In the 2016 action comedy film Zoolander 2, Malala Yousafzai is depicted as dating/marrying the "next hot model" Derek Zoolander Jr. (portrayed by Cyrus Arnold), who earlier had been admiring and reading her various autobiographies.[276]
In the 2023 animated superhero film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Sofia Barclay voices Malala Windsor / Spider-UK (Earth-835), described as a composite of Malala Yousafzai and the House of Windsor.[277] A lieutenant of Miguel O'Hara's Spider-Society, Barclay said of the character: "Who better to model a superhero after than a real-life superhero? A woman famous in real life for her integrity and bravery when faced with dangerous odds: yes please!".[277]
