On August 6, 1997, North American audiences were officially introduced to one of pop culture’s most outrageous and unforgettable characters: Austin Powers. Released in the U.S. months after its U.K. debut, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery became an instant cult classic, blending absurdity, retro flair, and sharp parody into a film that would reshape comedic cinema in the late 1990s.

Created by Saturday Night Live alum Mike Myers—who also played the film’s title character and his nemesis, Dr. Evil—the film was a loving spoof of 1960s spy films, particularly the James Bond franchise. With its velvet suits, swinging London sets, and outlandish gadgets, Austin Powers took everything iconic about mid-century spy tropes and turned them up to eleven.

But Austin Powers did more than just parody the past. It introduced a brand-new comedic lexicon. Phrases like “Yeah, baby!”, “Oh, behave!”, and “Do I make you randy?” became instantly quotable, crossing generational and cultural lines. Even Dr. Evil’s pinky-to-lip pose and drawn-out “one million dollars” threat became a global gag still referenced in memes and comedy sketches today.

While the film opened modestly at the box office, it gained momentum thanks to word-of-mouth, strong VHS and DVD sales, and the sheer uniqueness of its tone and humor. By the time its sequels—The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Goldmember (2002)—were released, Austin Powers had become a pop culture juggernaut.

The August 6 milestone was significant because it marked a shift in the American comedy landscape. Myers, who had just come off successes like Wayne’s World, proved he could carry an original, high-concept franchise that appealed to both young adults and older viewers who remembered the 1960s. His dual performance as both Austin Powers and Dr. Evil showed remarkable comedic range and timing, echoing the stylings of Peter Sellers and Monty Python while still delivering a distinctly American brand of humor.

Critically, the film also challenged Hollywood to reconsider how nostalgia could be repackaged. Rather than simply revisiting the spy genre, Austin Powers dissected and exaggerated its tropes: the over-sexed hero, the useless henchmen, the monologuing villain, and even the unrealistic gadgets. The result was a film that celebrated its inspirations while also cleverly mocking them.

Culturally, the film’s influence extended far beyond cinema. Halloween costumes, action figures, themed slot machines, and parodies on shows like The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live further cemented Austin Powers as a fixture of late-90s pop culture. Music from the film, including Burt Bacharach’s “What the World Needs Now” and Quincy Jones’s “Soul Bossa Nova” (used as the theme), experienced a resurgence in popularity. Even the character’s iconic teeth—a prosthetic designed to look exaggeratedly bad—became a signature symbol of the franchise’s charm and silliness.

Looking back, August 6, 1997, wasn’t just the day America embraced a shagadelic secret agent. It was the beginning of a cultural moment that would shape the direction of comedy for years to come. From college dorms to water cooler conversations, Austin Powers became a shared language, and the franchise’s impact is still felt today in everything from Deadpool to Archer.

In an era dominated by action blockbusters and high-budget dramas, Austin Powers reminded audiences that sometimes the best way to pay tribute is to laugh. And as far as legacies go, few are as groovy as that.