One of Ben Stiller‘s most iconic characters returns to theaters this week. Derek Zoolander first appeared in a sketch made for the 1996 VH1 Fashion Awards, and Stiller brought the dim-witted male model back to the event a year later before promoting him to the big screen in 2001. Now, 20 years since his inception, he’s finally back with Zoolander No. 2. It’s surprising that such a popular character took so long to receive a sequel, but does he actually deserve one?
Below we look at Stiller’s 15 most well-known roles, ranking them from the worst to the best. And I’ll tell you right now: Zoolander is not that high on the list.
15. Larry Daley (Night at the Museum)
There’s a difference between a straight man and a bland man, and Stiller’s museum security guard in the Night at the Museum franchise is the latter. He’s at the center of his movies, acting like a glue for the main attractions — that’d be all the exhibits that come to life — but he’s like a clear, almost invisible adhesive. Nothing about his part in the series is memorable at all. The majority of people who’ve seen all three installments probably couldn’t even tell you his name.
14. Ted Stroehmann (There’s Something About Mary)
Neither his first nor his best example of the awkward, bad-situation-after-another shtick that he’s become famous for, this is unfortunately one his most commonly celebrated. The Farrelly brothers creation is the most ridiculous of his roles, but not in a funny way. The scenarios he finds himself in aren’t realistic enough, therefore not at all relatable, nor is he an interesting enough character, so not at all identifiable, to make them more than just cheap and stupid gag play.
13. Arturo Mendez (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy)