The Reason Ben Stiller Is Glad 'Zoolander 2' Was A Box Office Failure

When “Zoolander” came out in 2001, it was an instant hit. It was the perfect movie for a movie night with family or friends, and everyone was talking about it. It also did wonders for Ben Stiller’s career and is still one of his most iconic roles and movies.

When “Zoolander 2” came out, however, it failed to meet the expectations people had set after its predecessor. It was a disappointment to many, but not to Stiller, who has said that he was glad the movie failed to do well. Read on to find out his reasons.

By the time “Zoolander” left cinemas, it had done moderately well at the box office and had grossed $60 million. Despite the 64% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, the audience loved the film, and its audience score is currently at 80%. The film has also become widely known as a cult sensation for fans.

Unfortunately, the case was very different for “Zoolander 2.” It only grossed $56 million at the box office and was a failure to film critics. Its Tomatometer score is currently at 22%, and its audience score is 20%. 

An issue many critics had with the film was its over-dependence on celebrity cameos and its failure to distinguish itself from the first “Zoolander.” Several audiences said they felt the film was unnecessary and made for fun.

Fans expected that Stiller, who was the main character and director of both “Zoolander” movies, would be the most upset by the failure of “Zoolander 2.” However, the case is quite the opposite, as Stiller revealed in a recent interview that he was a bit happy the movie didn’t do well.

During a recent interview with Esquire, Stiller revealed that he was almost glad that the sequel was a box office failure because it freed him from any expectations and pressure to plan for a “Zoolander 3.”

Instead, with the film’s failure, he was free to pursue something he had a strong passion for; directing every episode for the limited TV series, Escape at Dannemora. The limited series was a huge success and has received several nominations at the 71st Emmy Awards.

Stiller explained during the interview that “If ‘Zoolander 2’ had been a huge hit, then people would have said” Zoolander 3’!’ ‘Do this movie! That movie!’—that might have taken me off the road of having the space to work on developing ‘Dannemora.’”

The “Meet the Parents” actor also said, “I might have gotten distracted by other bright shiny objects, but instead it opened a path where I could just do what I’d honestly wanted to do for years and years, which was: just direct something.”

However, he did point out that watching “Zoolander 2” fail at the box office was a bad experience for him but that in hindsight, he views its failure as a good thing for his career. This could also clearly indicate that he has no plans to make a “Zoolander 3” anytime soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b7CSQqf3Bc

Escape at Dannemora was a limited TV series that premiered on Showtime on November 18th, 2018. It was based on a real-life story, the 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape. Stiller directed the seven-episode long series, which starred Benicio del Toro, Patricia Arquette, and a stellar cast.

When the series premiered, it met with acclaim and was a big success. Its approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes is currently at 80%, and many fans have applauded Stiller’s work. The show got nominated for several Golden Globes awards, and fans think it also stands a chance to win in several categories at the PrimeTime Emmy Awards.