Spy Kids is an American media franchise centered on a series of five spy action comedy films created by Robert Rodriguez. The plot follows two adventurous siblings, who discover that their respective parents are spies and become involved in an espionage organization when their parents go missing.
Background Influences Spy Kids was influenced by elements of both James Bond and family films. The films also exhibit Latin themes, as Rodriguez is of Mexican descent. Rodriguez has stated that the first film was "a fusion of Willy Wonka and James Bond", while the sequel was the "Mysterious Island and James Bond mix".
The spy organization in the film series, dubbed the OSS. These initials are from the Office of Strategic Services, a former U.S. intelligence organization during World War II which later evolved into the CIA. The character Donnagon Giggles was named after William Joseph Donovan, the director of the original OSS.CIA: Look Back … Gen. William J. Donovan Heads Office of Strategic Services The initials in the Spy Kids canon are unspecified on screen, but, in one of the books, they stand for the Organization of Super Spies.
Technical innovations The first two films were shot with High Definition digital video, with parts of the third film using an anaglyphic process to create the 3-D effect. Audiences were given red/blue 3D glasses with their tickets in movie theatres. Four sets of these glasses were also included in the DVD release. The third film was used as a test for a special Texas Instruments digital projector which can project polarized 3D, which does not require the red-blue lenses, later reused for The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D (2005).
Films Film U.S. release date Director Screenwriter(s) Producers Spy Kids Robert Rodriguez Robert Rodriguez Robert Rodriguez & Elizabeth Avellán Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over Spy Kids: All the Time in the World Spy Kids: Armageddon Racer Max & Robert Rodriguez Racer Max, Don Granger, Dana Goldberg, David Ellison, Robert Rodriguez & Elizabeth Avellán
Spy Kids (2001)
After retiring from espionage for 10 years, Gregorio and Ingrid (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) are pulled back into duty for their important assignment despite the fact they were out of practice and were captured. Their two children, Carmen and Juni (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara), stay with their first uncle Felix Gumm (Cheech Marin) and discover the truth of their parents' past, which they had neglected to tell them because they were afraid that if they knew, they would picture danger at every corner; and decide to rescue them. On their first mission, Carmen and Juni manage to bring around their estranged uncle, Isador "Machete" Cortez (Danny Trejo), a genius gadget inventor and Juni helps to redeem a kids' TV show host named Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming). Together, Carmen and Juni thwart the plan of Floop's notorious second in-command Alexander Minion (Tony Shalhoub) to develop an army of androids resembling young children (including Carmen and Juni themselves) for a mastermind named Mr. Lisp (Robert Patrick) and his partner Ms. Gradenko (Teri Hatcher). The robots based on Carmen and Juni became part of Floop's own TV show. The film was shot on location in Austin, Texas and Latin America.
Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
As agents of the OSS, Carmen and Juni try to save the daughter (Taylor Momsen) of the President of the United States (Christopher McDonald) while facing a particularly hard competition with Gary and Gerti Giggles (Matt O'Leary and Emily Osment), the two children of a double-dealing agent Donnagon Giggles (Mike Judge), whom Carmen and Juni helped to rescue them from the first film. Juni gets fired from the OSS after fighting with Gary over a smaller version of the Transmooker, a device that can shut off all of the electronic devices even though it was Gary who started the fight. Juni loses his spot for the best Spy Kid of The Year award, while Donnagon plans to steal the Transmooker to take over the world. On their second mission, Carmen and Juni follow the trail to the mysterious island of Leeke Leeke which is home to Romero (Steve Buscemi), an eccentric scientist who attempted to create genetically miniaturized animals, but instead wounded up with his island inhabited by mutant monsters. Eventually, Donnagon is fired and Gary is suspended, and the Transmooker is destroyed. Juni is offered his job back, but in order to take a break from the OSS, he retires to begin his own private eye agency.
Spy Kids 3D: Game Over (2003)
After retiring from the OSS, Juni is thrust back into service when an evil mastermind named Sebastian "The Toymaker" (Sylvester Stallone) creates a fictional video game called Game Over, which hypnotizes its users. Carmen was sent on a mission to disable the game, but disappeared on Level 4. With the help of his maternal grandfather, Valentin Avellan (Ricardo Montalban), who uses a wheelchair, Juni is sent after Carmen and helps her to disable the game in order to save the world. It is revealed that Sebastian was the one who disabled Valentin in the first place. Instead of avenging his ex-partner, Valentin forgives Sebastian who is redeemed.
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011)
The OSS has become the world's top spy agency, while the Spy Kids department has become defunct. Marissa (Jessica Alba), a retired spy, is thrown back into the action along with her two stepchildren, Rebecca and Cecil (Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook), when a maniacal Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) attempts to take over the world. In order to save the world, Rebecca and Cecil must team up with Marissa.
Spy Kids: Armageddon (2023)
The fifth installment titled Spy Kids: Armageddon, served as a relaunch of the franchise, involves a plot that centers on a multicultural family. Robert Rodriguez is again writer/director, while the project is a joint-venture production between Skydance Media and Spyglass Media Group. The film was released on Netflix, making it the second Spy Kids project produced for the platform. Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla and Connor Esterson were set to star, along with Billy Magnussen and D. J. Cotrona. The plotline for the film: "When the children of the world's greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful Game Developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, they must become spies themselves to save their parents and the world". Production of the film wrapped in late August 2022, and was released on Netflix on September 22, 2023.
Though the movie does not include other characters from the franchise, Rodriguez confirmed that it takes place in the same continuity as the previous installments.
Future In September 2023, Rodriguez confirmed that global streamer Netflix intends to develop additional Spy Kids movies, with the filmmaker expressing hope to begin production on a sequel the following year. Rodriguez stated that Armageddon incorporated a new family because so much time had passed since All the Time in the World, and so he wanted to incorporate a new set of characters before returning to what came before; confirming that he intends to bring back "legacy characters" from the previous installments in future movies.
Television Series Season Episodes Originally released Showrunner(s) Network(s) Spy Kids: Mission Critical 1 10 F.M. De Marco Netflix 2
Spy Kids: Mission Critical (2018)
An animated TV series based on the films, Spy Kids: Mission Critical, was released on Netflix in 2018. The first and second seasons both consist of 10 episodes and is produced by Canada-based Mainframe Studios. Robert Rodriguez was one of the executive producers on the show.
Main cast and characters
Characters Films Television Spy Kids Spy Kids 2: Spy Kids 3-D: Spy Kids: Spy Kids: Spy Kids: Carmen Cortez Alexa VegaAddisyn Fair Alexa Vega Ashley Bornancin Juni Cortez Daryl Sabara Carter Hastings Isador "Machete" Cortez Danny Trejo Fegan Floop Alan Cumming colspan="2" Christian Lanz Felix Gumm Cheech Marin colspan="3" Donnagon Giggles Mike Judge colspan="3" Alexander Minion Tony Shalhoub colspan="3" Gregorio Cortez Antonio Banderas rowspan="2" Christian Lanz Ingrid Cortez (née Avellán) Carla Gugino Mira Sorvino Ms. Gradenko Teri Hatcher colspan="5" Mr. Lisp Robert Patrick colspan="5" Devlin George Clooney George Clooney D. J. Cotrona Gary Giggles Matt O'Leary colspan="3" Gerti Giggles Emily Osment colspan="3" Romero Steve Buscemi colspan="3" Valentin Avellán Ricardo Montalbán colspan="3" Helga Avellán Holland Taylor colspan="2" Dinky Winks Bill Paxton colspan="3" Alexandra Taylor Momsen colspan="4" President of the United States Christopher McDonald colspan="4" Sebastian colspan="2" Sylvester Stallone colspan="3" Arnold colspan="2" Ryan Pinkston colspan="3" Francis colspan="2" Bobby Edner colspan="3" Rez colspan="2" Robert Vito colspan="3" Demetra colspan="2" Courtney Jines colspan="3" Francesca "Cesca" Giggles colspan="2" Salma Hayek colspan="3" The Guy colspan="2" Elijah Wood colspan="3" Rebecca Wilson colspan="3" Rowan Blanchard colspan="2" Cecil Wilson colspan="3" Mason Cook colspan="2" Maria Wilson colspan="3" Belle SolorzanoGenny Solorzano colspan="2" Marissa Wilson (née Cortez) colspan="3" Jessica Alba colspan="2" Wilbur Wilson colspan="3" Joel McHale colspan="2" Agent Argonaut colspan="3" ElmoRicky Gervais colspan="2" Dane "Danger" D'Amo colspan="3" Jeremy PivenJett Good colspan="2" Tick-Tock colspan="3" Jeremy Piven colspan="2" Editor / Cameraman colspan="3" Wray Krawford colspan="2" Patricia "Patty" Tango-Torrez colspan="4" Everly Carganilla Antonio "Tony" Tango-Torrez colspan="4" Connor Esterson Nora Torrez colspan="4" Gina Rodriguez Terrence Tango colspan="4" Zachary Levi Rey “The King” Kingston colspan="4" Billy Magnussen Heck Knight colspan="4" Joe Schilling Glitch colspan="5" Caitlyn Bairstow Gablet colspan="5" Ace colspan="5" Nicholas Coombe Claudia Floop colspan="5" Nesta Cooper Sir Awesome colspan="5" Richard Ian Cox Peter St. Ignatius colspan="5" Travis Turner Golden Brain colspan="5" Tom Kenny Spurious Visage colspan="5" Professor Küpkakke colspan="5" Kopi Vasquez colspan="5" Candi Milo Vida Immortata colspan="5" Desmond "Dez" Vasquez colspan="5" Yuri Lowenthal Zedmond "Zed" Vasquez colspan="5" Jaime Vasquez colspan="5" Jason "Improv" Pietranthony colspan="5" Bradley Feinstein colspan="5" Patton Oswalt Dr. Chad Jericho colspan="5" Thomas Lennon JT the Worm colspan="5" Bobcat Goldthwait Agent No-One colspan="5" Terrence StoneRobert Englund
Additional crew and production details FilmCrew/Detail Composer(s) Cinematographer(s) Editor Production companies Distributing company Running time Spy Kids Danny Elfman, Gavin Greenaway, Heitor Pereira, John Debney, Robert Rodriguez, Los Lobos, and Harry Gregson-Williams Guillermo Navarro Robert Rodriguez Troublemaker StudiosDimension Films Miramax Films 1 hour 28 minutes Spy Kids 2: John Debney & Robert Rodriguez Robert Rodriguez 1 hour 40 minutes Spy Kids 3-D: Robert Rodriguez 1 hour 24 minutes Spy Kids: Robert Rodriguez & Carl Thiel Robert Rodriguez & Jimmy Lindsey Robert Rodriguez & Rebecca Rodriguez The Weinstein Company 1 hour 29 minutes Spy Kids: Rebel Rodriguez, John Debney & Robert Rodriguez Robert Rodriguez Robert Rodriguez Troublemaker StudiosSkydance MediaSpyglass Media Group Netflix 1 hour 37 minutes
Reception Box office performance Film Release date Box office gross Budget North America Otherterritories Worldwide Spy Kids March 30, 2001 $112,719,001 $35,215,179 $147,934,180 $35,000,000 Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams August 7, 2002 $85,846,429 $33,876,929 $119,723,358 $38,000,000 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over July 25, 2003 $111,761,982 $85,339,696 $197,101,678 $32,500,000 Spy Kids: All the Time in the World August 18, 2011 $38,538,188 $47,026,122 $85,564,310 $27,000,000 Total $ $ $ $132,500,000
Critical and public response