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Spy Kids (2001)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.2/10
Reviews Counted: 125
Fresh: 116 | Rotten: 9

A kinetic and fun movie that's sure to thrill children of all ages.

Average Rating: 7.4/10
Critic Reviews: 26
Fresh: 25 | Rotten: 1

A kinetic and fun movie that's sure to thrill children of all ages.

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liked it
Average Rating: 2.6/5
User Ratings: 402,817

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Movie Info

In this reteaming of actor Antonio Banderas and director Robert Rodriguez -- their first film together since the 1995 feature Desperado -- Banderas plays Gregorio; he and devoted partner Ingrid (Carla Gugino), comprise the greatest pair of secret agents working. Both are masters of disguise and have the ability to prevent wars, but eventually they want to settle down and begin raising a family. Nine years later, after retiring and giving up the lives of super-spies, Gregorio and Ingrid find

PG, 1 hr. 28 min.

Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

Directed By: Robert Rodriguez

Written By: Robert Rodriguez

In Theaters: Mar 30, 2001 Wide

On DVD: Sep 18, 2001

Box Office:$110.8M

Dimension Films

Spy Kids Trailer & Photos

More Photos (9)

Cast

Antonio Banderas
Gregorio Cortez
Carla Gugino
Ingrid Cortez
Alexa Vega
Carmen Cortez
Daryl Sabara
Juni Cortez
Alan Cumming
Fegan Floop
Tony Shalhoub
Minion
Teri Hatcher
Ms. Gradenko
Cheech Marin
Uncle Felix
Robert Patrick
Mr. Lisp
Danny Trejo
Uncle Machete
Tom Savini
Louis Black
Financier
Dick Clark
Financier
George Clooney
Devlin
Richard Linklater
Cool Spy
Guillermo Navarro
Pastor
Johnny Reno
Agent Johnny
Mike Judge
Donnagon/Donnamight
Ermahn Ospina
Cab Driver
Evan Sabba
"Intruder" Spy Kid
Trant Batey
FoOglie #3/Too Too
Andy W. Bossley
Brat
Jeff Dashnaw
Brat's Dad
Rachel Duhame
President's Robot Daugh...
Steve Havens
Financier
Houston Hooker
Lisp's Robot Son
Angela Lanza
Newscaster
Emilio Navarro Mackissack
Excited Kid at Playgrou...
Charles Ramirez-Berg
Financier
Becca Rodriguez
Spy Bridesmaid
Roberto Santibanez
Financier
Shannon Shea
FoOglie #1/Flower
Kara Slack
Carmen's Friend
Julio Villarreal
Spy Driver
Patricia Vonne
Spy Bridesmaid
Norman Cabrera
Fooglie #2/Tall & Skinn...

Critic Reviews for Spy Kids

All Critics (126) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (118) | Rotten (9) | DVD (21)

Fulfills kids' empowerment fantasies and features enough techno-wizardry and cool f/x to satisfy those weaned on videogames.

March 27, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Lael Loewenstein

Variety

Top Critic

As a piece of almost dadaist filmmaking, Spy Kids is great fun with its continual spirit of invention.

January 6, 2002 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Stephen Hunter

Washington Post

Top Critic

A fine, relatively non-violent example of pure family entertainment.

April 2, 2001 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

A good live-action children's movie -- a species so rare that many presumed it extinct.

March 30, 2001 Full Review Source: USA Today

| Comment

Andy Seiler

USA Today

Top Critic

It's entertaining and inoffensive, a rare combination in kids' films, which are usually neither.

March 30, 2001 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle

| Comment

Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

A delight for 7-year-olds, their parents, and James Bond diehards everywhere.

March 30, 2001 Comment

Carrie Rickey

Philadelphia Inquirer

Top Critic

The visual effects don't really hold up 10 years later, but Spy Kids is still a charming, energetic, inventive kids' flick that balances its goofier side with its a sense of dramatic maturity.

January 29, 2012 Full Review Source: IGN DVD

| Comment

R. L. Shaffer

IGN DVD

Just the right combination of fantasy and comedy.

December 28, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

This year's most unlikely-and most successful-exhilarating family-type entertainment.

August 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review

| Comment

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

The entire ensemble of old pros play their designated roles well; standing out are Cumming, whose trademark impishness fits this role like a glove; and Danny Trejo, playing a nice guy for a change and pulling it off wonderfully.

January 20, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Threat

| Comment

Michael Dequina

Film Threat

The coolest kid flick in ages.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

In terms of its family ethos, this makes an interesting comparison with the Addams Family films.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Derek Adams

Time Out

Spy Kids is a frivolous but fun adventure movie that will give kids thrills and adults some smiles. Everybody goes home happy.

December 6, 2004 Full Review Source: Looking Closer

| Comment

Jeffrey Overstreet

Looking Closer

Those expecting more than silly fun will surely be disappointed.

August 1, 2003 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Pitched somewhere been the swagger of James Bond and the out there ambience of Willy Wonka, Spy Kids is a real treat.

April 16, 2003 Full Review Source: RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)

| Comment

Harry Guerin

RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland) Source: RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)

Lively and high-spirited.

January 12, 2003 Full Review Source: Window to the Movies

| Comment

Jeffrey Chen

Window to the Movies

Colourful, inventive, fast-moving fantasy adventure that kids will love and adults will be grateful for.

October 30, 2002 Full Review Source: ViewLondon

| Comment

Matthew Turner

ViewLondon

... the nonstop action and terrifically imaginative production should make "Spy Kids" a winner with kids. Adults will enjoy it as well.

October 21, 2002 Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan

| Comment

Jean Lowerison

San Diego Metropolitan

The first great movie of 2001...this is Raiders of the Lost Ark in the form of a gleefully smiling Happy Meal.

August 23, 2002 Full Review | Comment

Mark Palermo

Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Source: Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Spy Kids

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I get the feeling that at one point in Spy Kids the film makers tried to make these kids look cute and a bit more life like but somewhere I think they went wrong. Not as good as it puts itself out to be.

November 6, 2011

Michael Miller

Super Reviewer

usually critics judge kids movies by adult standars, but fans see kids movies for what they are. with spy kids, its the opposite. the critics get this movie, and fans are entirely too hard on it. a solid kids film that brings little ones into the same sort of fantasy that james bond does for their parents. fun and

January 11, 2007

danny d

Super Reviewer

Spy Kids Quotes

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1. Carmen Cortez: Our parents can't be spies... they're not cool enough!
– Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)
1. Gregorio Cortez: Remember when we could sense danger a mile away?
2. Ingrid Cortez: Those were the days.
– Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)

Submit a Quote from 'Spy Kids'

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Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.