Released in 2001, Zoolander is a funny satire about the fashion industry. Directed by Ben Stiller, who also plays the main character, Derek Zoolander, the film features Stiller as a not-so-bright male model going through a crisis.
Owen Wilson stars as Hansel, Zoolander’s rival, and Will Ferrell plays Mugatu, a quirky fashion designer with a calm toy poodle and a funny take on foamy lattes. Despite its humor, Zoolander was banned in Malaysia, according to The Guardian.
What Is ‘Zoolander’ About?
Zoolander has a nostalgic humor. It includes a fashion show by Mugatu called “Derelicte,” which parodies a 2000 Christian Dior show by John Galliano that used homeless people as a theme. (Fun fact: the newspaper dress in Sex and the City is from this show.)
Fred Durst and Lil’ Kim attend the show; Tyson Beckford helps Derek in a walk-off against Hansel; tiny cell phones and large computers are featured. Despite its humor, the plot is controversial.
The fashion industry worries that the prime minister of Malaysia, played by Woodrow Asai, wants to stop sweatshop labor, which would cost millions. Some industry leaders decide Mugatu will brainwash Derek Zoolander to kill the prime minister when he hears Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Relax” at a fashion show.
Meanwhile, reporter Matilda Jeffries (Christine Taylor) writes a critical article about Derek, making him question his career. She learns that the prime minister will attend the show and looks for more information.
Through disgruntled hand model J.P. Prewitt (David Duchovny), she discovers the plot. J.P. tells Derek and Matilda that male models have been involved in political assassinations due to their agility and obedience. When Matilda doubts that Lee Harvey Oswald was a male model, J.P. replies, “the two lookers who capped Kennedy from the Grassy Knoll sure as shit were!”
After this lesson, they are ambushed by Mugatu’s people but escape. They ask Hansel for help. Hansel and Derek talk through their issues, and Matilda and Derek hide out at his home with his diverse friends. Hansel mentions being high on Peyote, and the audience assumes that many characters are high and engage in group sex while hiding out.
They work together to stop Mugatu’s plan; Derek’s new look, “Magnum,” uses a ninja star to save the prime minister. Mugatu is arrested, Derek and Matilda marry, have a baby, and open the “Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can’t Read Good (And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too).”
‘Zoolander’ Isn’t the Only Movie Banned in Malaysia
Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country, has a history of banning or censoring Western movies. Topics that go against Islamic beliefs are often cut or edited. Some movies, like Zoolander, are banned from theaters but can be released on DVD with edits.
Other banned movies include The Wolf of Wall Street, Schindler’s List, Prince of Egypt, and Lightyear. Reasons for bans include alcohol or drug use, homosexuality, physical contact between men and women, and the portrayal of prophets like Moses in Prince of Egypt.
Zoolander would have needed heavy edits to be shown in Malaysia, including removing references to their country, drugs, male-female touching, and the assassination plot. The film was also banned in Singapore.
It was expected that Zoolander would be banned in Malaysia due to its portrayal of the country and its jokes about sex and drugs. However, this did not prevent the film from succeeding worldwide, earning over $60 million. Most people understood the film was a satire.
How ‘Zoolander’ Became a Global Hit Despite Censorship
Being banned in Malaysia and Singapore was a significant obstacle for Zoolander. However, this did not stop the movie from becoming a global hit. Despite the risky plot of a clueless male model involved in an assassination plot and the portrayal of nations as sweatshop centers, persistence paid off.
Zoolander became popular due to its ridiculous humor, unforgettable characters, and bold satire of the fashion industry. The film’s humorous take on the fashion world, with over-the-top characters like Mugatu and Hansel, helped it succeed. It also reached beyond cultural barriers with its humor.
Although it didn’t initially do well in the U.S. due to its release around 9/11, it eventually gained popularity through word of mouth and Stiller’s comedic timing. The film’s spot-on take on celebrity culture became more relevant with the rise of social media, making it a beloved comedy worldwide.
Zoolander is now available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
