Possibly entirely by accident, Mike Myers has single-handedly made the legendary spy action comedy moniker, Austin Powers, one of the most famous and iconic movie franchises of all time. He is, without a doubt, a highly-functioning, multi-talented man whose unique approach to comedy had put him in a bracket with some of the legends of character roleplay such as Jim Carrey and Martin Lawrence. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Myers had acquired international success and has helped to produced truly unforgettable films alongside celebrities such as the Queen of Pop, Beyoncé Knowles, Seth Green, Elizabeth Hurley, Rob Lowe, Dana Carvey, Nancy Travis, businesswoman and actress Jessica Alba, and musician/actor Justin Timberlake. Here are 10 of the highest-grossing films of Mike Myers.

10 Shrek 2 – $935.253 Million

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Shrek 2 is a computer-animated fantasy comedy film that was released in 2004.The Shrek franchise is based on the 1990 picture book, Shrek!, by William Steig, and has a total of five films, including the Puss in Boots spin-off, which together has grossed $3.5 billion. The film follows Shrek (Mike Myers) and his newly-wed wife Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) who have been invited by Fiona’s parents, King Harold (John Cleese) and Queen Lillian to a royal ball following the couple’s return from their honeymoon. Shrek is immediately dismissive of the idea of attending, but is later convinced by Fiona and Donkey, played by comedy king Eddie Murphy. As an ogre, Shrek is not accepted by Fiona’s parents, who had planned for her to marry Prince Charming (Rupert Everett), and with the help of Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders), still intend to do so. The film grossed a whopping $935.253 million, almost doubling that of the original Shrek in 2001.

9 Shrek The Third – $807.330

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As the title might suggest, Shrek The Third is the third installment of the Shrek film franchise and was released in 2007. Trouble in Far Far Away land continues as Shrek (Mike Myers) and Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) are scheduled to succeed a dying King Harold (John Cleese). While on medical leave, Shrek practices for his new royal position as a Regent but fails miserably, prompting King Harold to seek after a more suitable heir: his nephew and Fiona’s cousin Arthur “Artie” Pendragon, voiced over by Justin Timberlake. While Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss in Boots voiced over by Antonio Banderas went to fetch Artie to become heir, Prince Charming vows to take the throne as King of Far Far Away and also repay the death of his mother, Fairy Godmother.

8 Shrek Forever After – $756.244 Million

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The 2007 release of Shrek Forever After also did not fail to deliver, grossing $756.244 million at the box office against a $165 million budget. The film continues to follow the lives of Shrek and Princess Fiona, and gives a flashback of King Harold and Queen Lillian, played by Julie Andrews, who years ago almost signed the kingdom of Far Far Away over to Rumpelstiltskin (Rumpel) (Walt Dohrn) in exchange for removing the curse from Fiona. But the deal was later cancelled when Shrek rescued Fiona, causing Rumpel to devise a scheme to have Shrek sign a deal that gives him one day from Shrek’s childhood – the day he was born. The alternate reality now puts Rumpel as the King of Far Far Away along with his witch army, and only Princess Fiona’s love can turn things around.

7 Shrek – $491.812 Million

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Although the book Shrek! was authored by William Steig and released in 1990, film director, producer, and screenwriter Steven Spielberg purchased rights to the book in 1991 with the intent of producing a traditionally-animated film adaptation. However, it was bought to DreamWorks Pictures in 1994, a company which was also majority-owned by Spielberg. There, it gave birth to the film surrounding a green ogre named Shrek who lives in solitude by a swamp. However, when Lord Farquaad of Duloc (John Lithgow) exiles a mass of fairy-tale creatures who emigrate to Shrek’s peaceful swamp, he decides to confront Farquaad and demand that they relocate. The Magic Mirror then tells Farquaad that if he wished to be king, he must marry a princess, and he chooses Princess Fiona, voiced by the elusive Cameron Diaz. Although he is disgusted by the ogre, Farquaad summons him to rescue Fiona and return her to him so they can marry. But along, the way, they fall in love.

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6 Inglorious Basterds – $316.915

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Written and directed by the creator of Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino gave birth to the 2009 war film titled Inglorious Basterds, which grossed $316.915 million at the global box office against a film budget of $70 million. The film is set during the Nazi Germany rise to power of World War 2, and tells and alternate history story of the assassination plot of the Nazi’s leadership by an 18-year-old cinema proprietor named Shosanna Dreyfus, played by Mélanie Laurent, and a team of Jewish American soldiers known as The Basterds led by a commanding officer named Aldo Raine played by Brad Pitt. Indie Wire even considered it to be Quentin Tarantino’s best film ever.

5 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $312.382 Million

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Every film installment written by Mike Myers, whether it was an actual film or a computer-animated film, has become a massive success at the box office for obvious reasons. Like many of the world’s best comedians, he completely immerses himself in the characters he plays, and in the Austin Powers franchise, he plays the role of many characters. Also, similar to the Shrek franchise that saw its highest grossing with Shrek 2, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) is also saw the highest earning at the international box office, raking in $312.382 million at the box office. Myers played the roles of the protagonist Austin Powers, the main villain Dr. Evil, as well as another villain named Fat Bastard. Other main actors included Heather Graham, Rob Lowe, Elizabeth Hurley, and Seth Green.

4 Austin Powers In Goldmember – $296.338 Million

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After the success of the second Austin Powers film installment of 1999, Myers struck again in 2002 with the third installment, Austin Powers in Goldmember. While it was not as financially successful as its predecessor, Goldmember remained a classic mainly for the fact that the R&B and Pop superstar Beyoncé Knowles played the role of Austin’s side kick and love interest, Foxxy Cleopatra. In this film series, Dr. Evil devises an elaborate plan with Number 2 (Rob Loew), Mini-Me (Verne Troyer), Frau Farbissina (Mindy Sterling), and Dr. Evil’s son Scott Evil (Seth Green) to travel back in time to meet with the Dutch gold-fanatic Johann van der Smut (Mike Myers), who lost his genitalia in a smelting accident. Goldmember developed a tractor beam which Dr. Evil plans to use to pull a meteor to earth, which Foxxy and Powers must stop. It’s later revealed in the film that Austin’s father, Nigel Powers, played by Michael Caine is also Dr. Evil’s father, making the sworn enemies brothers.

3 Wayne’s World – $183.097 Million

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Out of all the successful film franchises starring Mike Myers, Wayne’s World was the most short-lived and the least financially robust at the box office. The film follows Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar acted by comedian Dana Carvey, best friends who are also rock music fans. Together they host a public access television show from Wayne’s parents’ basement called Wayne’s World which grabs the attention of major television producer Benjamin Kane (Rob Lowe). Simultaneously, Wayne is attempting to curve his unstable ex-girlfriend Stacy (Lara Flynn Boyle) while showing interest in a lead vocalist for a band named Cassandra Wong (Tia Carrere). Benjamin tries to stay Cassandra from Wayne with his wealth and handsomeness while trying to buy Wayne’s television show for $10,000. The film grossed a total of $183.897 million internationally.

2 Dr. Seuss’s The Cat In The Hat – $133.818 Million

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Loosely based on the 1957 book of the same name, Dr. Seuss is a fantasy comedy film which was released in 2003 and was the directorial debut of Boo Welch. It marked the second and final live-action film since the 2000 release, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, starring the eccentric Jim Carrey. The film follows Conrad (Spencer Breslin) and Sally Walden played by the young and talented Dakota Fanning, the children of single mother Joan Walden (Kelly Preston) who encounter The Cat in the Hat one day while they are at home with their lackadaisical babysitter, Mrs. Kwan (Amy Hill).

Joan leaves the house clean for a party later that evening, but against her wishes, The Cat in the Hat (Mike Myers) along with his dynamic duo, Thing 1 and Thing 2, trash the house. However, they manage to restore order just before Joan arrives home. The film grossed a total of $133.818 million at the box office.

1 Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery – $67.683 Million

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Released in 1997, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is the movie that put the shaggadelic British spy on the map. The film was directed by popular American film director and producer Jay Roach, who is also responsible for the success of the comedy films Meet The Parents and Meet The Fockers, both starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro.

The film is set in 1967, where the flamboyant and promiscuous Austin Powers is introduced as he thwarts an assassination attempt by his nemesis Dr. Evil, who escapes via rocket into space. There, he cryogenically freezes himself, and Austin does the same in case Dr. Evil return in the future. Dr. Evil returns three years later and straightaway plots to steal nuclear weapons and hold the world hostage for $100 billion. Powers is then unfrozen by the British Ministry of Defense upon hearing of Dr. Evil’s return, and he and Vanessa Kensington, performed by Elizabeth Hurley, team up to stop Dr. Evil’s doomsday plot. The film went on to gross $67.683 million at the box office.

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Sources: Distinct Chatter, Roger Ebert, The Guardian, Hollywood Reporter, Indie Wire

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