The series consists of International Man of Mystery (1997), The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Goldmember (2002), all of which were directed by Jay Roach, and co-produced and released by New Line Cinema.

The character of Powers represents an archetype of 1960s Swinging London, with his advocacy of free love, his use of obscure impressions, and his clothing style.

He has also disclosed that the character also draws on his recollections of former Radio Caroline DJ Simon Dee, who hosted the first real television chat show in the United Kingdom in 1967, which ended with his driving off in a sports car with a young blonde in the passenger seat.

Every molecule of British culture that came across the Atlantic was tasted and worshipped.Powers' bad teeth were created by Los Angeles dental technician Gary Archer.

Archer took pictures of expat patrons at an English pub that he frequented in the San Fernando Valley, made sketches, and showed Myers the design.

The Ministry of Defence creates two cars to transport Powers through time: a psychedelic rainbow painted 1999 Volkswagen "New Beetle" convertible in the second film, and a purple 1975 Cadillac Eldorado Fleetwood "pimpmobile" (license plate "SWNGR 3") in the third.

[23][24][25] In October 2005, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Mike Myers discussed the possibility of studio sources moving forward with a fourth film: "There is hope!

[31] In June 2008, in an interview, when asked about another Austin Powers film, Myers stated, "I have an idea, and again it's one of those things that will emerge or it won't.

[39] In August 2016, in a telephone interview, Mike Myers stated "Everything is being negotiated and worked out and all that stuff" regarding the fourth installment of the Austin Powers film series.

Evil on a segment of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon complaining about having been dismissed from a Cabinet post in the Trump administration, raising speculation that a fourth film was in development.

[44] Following the death of Verne Troyer on April 21, 2018, questions have been raised about the potential for a fourth film without the character of Mini-Me, or with the part recast.

[46] In May 2018, Myers reiterated his interest in making a fourth Austin Powers, stating that it would be fun, also hinting that some tribute to Troyer might be included.

Evil will return soon, citing his parenthood as the reason for how long the delays in development in the film have lasted and that Roach will most likely reprise his directorial duties.

[49] In February 2022, Myers told The Today Show he "would love to do" a fourth Austin Powers movie but could "neither confirm nor deny" whether it would be made.

[51] The Austin Powers films have attracted controversy for their adult content while receiving the less-restricted PG-13-rating in the United States, prior to critics' protests against the MPAA's ratings in 2010.

[52] Nell Minow of Common Sense Media expressed concern about the films exposing minors to explicit sexual content.