Spy Kids

Movie review by Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Spy Kids Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 7+

Just the right combination of fantasy and comedy.

PG 2001 88 minutes
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Parents say

age 7+

Based on 21 reviews

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 74 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Spy Kids is an action-packed adventure that includes a little bit of potty humor (which most kids will find hilarious) and one almost-swear word. Younger children might be scared by the mutant creatures, but most will find them more silly than frightening. Characters are frequently in peril (though it's usually played for laughs), and there's a certain amount of head-bonking violence. But no one even gets a scratch, except for one villain, whose encounter with flames leaves her having a very bad hair day.

Community Reviews

Holly R.
Holly R. Adult
March 27, 2020
age 6+

I liked this movie as a kid but it’s painful to watch as an adult

I was about 11 or 12 when this movie came out and I remember that I liked it back then. It came on TV recently so I watched it for old times sake. It. Has. Not. Aged. Well. At. All. Very strange plot line involving a “toy craze” used to brain wash children. The acting isn’t good. The CGI is so dated that there are modern made for TV movies that look better. Kids might enjoy it but it’s not enjoyable for adults (or at least for me). It’s just another mindless childhood movie.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much consumerism
1 person found this helpful.
sarafmc
sarafmc Adult
December 9, 2011
age 8+

Creepy, depending on the kid.

Consider your kid carefully with this one. My ten year old, who is not a particularly fearful kid but has a very vivid imagination, was extremely disturbed by the mutant creatures in this (the idea of people being mutated in that way and used as kid show props while begging for help in distorted voices) to the point where he had a hard time going to bed afterwards. The almost-swearing didn't bother us, and I thought it was better than average in many other ways, despite a lot of corny cartoonish action and dialogue. The kids were enthralled by all the gadgetry, and the Incredibles-type family. Product placement is a Big Mac and fries early on (with golden arches briefly visible).

This title has:

Great messages
Too much consumerism
1 person found this helpful.
See all 21 parent reviews

What's the Story?

SPY KIDS Carmen and Juni Cortez (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara) are the children of Gregorio (Antonio Banderas) and Ingrid (Carla Gugino), once the cleverest spies in the world but now loving parents who make a living as consultants. Or so they say. It turns out that once the kids go to bed, Gregorio and Ingrid flip a few switches to connect to a command center that keeps them involved in spy missions, though now from a safe distance. When top secret agents start disappearing, Gregorio and Ingrid call on "Uncle Felix" (Cheech Marin) to watch the kids and climb back into their spy gear to go off and save the world. But then they, too, disappear, and it's up to Carmen and Juni to rescue their parents -- and, while they're at it, the rest of the world.

Is It Any Good?

Imagine James Bond crossed with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and you might have an idea of what to expect in this, one of the best family movies of 2001. Spy Kids has just the right combination of giddy fantasy, exciting adventure, wonderful special effects, and sly comedy to be ideal for 7- to 12-year-olds and their families. It's also notable for featuring strong female characters and and characters and performers from the Latino culture.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the conclusion of Spy Kids that spy work is easy compared to keeping a family together. What does it take to keep a family together and functioning well so that everyone's happy?

  • How does the violence in this movie compare to what you've seen in other movies? How does the fantasy element affect its impact?

  • How do Carmen and Juni demonstrate teamwork, perseverance, and courage in Spy Kids? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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