted $20,000 for their 'freak off' sex tape in emotional testimony

    Regina Ventura took to the stand on Tuesday during the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs

    Celebrity
  • a day ago

    Gwyneth Paltrow hits back at outrage over her $75 'vagina candle' with savage three-word response

    The 52-year-old is defending her vagina candle as a 'punk rock' initiative

    Celebrity