Despite a successful career, Ben Stiller has faced some professional setbacks, one of which caught him off guard. In a candid discussion, the accomplished actor shares his surprise over a particular film of his that was not well-received by audiences or critics.
The 58-year-old star recently spoke about the disappointment he faced when his 2016 sequel to a cult classic failed at the box office, garnering unfavorable reviews in the process.
Continue reading for the full story…Ben Stiller delved into the topic on David Duchovny‘s podcast Fail Better, where he discussed the letdown of Zoolander 2 flopping, which was quite unexpected for him.
“I thought everybody wanted this,” Stiller expressed his bewilderment. “And then it’s like, ‘Wow, I must have really f–ked this up. Everybody didn’t go to it. And it’s gotten these horrible reviews.”
A report by Variety indicated that Zoolander 2 grossed a disappointing $29 million domestically against its $50 million budget.
The film wasn’t just a starring vehicle for Stiller; he also wore multiple hats as the writer, producer, and director.
“It really freaked me out because I was like, ‘I didn’t know was that bad?’” Stiller said, reflecting on the critical and commercial failure. “What scared me the most on that one was I’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.”
He disclosed that the situation led to a period of introspection and eventually, new creative ventures.
“The wonderful thing that came out of that for me was just having space where, if that had been a hit, and they said ‘Make Zoolander 3 right now,’ or offered some other movie, I would have just probably jumped in and done that,” Stiller reminisced. “But I had this space to kind of sit with myself and have to deal with it and other projects that I had been working on — not comedies, some of them — I have the time to actually just work on and develop.”
Despite opportunities to continue in the comedic genre, Stiller felt a need to steer clear.
“Was it anger?” David then inquired.
Stiller clarified, “It was just hurt,” suggesting that the experience made him reflect on his creative identity and aspirations as a filmmaker.
Post Zoolander 2, Stiller successfully directed the critically acclaimed crime drama Escape at Dannemora in 2018, which earned him recognition and awards. He also ventured into television, producing and directing the Emmy-nominated series Severance on Apple TV+.
In recent conversations, Stiller also confronted inquiries about his 2008 comedy Tropic Thunder, another film that stirred controversy.
FAQs About Ben Stiller and ‘Zoolander 2’
- Why was Ben Stiller blindsided by the failure of ‘Zoolander 2’?
Ben Stiller was blindsided because he did not expect the sequel to a previous hit to perform poorly both commercially and critically. - How much did ‘Zoolander 2’ make at the domestic box office compared to its budget?
‘Zoolander 2’ made $29 million domestically, falling short of its $50 million budget. - What did Ben Stiller do after the failure of ‘Zoolander 2’?
Stiller used the time after ‘Zoolander 2’ for reflection, which allowed him to develop and work on new projects, including non-comedic ones. - What are some of Ben Stiller’s successful projects following ‘Zoolander 2’?
Following ‘Zoolander 2’, Stiller directed ‘Escape at Dannemora’ and produced and directed ‘Severance’, both of which have been met with critical acclaim.
Conclusion
In a revealing interview, Ben Stiller shared the personal impact of his comedy sequel ‘Zoolander 2’ not living up to expectations. Despite the surprising setback, he utilized the introspective period to steer his creative career towards new and diverse projects, showing resilience and adaptability in an unpredictable industry. His subsequent work, particularly in drama and television, demonstrates Stiller’s capability to transcend genres and to continue evolving as a filmmaker.