Spy Kids
{{Short description|Media franchise}}
{{about|the franchise|the film|Spy Kids (film)|other uses}}
{{Infobox media franchise
| title = Spy Kids
| image = Spy_Kids_logo.png
| caption = Official film series logo
| creator = Robert Rodriguez
| owner = Troublemaker Studios
| origin = Spy Kids (2001)
| years = 2001–present
| books = List of books
| comics = List of comics
| films = {{Plainlist|
- Spy Kids (2001)
- Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
- Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)
- Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011)
- Spy Kids: Armageddon (2023)
}}
| vgs =
| soundtracks = {{Plainlist|
- Spy Kids
- 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
}}
| atv = Spy Kids: Mission Critical (2018)
| otherlabel1 = Total Box Office
| otherdata1 = $550.3 million
}}
Spy Kids is an American media franchise centered on a series of spy action comedy films created by Robert Rodriguez. The plot follows various children, who discover that their respective parents are spies and become involved in an espionage organization when their parents go missing. The films include Hispanic themes, as Rodriguez is of Mexican descent.{{cite web |url=http://gulfnews.com/arts-entertainment/celebrity/machete-director-robert-rodriguez-doesn-t-see-oscar-future-1.1246087 |title='Machete' director Robert Rodriguez doesn't see Oscar future |author=AFP |date=October 23, 2013 |publisher=/gulfnews.com |access-date=October 4, 2014}}
Background
= Influences =
Spy Kids was influenced by elements of the James Bond movies, through the genre of family films. Rodriguez has stated that the first movie was "a fusion of Willy Wonka and James Bond",{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/apr/11/artsfeatures1 |title=Interview with Mexican director Robert Rodriguez | Film |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2001-04-11 |access-date=2018-09-16}} while the second was the "Mysterious Island and James Bond mix".
The spy organization in the films is called 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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100324152943/https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/gen.-william-j.-donovan-heads-oss.html CIA: Look Back … Gen. William J. Donovan Heads Office of Strategic Services] The initials in the Spy Kids universe are never specified on screen, but, in one of the books, they stand for the Organization of Super Spies.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
= Themes =
One of the main themes of Spy Kids is the unity of family. The children have adult responsibilities, and a lesson is that keeping secrets from family members can have a negative effect on relationships. The first film also deals extensively with sibling rivalry and the responsibility of older children. There is also a strong sense of Latino heritage.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
= Technical innovations =
The other films were shot with High Definition digital video,{{cite magazine | date = August 2002 | author = Fred Topel | title = Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams | quote = Rodriguez shot SPY KIDS 2 entirely with High Definition digital cameras | magazine = Cinefantastique | volume = 34 | issue = 5 | pages= 46–49 | url = https://archive.org/details/CinefantastiqueVol34No5Aug2002/page/n48}} 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).{{Cite web |date=2016-05-27|title=Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/dvds/Spy-Kids-3-Game-Over-85.html|access-date=2021-01-29|website=CINEMABLEND}}{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2005 |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3-D movie review (2005) |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-adventures-of-shark-boy-and-lava-girl-in-3-d-2005 |website=RogerEbert.com |access-date=2021-01-29}}
Films
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center; width:99%;" |
| scope="col" style="width:24%;" | Film
! scope="col" | U.S. release date ! scope="col" | Director ! scope="col" | Screenwriter(s) ! scope="col" | Producers |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:left" | Spy Kids
| {{Dts|2001|03|30}} | colspan="2" rowspan="4"|Robert Rodriguez | rowspan="4"|Elizabeth Avellán and Robert Rodriguez |
| scope="row" style="text-align:left" | Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
| {{Dts|2002|08|07}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:left" | Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
| {{Dts|2003|07|25}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:left" | Spy Kids: All the Time in the World
| {{Dts|2011|08|19}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:left" | Spy Kids: Armageddon
| {{Dts|2023|09|22}} | Robert Rodriguez | Robert Rodriguez & Racer Max | David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Racer Max, Robert Rodriguez and Elizabeth Avellán |
=''Spy Kids'' (2001)=
{{main|Spy Kids (film)}}
After retiring from espionage for ten 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 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 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 show. The film was shot on location in Austin, Texas. {{cite web |url=https://atxgossip.com/a-complete-guide-to-all-spy-kids-filming-locations/ |title=Spy Kids Filming Locations ATXgossip.com }}
= ''Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams'' (2002) =
{{main|Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams}}
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 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 miniaturised animals, but instead ended 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 start his own private eye agency.
= ''Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over'' (2003) =
{{main|Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over}}
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 former partner, Valentin forgives Sebastian who is redeemed.
= ''Spy Kids: All the Time in the World'' (2011) =
{{main|Spy Kids: All the Time in the World}}
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) =
{{Main|Spy Kids: Armageddon}}
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.{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=January 26, 2021|title=Skydance Media To Reimagine The 'Spy Kids' Franchise With Spyglass Media And Series Creator Robert Rodriguez|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/skydance-media-spy-kids-spyglass-media-robert-rodriguez-1234680783/|access-date=January 29, 2021|website=Deadline}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/spy-kids-reboot-robert-rodriguez-1234892682/|work=Variety|title=Robert Rodriguez Rebooting 'Spy Kids' Franchise at Skydance Media|author=Rubin, Rebecca|date=January 26, 2021|accessdate=March 21, 2022}} The film is scheduled for distribution on Netflix,{{cite web |last1=Grobar |first1=Matt |title='Spy Kids' Franchise Reimagining In Works At Netflix; Robert Rodriguez Returning To Mount Next Film For Skydance, Spyglass |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/spy-kids-reimagining-in-works-robert-rodriguez-directing-for-netflix-1234990843/ |website=Deadline |access-date=March 30, 2022 |date=March 30, 2022}} making it the second Spy Kids project produced for the platform.{{Cite web |date=May 25, 2022 |title=Production Weekly – Issue 1300 – Thursday, May 26, 2022 / 17 Listings – 38 Pages |url=https://www.productionweekly.com/production-weekly-issue-1300-thursday-may-26-2022-177-listings-38-pages/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607174914/https://www.productionweekly.com/production-weekly-issue-1300-thursday-may-26-2022-177-listings-38-pages/ |archive-date=June 7, 2022 |access-date=June 9, 2022 |website=Production Weekly}} Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla and Connor Esterson were set to star,{{cite web |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |date=June 23, 2022 |title='Spy Kids': Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla And Connor Esterson Starring In Reboot For Netflix, Skydance And Spyglass |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/spy-kids-gina-rodriguez-zachary-levi-netflix-and-skydance-1235050398/ |access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} along with Billy Magnussen{{cite web |last1=Cordero |first1=Rosy |date=July 23, 2022 |title='Spy Kids': Billy Magnussen Joins Netflix Reboot |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/spy-kids-billy-magnussen-netflix-reboot-1235073989/ |access-date=July 24, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} and D. J. Cotrona.{{cite web |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |date=August 8, 2022 |title='Spy Kids': DJ Cotrona Joins Next Installment For Netflix, Skydance And Spyglass |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/spy-kids-dj-cotrona-netflix-1235087490/ |access-date=September 12, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} 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".{{cite news |title='Spy Kids': Netflix Introduces Cast and Plot for Upcoming Reboot |url=https://springtribune.com/2022/06/25/spy-kids-netflix-introduces-cast-and-plot-for-upcoming-reboot/ |last=Keith |first=Chantel |website=Spring Tribune |date=June 25, 2022}} Production of the film wrapped in late August 2022,{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Robert |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Just wrapped a new SPYkids for @Netflix, working with my son Racer Max! First foto is from the set of SPYkids 2 in 2002. Not much has changed, only now he's co-writer, co-producer, and a little heavier. |url=https://twitter.com/rodriguez/status/1565051810901069824 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831190334/https://twitter.com/Rodriguez/status/1565051810901069824 |archive-date=August 31, 2022 |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Twitter |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Robert Rodriguez on Instagram: "Just wrapped a new SPYkids for @Netflix, working with my son Racer Max! First foto is from the set of SPYkids 2 in 2002. Not much has changed, only now he's co-writer, co-producer, and a little heavier." |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch71CW9OCrg/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Instagram |language=en}} and was released on Netflix on September 22, 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-09 |title=Robert Rodriguez Hints at 'Spy Kids: Armageddon's Release Window |url=https://collider.com/spy-kids-armageddon-release-window-robert-rodriguez-comments/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Collider |language=en}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/spy-kids-james-bond-comparisons-robert-rodriguez-interview-part-5-armageddon-netflix-173037983.html|work=Yahoo! Entertainment|title=Can 'Spy Kids' be the next James Bond? Robert Rodriguez has a plan.|author=Polowy, Kevin|date=September 22, 2023|accessdate=September 24, 2023}}
=Future=
In September 2023, Rodriguez confirmed that Netflix intends to develop additional Spy Kids movies, with the filmmaker expressing hope to begin production on a sequel the following year.{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/we-can-be-heroes-2-robert-rodriguez-comments/|work=Collider|title=Robert Rodriguez Gives an Update on 'We Can Be Heroes' Sequel|author=Peralta, Diego|date=September 21, 2023|accessdate=September 24, 2023}} Rodriguez explained 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
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center; width:99%;" |
| scope="col" | Series
! scope="col" | Seasons ! scope="col" | Episodes ! scope="col" | First released ! scope="col" | Last released ! scope="col" | Showrunner(s) ! scope="col" | Network(s) |
|---|
| scope="row" | Spy Kids: Mission Critical
| 2 | 20 | April 20, 2018 | November 30, 2018 | F.M. De Marco | Netflix |
= ''Spy Kids: Mission Critical'' (2018) =
{{Main|Spy Kids: Mission Critical}}
An animated series based on the films, Spy Kids: Mission Critical, was released on Netflix in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/netflix-kids-show-programming-schedule-1201796795|title=Netflix Readies Animated 'Spy Kids', 'Llama Llama' Series (EXCLUSIVE)|author=Brian Steinberg|date=June 16, 2016|work=Variety|access-date=July 1, 2016}} The first and second seasons both consist of 10 episodes{{cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/FMD1940/status/931278939623907330|title=And just like that we are underway on mixing our second season episodes of Spy Kids: Mission Critical #SpyKidsMC18 First up - ep. 3!|date=November 17, 2017|access-date=November 21, 2017}} and is produced by Mainframe Studios.{{cite web|url=http://playbackonline.ca/2017/03/24/wow-unlimited-inks-deal-with-weinstein-co-netflix/|title=Wow! Unlimited inks deal with Weinstein Co, Netflix|first=Jordan|last=Pinto|date=March 24, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2017|work=Playback|publisher=Brunico Communications}} Robert Rodriguez was one of the executive producers on the show.
Main cast and characters
{{Cast indicator|appeared=franchise|A|C|V|Y}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:99%;" |
| rowspan="3" | Characters
! colspan="5" | Films ! colspan="2" | Television |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | Spy Kids
! rowspan="2" | Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams ! rowspan="2" | Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over ! rowspan="2" | Spy Kids: All the Time in the World ! rowspan="2" | Spy Kids: Armageddon ! colspan="2" | Spy Kids: Mission Critical |
| Season 1
! Season 2 |
| Carmen Cortez
Addisyn Fair{{ref|young|Y}} | colspan="3" | Alexa Vega | {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Ashley Bornancin{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Juni Cortez
| colspan="4" | Daryl Sabara | {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Carter Hastings{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Isador "Machete" Cortez
| colspan="4" | Danny Trejo | {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" {{N/A|Character is silent}} |
| Fegan Floop
| colspan="3" | Alan Cumming | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Christian Lanz{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Felix Gumm
| colspan="3" | Cheech Marin | colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| Donnagon Giggles
| colspan="3" | Mike Judge | colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| Alexander Minion
| colspan="3" | Tony Shalhoub | colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| Gregorio Cortez
| colspan="3" | Antonio Banderas | rowspan="2" {{N/A|Mentioned}} | {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Christian Lanz{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Ingrid Cortez (née Avellán)
| colspan="3" | Carla Gugino | {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Mira Sorvino{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Ms. Gradenko
| colspan="7" {{cEmpty}} |
| Mr. Lisp
| colspan="7" {{cEmpty}} |
| Devlin
| {{cEmpty}} | George Clooney | {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} |
| Gary Giggles
| {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Matt O'Leary | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| Gerti Giggles
| {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Emily Osment | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| Romero
| {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Steve Buscemi | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| Valentin Avellán
| {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Ricardo Montalbán | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| Helga Avellán
| {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Holland Taylor | {{N/A|Holland Taylor}}{{ref|archive|A}} | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| Dinky Winks
| {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Bill Paxton | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| Alexandra
| {{cEmpty}} | colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| President of the United States
| {{cEmpty}} | colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| Sebastian {{small|The Toymaker}} | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| Arnold
| colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| Francis
| colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| Rez
| colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | Robert Vito | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| Demetra {{small|The Deceiver}} | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| Francesca "Cesca" Giggles
| colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| The Guy
| colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} |
| Rebecca Wilson
| colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Cecil Wilson
| colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Maria Wilson
| colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} | Belle Solorzano | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Marissa Wilson (née Cortez)
| colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Wilbur Wilson
| colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Agent Argonaut
| colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} | Elmo Ricky Gervais{{ref|voice|V}} | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Danger D'Amo {{small|The Timekeeper}} | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} Jett Good{{ref|young|Y}} | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Tick-Tock
| colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} | Jeremy Piven | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Editor / Cameraman
| colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} | Wray Krawford | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Patricia "Patty" Tango-Torrez
| colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} | Everly Carganilla | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} |
| Antonio "Tony" Tango-Torrez
| colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} | Connor Esterson | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} |
| Nora Torrez
| colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} |
| Terrence Tango
| colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} |
| Rey “The King” Kingston
| colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} |
| Heck Knight
| colspan="4" {{cEmpty}} | Joe Schilling{{ref|voice|V}} | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} |
| Glitch
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} | rowspan="2" colspan="2" | Caitlyn Bairstow{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Gablet
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| Ace
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Nicholas Coombe{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Claudia Floop {{small|Scorpion}} | colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Nesta Cooper{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Sir Awesome
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Richard Ian Cox{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Peter St. Ignatius {{small|PSI}} | colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Travis Turner{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Golden Brain
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} | rowspan="3" colspan="2" | Tom Kenny{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Spurious Visage
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| Professor Küpkakke
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| Kopi Vasquez
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} | rowspan="2" colspan="2" | Candi Milo{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Vida Immortata
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| Desmond "Dez" Vasquez
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} | rowspan="4" colspan="2" | Yuri Lowenthal{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Zedmond "Zed" Vasquez
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| Jaime Vasquez
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| Jason "Improv" Pietranthony {{small|Improvisario}} | colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| Bradley Feinstein {{small|Mint Condition}} | colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Patton Oswalt{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Dr. Chad Jericho
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Thomas Lennon{{ref|voice|V}} |
| JT the Worm
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Bobcat Goldthwait{{ref|voice|V}} |
| Agent No-One
| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} | Terrence Stone{{ref|voice|V}} | Robert Englund{{ref|voice|V}} |
Additional crew and production details
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width:99%;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:16%;"| Film
! colspan="7"|Crew/Detail |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"| Composer(s)
! style="text-align:center;"| Cinematographer(s) ! style="text-align:center;"| Editor ! style="text-align:center;"| Production ! style="text-align:center;"| Distributing ! style="text-align:center;"| Running time |
| Spy Kids
| Danny Elfman, Gavin Greenaway, Heitor Pereira, John Debney, Robert Rodriguez, Los Lobos, and Harry Gregson-Williams | rowspan="3"| Robert Rodriguez | rowspan="4"| Troublemaker Studios | rowspan="3"| Miramax Films | 1 hour 28 minutes (theatrical/DVD version) 1 hour 31 minutes (Special Edition/Blu-ray version) |
| Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
| John Debney & Robert Rodriguez | rowspan="2"| Robert Rodriguez | 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
| Robert Rodriguez | 1 hour 24 minutes |
| Spy Kids: All the Time in the World
| Robert Rodriguez & Carl Thiel | Robert Rodriguez & Jimmy Lindsey | Robert Rodriguez & Rebecca Rodriguez | 1 hour 29 minutes |
| Spy Kids: Armageddon
| Rebel Rodriguez, John Debney & Robert Rodriguez | Robert Rodriguez | Robert Rodriguez | Troublemaker Studios | Netflix | 1 hour 37 minutes |
Reception
= Box office performance =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" | Film
! rowspan="2" | Release date ! colspan="3" | Box office gross ! rowspan="2" | Budget ! rowspan="2" | {{nowrap|{{Abbr|Ref(s)|References}}}} |
|---|
| North America
! Other ! Worldwide |
| scope="row" | Spy Kids
| March 30, 2001 | $112,719,001 | $35,215,179 | $147,934,180 | $35,000,000 |
| scope="row" | Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
| August 7, 2002 | $85,846,429 | $33,876,929 | $119,723,358 | $38,000,000 |
| scope="row" | Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
| July 25, 2003 | $111,761,982 | $85,339,696 | $197,101,678 | $32,500,000 |
| scope="row" | Spy Kids: All the Time in the World
| August 18, 2011 | $38,538,188 | $47,026,122 | $85,564,310 | $27,000,000 |
| colspan="2"| Total
! ${{val|fmt=commas|{{#expr:112719001+85846429+111761982+38538188}}}} ! ${{val|fmt=commas|{{#expr:35215179+33876929+85339696+47026122}}}} ! ${{val|fmt=commas|{{#expr:147934180+119723358+197101678+85564310}}}} ! $132,500,000 |
= Critical and public response =
Though the first and second film received positive reviews, the series experienced a steadily declining critical reception with each film.
Home media
- September 18, 2001 (Spy Kids) on DVD by Buena Vista Home Entertainment
- February 18, 2003 (Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams) on DVD by Buena Vista Home Entertainment
- February 24, 2004 (Spy Kids 3D: Game Over) on DVD by Buena Vista Home Entertainment
- August 2, 2011 (Spy Kids, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over) on DVD and Blu-ray Disc by Lionsgate (However, all 3 DVDs are still the original Buena Vista Home Entertainment copies.)
- November 15, 2011 (Spy Kids, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over Triple Feature) on Blu-ray Disc by Lionsgate
- November 22, 2011 (Spy Kids: All the Time in the World) on DVD and Blu-ray by Anchor Bay Entertainment
- December 4, 2012 (Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D 3D Double Feature) on Blu-ray 3D Disc by Lionsgate
- September 22, 2020 (Spy Kids, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over Triple Feature) on DVD and Blu-ray Disc reissue by Paramount
Books
=Novelizations=
Novelizations of the films Spy Kids, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over were released by Disney-Hyperion. They were adapted by Megan Stine, Kiki Thorpe, and Kitty Richards.
The posters and end of the credits for each film say "Read the Talk/Miramax Books", telling the viewers to read the print retelling.
= ''KD Novelties'' personalized book =
In 2002, KD Novelties made a personalized children's book based on Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams.{{Cite web |title=Operate Like A Secret Agent In This Personalized Spy Kids Book! |url=https://www.kdnovelties.com/personalized-books/spy-kids.html |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=KD Novelties}}
=''Spy Kids Adventures''=
Between 2003 and 2004, Disney-Hyperion released ten novels of a book series titled Spy Kids Adventures, written by Elizabeth Lenhard.
- One Agent Too Many
- A New Kind of Super Spy
- Mucho Madness
- OSS Wilderness
- Mall of the Universe
- Spy TV
- Superstar Spies
- Freeze-Frame
- Spring Fever
- Off Sides{{Cite web |title=Spy Kids Adventures Series by Elizabeth Lenhard |url=https://www.goodreads.com/series/67900-spy-kids-adventures |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=www.goodreads.com}}{{Cite web |last=ThriftBooks |title=Spy Kids Adventures Book Series |url=https://www.thriftbooks.com/series/spy-kids-adventures/49217/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=ThriftBooks |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Spy Kids Adventures |url=https://www.fictiondb.com/series/spy-kids-adventures-elizabeth-lenhard~17376.htm |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=www.fictiondb.com |language=en}}
Comics
= Syndicated ''Disney'' magazine comics (2001-2004) =
From 2001 to 2004, children's anthology magazines Disney Adventures and BBC Magazines' Disney's Comic published over a dozen syndicated short comics that accompanied the first three films as well as additional stories for Disney's Comic. They were written by Steve Behling and/or Michael Stewart, penciled and inked by Christine Norrie, colored by John Green (with the exception of the April 2002 issue's comic The Big Drop, which was colored by Atomic Paintbrush, and the Disney Adventures Comic Zone first issue's comic Tomorrow Trouble, which was colored by Hi-Fi Color Design), and lettered by Michael Stewart.
== Spy Kids ==
- Pop! Goes the World! (September 2001, Disney Adventures; November 2001, Disney Adventures Australia)
- Deep Trouble! (October 2001, Disney Adventures; December 2001, Disney Adventures Australia; July 2002, Disney's Comic){{Cite web |title=United Kingdom: Disney's Comic # 4 {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/issue.php?c=uk/DC++4 |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
- Caught by the Web! (November 2001, Disney Adventures; January 2002, Disney Adventures Australia; September 2002, Disney's Comic){{Cite web |title=United Kingdom: Disney's Comic # 6 {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/issue.php?c=uk/DC++6 |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
- F.A.N.G.s a Lot! (March 2002, Disney Adventures; June 2002, Disney Adventures Australia; August 2002, Disney's Comic){{Cite web |title=Spy Kids in "F.A.N.G.S. a Lot!" (Qus/DA12-02B) {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=Qus/DA12-02B |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
- The Big Drop! (April 2002, Disney Adventures; July 2002, Disney Adventures Australia)
- The Invisible Enemy! (May 2002, Disney Adventures; August 2002, Disney Adventures Australia){{Cite web |title=Spy Kids "The Invisible Enemy!" (Qus/DA12-04C) {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=Qus/DA12-04C |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
- Fright Flight! (June 2002, Disney Adventures; September 2002, Disney Adventures Australia){{Cite web |title=Spy Kids "Fright Flight!" (Qus/DA12-05C) {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=Qus/DA12-05C |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
- The Menace of Micro-Man! (Summer 2002, Disney Adventures; January 2003, Disney Adventures Australia){{Cite web |title=Spy Kids "The Menace of Micro-Man!" (Qus/DA12-06C) {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=Qus/DA12-06C |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
- The Mysterious Many-Man! (Q3 2002, Disney Adventures Super Comic Special; September 2003, Disney Adventures Australia){{Cite web |title=Spy Kids "The Mysterious Many-Man!" (Qus/DASP 2002I) {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=Qus/DASP+2002I |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
- Tomorrow Trouble! (Summer 2004, Disney Adventures Comic Zone)
== Spy Kids 2 ==
- Rodeo Ruckus! (September 2002, Disney Adventures; March 2003, Disney Adventures Australia, Disney's Comic){{Cite web |title=Spy Kids 2 - Rodeo Ruckus! (Qus/DA12-07D) {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=Qus/DA12-07D |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
- Face to Face with F.A.N.G.! (April 2003, Disney Adventures, Disney's Comic; December 2003, Disney Adventures Comic Book - All The Coolest Comics Australia){{Cite web |title=Spy Kids 2: "Face to Face with F.A.N.G.!" (Qus/DA13-03B) {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=Qus/DA13-03B |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
- Nightmare at 30,000 Feet! (May 2003, Disney's Comic){{Cite web |title=Spy Kids 2 in "Nightmare at 30,000 Feet" (Quk/DC 14A) {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=Quk/DC+14A |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
- Cereal-ised! (June 2003, Disney's Comic){{Cite web |title=Spy Kids 2 in "Cereal-ised!" (Quk/DC 15F) {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=Quk/DC+15F |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
== Spy Kids 3 ==
- Top Gear! (July 2003, Disney's Comic; February 2004, Disney Adventures Australia){{Cite web |title=Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over in "Top Gear!" (Quk/DC 16E) {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=Quk/DC+16E |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
- That's Snow Spy! (August 2003, Disney's Comic; Winter 2004, Disney Adventures Comic Zone){{Cite web |title=Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over in "That's Snow Spy" (Quk/DC 17A) {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=Quk/DC+17A |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
- Metal Menace! (September 2003, Disney's Comic; April 2004, Disney Adventures){{Cite web |title=Spy Kids: "Metal Menace!" (Qus/DA14-03C) {{!}} I.N.D.U.C.K.S. |url=https://inducks.org/story.php?c=Qus/DA14-03C |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=inducks.org}}
=''McDonald's'' comics (2003)=
In July 2003, McDonald's published a six-issue limited series based on Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. It was distributed in McDonald's Happy Meals to promote the film, bundled with Happy Meal toys as well as anaglyph 3D glasses made for the comics.
- The Chip that Shook Up the World!
- The Diabolical Doctor Kent!
- The Outbreak of Silence!
- The Taking of the Presidency
- The Demise of Doctor Kent
- The Computer Planet{{Cite web |title=Ray Zone 3-D Checklist |url=http://www.workprint.com/ray/zind.html |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=www.workprint.com}}
Video games
- Spy Kids Challenger (2002, Game Boy Advance)
- Spy Kids: Mega Mission Zone (2002, Microsoft Windows and Mac)
- Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003, Microsoft Windows and Mac)
- Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003, Game Boy Advance)
- Spy Kids: Learning Adventures series
- The Underground Affair (2004, Microsoft Windows and Mac)
- The Man in the Moon (2004, Microsoft Windows and Mac)
- The Candy Conspiracy (2004, Microsoft Windows and Mac)
- The Nightmare Machine (2004, Microsoft Windows and Mac)
- Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011, Nintendo DS)
Related film series
Isador "Machete" Cortez, who appeared in all four Spy Kids film series as a supporting character, additionally had a series of two stand-alone films: Machete and Machete Kills, also written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. However, the Machete films share little in common with the Spy Kids films thematically and are not considered direct spin-offs, the first film instead being an adult-oriented action exploitation film, with the second film introducing science fiction elements; both films additionally share several cast members and characters with the Spy Kids films.{{cite web|url= https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1ytq7j/i_am_director_robert_rodriguez_here_again_with_el/cfnpq7k?context=1|last=Rodriguez |first=Robert|title=I am director Robert Rodriguez, here again with El Rey. Let's play.|date=February 2014|publisher=Reddit|access-date=August 9, 2018}} The idea for a Machete film came from a fake trailer promoting the Grindhouse double-feature by Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino.{{cite news|url=http://www.premiumhollywood.com/2011/01/04/a-roundtable-chat-with-actor-danny-trejo-aka-machete/|title=A roundtable chat with actor Danny Trejo, aka "Machete"|last=Westel|first=Bob|date=April 1, 2011|newspaper=Premium Hollywood}} Trejo and Rodriguez have made two conflicting statements regarding its canonicity to the Spy Kids films; Trejo claimed that the films depict "what Uncle Machete does when he's not taking care of the kids", while Rodriguez said in a Reddit AMA that they are alternate universes.{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1ytq7j/i_am_director_robert_rodriguez_here_again_with_el/cfnpq7k?context=1|last=Rodriguez |first=Robert|title=I am director Robert Rodriguez, here again with El Rey. Let's play.|date=February 2014|publisher=Reddit|access-date=April 18, 2018}} Regardless, Rodriguez claimed that he was prompted by an incident on the set of the first Machete film to start envisioning a fourth film in the main Spy Kids film series, casting Jessica Alba as Machete's sister Marissa, a different character to the one she portrayed in Machete, with Trejo additionally reprising his role alongside her.{{cite news |url= http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/12/busy-alba-relates-to-spy-kids-mom |title=Busy Alba relates to 'Spy Kids' mom |first= Lisa|last= Wilson|newspaper=Toronto Sun |date= August 15, 2011|access-date=August 14, 2011}}{{cite web |url= https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/movie-guide/real/5252868/story.html |title=Spy mom, real mom |first= Bob|last= Thompson|work=ottawacitizen.com |date= August 14, 2011|access-date=August 14, 2011}}{{dead link|date=January 2012}}{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/2009/09/25/dimension-confirm-details-of-scream-4-spy-kids-4-an-american-werewolf-in-london-redux-and-more/ |title=Dimension Confirm Details of Scream 4, Spy Kids 4, An American Werewolf in London Redux and More |first=Brendon |last=Connelly |date=September 25, 2009 |publisher=SlashFilm |access-date=October 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031121513/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/09/25/dimension-confirm-details-of-scream-4-spy-kids-4-an-american-werewolf-in-london-redux-and-more/ |archive-date=October 31, 2010 |df=mdy-all}}{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/2009/12/21/robert-rodriguez-sequel-log-jam-more-machete-sin-city-2-and-spy-kids-reboot/ |title=Robert Rodriguez Sequel Log-Jam: More Machete, Sin City 2 and Spy Kids Reboot |first=Brendon |last=Connelly |date=December 21, 2009 |publisher=SlashFilm |access-date=October 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007030507/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/12/21/robert-rodriguez-sequel-log-jam-more-machete-sin-city-2-and-spy-kids-reboot/ |archive-date=October 7, 2010 |df=mdy-all}}
Notes
{{Refbegin}}
- {{note|1}} The Walt Disney Company had to cut their own share on the fourth film with The Weinstein Company to 5% after the latter party lost their bid to reclaim Miramax Films.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110323000320/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-02-03/gossip/27738705_1_miramax-movies-harvey-and-bob-weinstein-ron-tutor "Miramax movies, Harvey and Bob Weinstein, Ron Tutor"]. NYDailyNews.com. February 3, 2011.
{{Refend}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Spy Kids}}
{{Robert Rodriguez}}
Category:American children's films
Category:Films directed by Robert Rodriguez
Category:Works by Robert Rodriguez
Category:Action film franchises
Category:Comedy film franchises
Category:Children's film series
Category:Dimension Films films
Category:Disney Publishing franchises