Stiller, who stars as Greg Focker in the “Meet the Parents” films, shared with fans that he prefers the first two in the series.

Ben Stiller shades Little Fockers: ‘I stand by the first two’

Stiller, who stars as Greg Focker in the "Meet the Parents" films, shared with fans that he prefers the first two in the series.

By Sharareh Drury

April 16, 2026 4:59 p.m. ET

Ben Stiller. Credit:

Frazer Harrison/Getty

- Ben Stiller teased he might not be a fan of *Little* *Fockers* while chatting with fans about *Focker In-Law*.

- The fourth film in the *Meet the Parents* series stars Stiller, Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, and Teri Polo reprising their roles. They are joined by Ariana Grande.

- *Focker In-Law* will release on Nov. 25, 2026.

Not all *Focker* films are created equal, it seems.

Following CinemaCon revealing the first trailer of *Focker In-Law*, Ben Stiller, who plays Greg Focker across the series, took time to converse with fans on social media about what to expect from the fourth film in the *Meet the Parents* series.

When a user mentioned they had not seen the first three films — *Meet the Parents* (2000), *Meet the Fockers* (2004) and* Little Fockers* (2010) — and questioned if they'd "lose major plot" by jumping into the upcoming film, Stiller responded, "No! But I stand by the first two."

Picking up perhaps on the subtle shade toward the third project that grossed over $310 million on a $100 million budget and was negatively reviewed by critics, another user jumped in to ask, "What went wrong with *Little Fockers*? You worked on it."

Stiller quipped, "We always try. Fully."

Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in 'Little Fockers'.

Glen Wilson/Universal

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*Focker In-Law *sees Stiller return as Greg Focker, joined by Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, and Teri Polo reprising their roles as well. Ariana Grande joins the cast as Olivia, who is dating Greg's son Henry (Skyler Gisondo), effectively placing Stiller in the grumpy parent position that De Niro's Jack Byrnes occupied in the original movie.

The first trailer shows Grande enduring one of Jack's infamous lie detector tests and Greg's ability to make any situation extremely awkward, before revealing she was once a FBI hostage negotiator.**

Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in 'Focker In-Law'.

Atsushi Nishijima/Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures

Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller bicker at CinemaCon while presenting 'Focker In-Law' trailer

Ben Stiller reveals the 1 person he's worked with who left everybody on set 'in awe'

Stiller previously told ** about his experience working with Grande.

"It was great to have her energy coming into this franchise that has been around a long time, and we hadn't done for a very long time," he said. "She's incredibly professional, and watching her on *SNL*, she knows comedy, and she was just a joy to work with. I had a blast working with her, and I think what she brought to the movie is just a very, very new sensibility that also felt very much like it worked within the tone of the movie."

*Focker In-Law* will release on Nov. 25, 2026.**

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