The Spy Next Door

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The Spy Next Door

PG

2010

1h 32m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

12%

Tomatometer

91 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Bob Ho (Jackie Chan), an undercover operative for the CIA, decides to give up his career and marry his girlfriend, Gillian (Amber Valletta). First however, he has one more mission to complete: Gain the approval of Gillian's children. Bob volunteers to baby-sit when Gillian is called away, but the operation hits a snag when one of the kids mistakenly downloads a top-secret formula, and a Russian terrorist takes aim at Bob's prospective family.

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Critics Consensus

Lacking a script funny enough to cover up for Jackie Chan's fading physical gifts, The Spy Next Door fails on every conceivable level.

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Apr 1, 2010

0.5/5

The woeful screenplay, the mundane direction, by Brian Levant, and the indifferent acting all combine to sink a stupid plot which should never have got off the ground.

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Alexander Pashby

Little White Lies

Mar 22, 2010

Definitely one for the kids to watch on their own when it comes out on DVD.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Mar 22, 2010

2/5

Chan has just enough friendly charm to transcend this rubbish.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Mar 31, 2023

2/4

...a mostly tiresome endeavor that fares especially poorly within its generic and sluggish first half...

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Oct 25, 2022

...it could have been worse. [Full review in Spanish]

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John Gholson

Cinematical

Feb 10, 2012

If the lazy filmmakers don't care enough about their movie to offer at least one single original idea, then you shouldn't care enough to go see it.

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Cinema S

@cinema_sensei Aug 22, 2026

I had a decent time with it, mainly because Jackie Chan brings his usual charm and physical comedy. The action is fun, the humor is harmless, and I can see this working well for kids and families. But that's about it. The story is very simple, the jokes are predictable, and there's nothing particularly memorable here. An easy one-time watch when you want something light.

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Landon J

@Minxsykitty Jul 29, 2026

I believe this might work for audiences under 12 but for any other it's a skip. Chan and cast make the most of it, however there isn't enough juice to justify the squeeze.

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Jason R

@J-Rush1411 Jun 25, 2026

not as bad as reviews suggest, probably is a watch once type of film though

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Apr 9, 2026

The Spy Next Door is a movie that completely misses the mark. Despite having a fun premise and a well-known lead, the film ends up being painfully unfunny and hard to sit through. The comedy feels forced and outdated, with jokes that rarely land and often come across as cringe-worthy. The story is extremely predictable and lacks any real excitement or creativity. Instead of delivering a fun mix of action and family-friendly humor, it feels watered down and unfocused. The action scenes are underwhelming, and the pacing drags, making the movie feel longer than it actually is. The characters don’t help much either, as they come off as flat and uninteresting, making it difficult to care about what’s happening. Overall, The Spy Next Door is a disappointing film that fails in both comedy and entertainment. I’d rate it a 0/10.

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Aasim R

@Aasim Dec 14, 2025

Sad to see All these reviews...Great Childhood Film

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Claudia A

@RT98199883 Nov 23, 2025

I love jackie chan, and this is another classic for him. Funny and lots of cool moves!!

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Brian Levant

Director

Jackie Chan

Bob Ho

Amber Valletta

Gillian

George Lopez

Glaze

Billy Ray Cyrus

Colton James

Madeline Carroll

Farren

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Synopsis

Bob Ho (Jackie Chan), an undercover operative for the CIA, decides to give up his career and marry his girlfriend, Gillian (Amber Valletta). First however, he has one more mission to complete: Gain the approval of Gillian's children. Bob volunteers to baby-sit when Gillian is called away, but the operation hits a snag when one of the kids mistakenly downloads a top-secret formula, and a Russian terrorist takes aim at Bob's prospective family.

Director: Brian Levant
Producer: Robert Simonds
Screenwriter: Jonathan Bernstein, James Greer, Gregory Poirier
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Robert Simonds Productions, Relativity
Rating: PG (Sequences of Action Violence|Mild Rude Humor)
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.3M
Runtime: 1h 32m

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