Ben Stiller, a renowned actor, finds himself at the center of a discussion about the reception of his 2016 movie, Zoolander 2. With a career spanning decades, Stiller's thoughts on this particular film and its critical response offer valuable insights into the world of cinema.

Unraveling the Mystery of Zoolander 2's Reception

Ben Stiller's Perspective on Zoolander 2

Ben Stiller, now 59 years old, opened up about the negative reception his 2016 action comedy flick received. During an appearance on Hot Ones, he expressed his surprise at how critics' opinions can vary so greatly. He mentioned that it's difficult to analyze why they like or dislike a film as it is highly subjective. Stiller went on to share his disbelief over the poor reception of Zoolander 2, which currently has a 22% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an even lower audience score. He said, "It's hard to think it was that bad, that people didn't like it that much. But maybe I'm wrong." This shows his uncertainty and the impact the negative reviews had on him.In April, while looking back on the movie's release with David Duchovny on his podcast, Fail Better, Stiller revealed his initial belief that everyone would want a sequel to the 2001 comedy. However, the poor box office performance and horrible reviews came as a shock. He said, "I thought everybody wanted this. And then it's like, 'Wow, I must have really f—ed this up. Everybody didn't go to it.'" This shows his self-doubt and the realization that the movie didn't meet expectations.

The Impact on Stiller's Career

The poor reception of Zoolander 2 made Stiller fear that he was losing his touch. He continued, "It really freaked me out because I was like, 'I didn't know was that bad?' 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." This shows the emotional toll the movie's reception took on him and his confidence as a filmmaker.According to Variety, the movie only made $29 million domestically against a $50 million budget, which is a significant loss. This highlights the financial aspect of the movie's failure and the challenges faced by filmmakers in today's market.

Stiller's Recent Projects

Recently, Stiller starred in the Christmas comedy Nutcrackers, which premiered on Hulu on November 29. In this movie, he plays Mike, a "strait-laced and work obsessed" man who suddenly becomes the caregiver for his four "rambunctious" nephews in rural Ohio after they are orphaned. The nephews are played by real-life brothers Homer, 13, Ulysses, 11, Atlas, 8, and Arlo Janson, 8, in their movie debuts. This shows Stiller's versatility as an actor and his ability to take on different roles.Next, Stiller is set to reunite with Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore 2, in which he is reprising his role as Hal L., the nursing home orderly who lied to Sandler's Happy about how his grandmother was being treated at the retirement home. This shows his continued involvement in the entertainment industry and his willingness to work with other talented actors.