The ‘Spy Kids’ Films Are More Important Than You Might Think

Taking even a cursory glance at the title Spy Kids likely elicits the image of a campy, goofy children’s movie filled with toy-like gadgetry and light-hearted adventures. The Guardian once described the movie as “Willy Wonka-meets-James Bond.” While that perception is absolutely true, audiences shouldn’t let that encapsulate everything about writer/director Robert Rodriguez’s spy movie franchise. His action-comedy series follows a pair of children who follow in their parent’s footsteps to become secret agents, becoming heroes to their family and the world. However, even though these movies were based on a playful conceit, their lasting legacy is far more important than their initial reputation. The Spy Kids franchise was massively important for their well-executed representation and diversity that Rodriguez made a central theme of the series, making the films far more meaningful and significant than initial perceptions may portray.

​ Sure, they’re silly kids’ movies, but the Spy Kids franchise made huge steps in terms of diversity and representation.