Robert Rodriguez Says “Spy Kids” Initially ‘Tested Low,’ but Believes It Ended Up Doing Well Due to One Main Reason (Exclusive)
Robert Rodriguez Says “Spy Kids” Initially ‘Tested Low,’ but Believes It Ended Up Doing Well Due to One Main Reason (Exclusive)
Tereza Shkurtaj, Abby RoedelSun, March 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM UTC
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Robert Rodriguez.Credit: Hubert Vestil/Getty -
On March 5, 2026, Robert Rodriguez returned to Troublemaker Studios in Austin, Texas, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Spy Kids
Attendees included the stars of the 2001 kids' action film starring Daryl Sabara and Alexa PenaVega
During the event, the 57-year-old director spoke to PEOPLE about why he believes Spy Kids performed well despite initially testing poorly
Few family films have left a mark quite like Spy Kids, the action-adventure created by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. When the movie premiered in 2001, it introduced a new kind of hero: kids who were just as capable of saving the day as the adults around them.
Twenty-five years later, the film is still remembered for its creativity and playful energy. During the 26th annual Texas Film Awards on March 5, 2026, Rodriguez reflected on the film’s unlikely path to success.
“When we first test-screened it, it tested low,” the 57-year-old director tells PEOPLE exclusively. “The parents were confused. They were like, ‘This movie's all wrong. The parents disappear after five minutes and then the kids take over.’ It was unheard of. But then it was a big success because of that.”
Alexa PenaVega, Daryl Sabara and Robert Rodriguez on 'Spy Kids' setCredit: Dimension Films / DR/Alamy
According to Rodriguez, Spy Kids ultimately succeeded because it embraced “all the things you’re not supposed to do.”
Instead of focusing on adults saving the day, the story follows siblings Carmen and Juni Cortez as they step up when their spy parents suddenly vanish. The unusual structure made the movie feel different from traditional family films — but that was exactly the point.
"There just was never an action movie for kids," he says, recalling a time a woman told him that her 6-year-old son's favorite movie was Desperado.
While Rodriguez remembers thinking that the child was "not supposed to be watching that," the director could "understand what he likes about it."
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“It's got gadgets and guitar cases that fire missiles. I got to make a movie like that for kids with that level of action with kids,” Rodriguez explains. “And I even used Antonio Banderas in it because they will eat it up because they never get to be the heroes.”
The resulting film delivered an energetic mix of gadgets, colorful villains and imaginative creatures. Banderas and Carla Gugino play the secret agent parents, while Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara lead the adventure as the young heroes.
One of the most memorable parts of the story is the strange group of henchmen known as the “Thumb Thumbs.” The bulky robotic guards shaped like giant thumbs, who worked for the villain Fegan Floop, helped give the movie a playful and surreal style.
Antonio Banderas and Robert Rodriguez.Credit: Ricco Torres/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock
Deep down, Rodriguez always believed kids would connect with the story more strongly than adults.
“I knew kids would really love it and they're my most loyal audience,” he admits. “Look, the parents are going to watch it once. The kids, if it really empowers them, they will watch it over and over and over again, which they did.”
With its energetic cast, imaginative story and child-centered adventure, Spy Kids has remained a fan-favorite for 25 years, continuing to inspire young viewers to imagine themselves as the heroes of their own story.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
