Top 10 Spy Kids Franchise Movie Moments

After the day has been saved at the end of the first “Spy Kids,” we’re introduced to the head of the O.S.S, Devlin, played by none other than George Clooney. Devlin tells the Cortez family about a new assignment, one that will require his best agents. Only, he’s not talking about Gregorio and Ingrid, but Juni and Carmen. Devlin asks that the two join the O.S.S. as full time agents and they agree, on the condition that their parents come out of retirement as well. This moment is great not only because it’s exciting to see Juni and Carmen become official spies, but also because it hammers in the main “Spy Kids” series theme of family coming first.

For many fans, it would be hard to picture a “Spy Kids” movie without the original agents, Juni and Carmen. Luckily this has yet to come to pass. “All the Time in the World” focuses on establishing two new Spy Kids, Rebecca and Cecil and their mission to save the world while bringing their family together. After Rebecca and Cecil make it to O.S.S. headquarters, they meet Carmen Cortez, all grown up and still working as an agent. It’s awesome to see the new movie tie into the old ones, and once Carmen showed up, we knew it was only a matter of time before Juni made his appearance as well*.

Throughout “Spy Kids 3-D”, we keep hearing about “The Guy;” the supposed chosen player of the Toymaker’s virtual reality video game. The players that Juni meets in the game come to believe that he may be the guy. Then they start to suspect he may actually be a treacherous NPC. Finally everything is cleared up when the real “Guy” appears. Played by Elijah Wood, “The Guy’s” entrance is epic as he delivers an inspiring speech about how they’re going to beat the legendary “unwinnable level.” Like the characters, we’re hyped to see what “The Guy” can do, and what he does is… die immediately as the level starts, letting us know that the “Guy” mystery never really mattered in the first place. Subversive and Hilarious!

Every kid has a memory of being dragged to some fancy party by their parents. However, we’re willing to bet none of those events were anything like the O.S.S. gala in “Spy Kids 2”. At the Gala, which is being put on for both the adult and children O.S.S. agents, we learn more about rival characters Gary and Gerti, and we get to see all of the O.S.S. Spy Kids agents fight off thugs disguised as waiters. Better still, there’s the iconic scene where Juni asks the President’s daughter to dance. When she says she only dances ballet, Juni is more than up for the challenge, no doubt inspiring countless young boys to reevaluate their stance on the art of ballet.

At the beginning of the first “Spy Kids,” Ingrid tells Juni and Carmen a bedtime story about two spies who gave up their lives of espionage and intrigue in order to get married and raise a family. Unbeknownst to the kids, Ingrid is telling the story of how she and Gregorio got together. The story, which is shown to us as a flashback, acts as an excellent introduction to the world of “Spy Kids” and to the flashy, cartoonish, high energy directing style of series creator Robert Rodiguez. The scene is so exciting and cool, we almost wish there was a spin-off prequel all about the “Spies Who Fell in Love.”

“Spy Kids 3-D” was all about eye-popping, full volume spectacle. Rodriguez’s crazy vision of a virtual reality video game was filled with ideas that made kids wish that they could play the Toymaker’s “Game Over” in real life. After being flung to the moon by rival gamers, Juni finds himself at Rebel Rockets, a large colosseum where giant robot mecha fight one on one. Everybody remembers this scene because of the bizarre design of the robots, the ridiculous CGI action, and the awesome orange armor that Juni gets to keep after winning his match. Also, they probably remember the McDonalds happy meal tie-in toys for the robots, which were awesome!

“Spy Kids 2” features animals that have been genetically spliced, becoming mutated monstrosities. After the introduction of these creatures, we’re both excited and a little nervous to see how dangerous they truly are. Near the end of the movie, when Juni and Gary square up to settle their beef once and for all, we get to see the two most formidable of the mutants in action. Like a medieval jousting match, Juni rides the “Spider-Monkey, ” while Gary rides the fearsome “Slizzard,” all while a crowd of skeletons cheers from ruined bleachers. After things start to go south for Juni, Carmen comes to help her brother out, delivering one of the most iconic disses in kids’ movie history.

“Game Over” covers most of the bases in terms of video game level clichés. There’s tournament fighting, lava surfing, and platforming. So it should come as no surprise that there would also be a racing level. Keeping in line with the rest of “Spy Kids 3-D,” it’s both absurd and epic. The level design is a race track suspended over some futuristic city, and filled with ridiculous jumps, tunnels, and obstacles. Every character gets their own unique vehicle, like a hoverbike, race-car, or whatever you’d call Grandpa’s ride. Oh, and each player also has various weapons at their disposal, ensuring that the race is anything but fair. Balancing issues notwithstanding, this level is the highlight of “Spy Kids 3-D.”

Carmen and Juni become official O.S.S. spies at the end of the first movie, and when the president’s daughter needs rescuing at the beginning of “Spy Kids 2” we get to see just how much has changed between then and now. More experienced and confident than before, Juni and Carmen show off some of their new gadgets, like the Spider-Man style finger apparatus that lets them scale walls, and Juni’s awesome glasses, which were instantly classic. The scene also introduces us to Gary and Gerti, and the president’s daughter, who Juni is able to rescue by simply listening and talking to, once again proving why he’s the O.S.S.’s top Spy Kid.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.


The Panic Room, “Spy Kids: All the Time in the World” (2011)
Rebecca & Cecil Live Out Every Kid’s Dream When They Realize What’s Beneath Their House


Romero’s Story, “Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams” (2002)
Explaining How the Island’s Monsters Were Created in a Hilariously Melodramatic Monologue


Carmen Finally Joins the Fight, “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over”(2003)
It’s Awesome When She Finally Joins Juni with That Cool Mechanical Glove


Robot Replicas, “Spy Kids” (2001)
Juni & Carmen Have to Fight Robot Replicas of One Another

Training Course, “Spy Kids” (2001)
Carmen & Juni Have an Awesome Playground in the Middle of Their House

“Spy Kids” has always been a series about wish fulfilment and escapism for the kids watching. The safehouse that Juni and Carmen hide out at after finding out that their parents are secret agents is a prime example. Everybody loves the idea of having a secret clubhouse, and what could be cooler than a clubhouse capable of creating whatever junk food you can imagine, containing thousands of dollars in various country’s currencies, and filled with secret spy gadgets. Juni and Carmen get equipt for their mission to save their parents at the safe house, but honestly if it were us, we wouldn’t want to leave!