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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.[1]
| Spy Kids | |
|---|---|
Official film series logo | |
| Created by | Robert Rodriguez |
| Original work | Spy Kids (2001) |
| Owner | Troublemaker Studios |
| Years | 2001–present |
| Print publications | |
| Book(s) | List of books |
| Comics | List of comics |
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) |
|
| Animated series | Spy Kids: Mission Critical (2018) |
| Audio | |
| Soundtrack(s) |
|
| Miscellaneous | |
| Total Box Office | $550.3 million |
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",[2] 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.[3] 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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
The other films were shot with High Definition digital video,[4] 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).[5][6]
| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriter(s) | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spy Kids | March 30, 2001 | Robert Rodriguez | Elizabeth Avellán and Robert Rodriguez | |
| Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams | August 7, 2002 | |||
| Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over | July 25, 2003 | |||
| Spy Kids: All the Time in the World | August 19, 2011 | |||
| Spy Kids: Armageddon[7] | September 22, 2023 | Robert Rodriguez | Robert Rodriguez & Racer Max | David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Racer Max, Robert Rodriguez and Elizabeth Avellán |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.[8][9] The film is scheduled for distribution on Netflix,[10] making it the second Spy Kids project produced for the platform.[7] Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla and Connor Esterson were set to star,[11] along with Billy Magnussen[12] and D. J. Cotrona.[13] 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".[14] Production of the film wrapped in late August 2022,[15][16] and was released on Netflix on September 22, 2023.[17]
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.[18]
In September 2023, Rodriguez confirmed that Netflix intends to develop additional Spy Kids movies,[18] with the filmmaker expressing hope to begin production on a sequel the following year.[19] 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.[18]
| Series | Seasons | Episodes | First released | Last released | Showrunner(s) | Network(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spy Kids: Mission Critical | 2 | 20 | April 20, 2018 | November 30, 2018 | F.M. De Marco | Netflix |
An animated series based on the films, Spy Kids: Mission Critical, was released on Netflix in 2018.[20] The first and second seasons both consist of 10 episodes[21] and is produced by Mainframe Studios.[22] Robert Rodriguez was one of the executive producers on the show.
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in franchise.
| Characters | Films | Television | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Spy Kids: Mission Critical | |||
| Season 1 | Season 2 | |||||||
| Carmen Cortez | Alexa Vega Addisyn FairY |
Alexa Vega | Ashley BornancinV | |||||
| Juni Cortez | Daryl Sabara | Carter HastingsV | ||||||
| Isador "Machete" Cortez | Danny Trejo | Danny TrejoC | Character is silent | |||||
| Fegan Floop | Alan Cumming | Christian LanzV | ||||||
| Felix Gumm | Cheech Marin | |||||||
| Donnagon Giggles | Mike Judge | |||||||
| Alexander Minion | Tony Shalhoub | |||||||
| Gregorio Cortez | Antonio Banderas | Christian LanzV | ||||||
| Ingrid Avellan Cortez | Carla Gugino | Mira SorvinoV | ||||||
| Ms. Gradenko | Teri Hatcher | |||||||
| Mr. Lisp | Robert Patrick | |||||||
| Devlin | George Clooney | George Clooney | D. J. Cotrona | |||||
| Gary Giggles | Matt O'Leary | |||||||
| Gerti Giggles | Emily Osment | |||||||
| Romero | Steve Buscemi | |||||||
| Valentin Avellan | Ricardo Montalbán | |||||||
| Helga Avellan | Holland Taylor | Holland TaylorA | ||||||
| Dinky Winks | Bill Paxton | |||||||
| Alexandra | Taylor Momsen | |||||||
| President of the United States | Christopher McDonald | |||||||
| Sebastian The Toymaker |
Sylvester Stallone | |||||||
| Arnold | Ryan Pinkston | |||||||
| Francis | Bobby Edner | |||||||
| Rez | Robert Vito | |||||||
| Demetra The Deceiver |
Courtney Jines | |||||||
| Francesca "Cesca" Giggles | Salma Hayek | |||||||
| The Guy | Elijah Wood | |||||||
| Rebecca Wilson | Rowan Blanchard | |||||||
| Cecil Wilson | Mason Cook | |||||||
| Maria Wilson | Belle Solorzano & Genny Solorzano |
|||||||
| Marissa Cortez-Wilson | Jessica Alba | |||||||
| Wilbur Wilson | Joel McHale | |||||||
| Agent Argonaut | Elmo Ricky GervaisV |
|||||||
| Danger D'Amo The Timekeeper |
Jeremy Piven Jett GoodY |
|||||||
| Tick-Tock | Jeremy Piven | |||||||
| Editor / Cameraman | Wray Krawford | |||||||
| Patricia "Patty" Tango-Torrez | Everly Carganilla | |||||||
| Antonio "Tony" Tango-Torrez | Connor Esterson | |||||||
| Nora Torrez | Gina Rodriguez | |||||||
| Terrence Tango | Zachary Levi | |||||||
| Rey “The King” Kingston | Billy Magnussen | |||||||
| Heck Knight | Joe SchillingV | |||||||
| Glitch | Caitlyn BairstowV | |||||||
| Gablet | ||||||||
| Ace | Nicholas CoombeV | |||||||
| Claudia Floop Scorpion |
Nesta CooperV | |||||||
| Sir Awesome | Richard Ian CoxV | |||||||
| Peter St. Ignatius PSI |
Travis TurnerV | |||||||
| Golden Brain | Tom KennyV | |||||||
| Spurious Visage | ||||||||
| Professor Küpkakke | ||||||||
| Kopi Vasquez | Candi MiloV | |||||||
| Vida Immortata | ||||||||
| Desmond "Dez" Vasquez | Yuri LowenthalV | |||||||
| Zedmond "Zed" Vasquez | ||||||||
| Jaime Vasquez | ||||||||
| Jason "Improv" Pietranthony Improvisario |
||||||||
| Bradley Feinstein Mint Condition |
Patton OswaltV | |||||||
| Dr. Chad Jericho | Thomas LennonV | |||||||
| JT the Worm | Bobcat GoldthwaitV | |||||||
| Agent No-One | Terrence StoneV | Robert EnglundV | ||||||
| Film | Crew/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 Studios Dimension Films |
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 | 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 | The Weinstein Company | 1 hour 29 minutes | ||
| Spy Kids: Armageddon |
Rebel Rodriguez, John Debney & Robert Rodriguez | Robert Rodriguez | Robert Rodriguez | Troublemaker Studios Skydance Media Spyglass Media Group |
Netflix | 1 hour 37 minutes | |
| Film | Release date | Box office gross | Budget | Ref(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Other territories |
Worldwide | ||||
| Spy Kids | March 30, 2001 | $112,719,001 | $35,215,179 | $147,934,180 | $35,000,000 | [23] |
| Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams | August 7, 2002 | $85,846,429 | $33,876,929 | $119,723,358 | $38,000,000 | [24] |
| Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over | July 25, 2003 | $111,761,982 | $85,339,696 | $197,101,678 | $32,500,000 | [25] |
| Spy Kids: All the Time in the World | August 18, 2011 | $38,538,188 | $47,026,122 | $85,564,310 | $27,000,000 | [26] |
| Total | $348,865,600 | $201,457,926 | $550,323,526 | $132,500,000 | ||
Though the first and second film received positive reviews, the series experienced a steadily declining critical reception with each film.
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore[27] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spy Kids | 93% (128 reviews)[28] | 71 (27 reviews)[29] | A |
| Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams | 75% (135 reviews)[30] | 66 (29 reviews)[31] | A– |
| Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over | 45% (141 reviews)[32] | 57 (30 reviews)[33] | B+ |
| Spy Kids: All the Time in the World | 23% (61 reviews)[34] | 37 (14 reviews)[35] | B+ |
| Spy Kids: Armageddon | 55% (33 reviews)[36] | 55 (10 reviews)[37] |
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.
In 2002, KD Novelties made a personalized children's book based on Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams.[38]
Between 2003 and 2004, Disney-Hyperion released ten novels of a book series titled Spy Kids Adventures, written by Elizabeth Lenhard.
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.
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.
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.[57] The idea for a Machete film came from a fake trailer promoting the Grindhouse double-feature by Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino.[58] 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",[58] while Rodriguez said in a Reddit AMA that they are alternate universes.[59] 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.[60][61][62][63]
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