History YMMV / SpyKids

** Also, overall minor compared to everything else, but while the second and third movie have him talk normally (implied he some damage of his transformation was undone), in the first movie he uses the same high-pitched tone of all others, implying that he, like them, is actually speaking ''backwards'', yet manages to be as eloquent and intellegible as usual. Keep in mind, the transformation was told and shown to turn the subjects' brains to "mush", and did absolutely nothing to him.

* WTHCastingAgency: Most if not all of the adult characters are played by actors known for starring in much more mature content, so having ''Spy Kids'' on their resumes is [[CreatorsOddball a bit interesting]]. Arguably, it works in the franchise's favor for making [[HamAndCheese excellent use]] of PlayingAgainstType, especially since [[ParentalBonus parents/older viewers are more likely to catch this than younger viewers unfamiliar with them]].

** Creator/RobertRodriguez later went on to direct ''Film/AlitaBattleAngel'', which is co-written by Laeta Kalogridis, who will be creating LiveActionAdaptation of ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', which gets frequent comparisons with Spy Kids 3D.

* HilariousInHindsight: Creator/RobertRodriguez later went on to direct ''Film/AlitaBattleAngel'', which is co-written by Laeta Kalogridis, who will be creating LiveActionAdaptation of ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', which gets frequent comparisons with Spy Kids 3D.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic:
** "Isle of Dreams", the song played during the end credits of the second movie.
** The third movie's end credits has "Heart Drive", a rap-metal duet between Alexa Vega and Bobby Edner with a bitchin' chiptune-inspired synth hook sprinkled on top. It's so cheesy it 180's around to being awesome.
* BigLippedAlligatorMoment:
** The appearance of the "real Guy" (played by Elijah Wood) in the third movie. To clarify, he just suddenly shows up, gives an inspirational speech... then he gets severely curb-stomped, booting him out of the game. He is never talked about again.
** Both the first and second film end with a post-credits scene, the first being a shot of inside Floop's castle and the second of the treehouse. Nothing happens in either sequence.
* ContestedSequel: Some say the second movie is along the same lines of the original, while others think it's worse.
* CriticalDissonance: The first and second films have 93% and 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively, but audience scores of 45% and 38%. Also, on Website/IMDb, the average ratings for the films are are 5.4 and 5.1.
%%* EnsembleDarkhorse:
%%** First movie: Floop and Machete.
%%** Second movie: Dinky Winks, Ralph and Romero.
* FirstInstallmentWins: The first movie was the best received.
* HilariousInHindsight:
** The first scene of the first movie is Alexa Vega in a white nightgown, staring out the window. [[Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera The same sort of scene that happens several years later.]]
** Also, in ''Game Over'', Juni being referred to, within a video game, as "[[VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy the Guy]]".
*** And when the real "Guy" ''does'' show up, he [[NintendoHard dies]] [[EverythingTryingToKillYou almost]] [[FakeDifficulty instantly]]. Sounds about right.
** At the beginning, Juni has warts on his hands. Later on, the same actor stars in ''Film/WorldsGreatestDad'', as a [[ADateWithRosiePalms frequent masturbator]]. You know what they say...
** In ''3D: Game Over'', Juni at one point is controlling [[Film/{{Transformers}} a giant yellow robot.]]
** The second movie has a watch that can do virtually everything ''but'' tell time. [[http://www.tomsguide.com/us/apple-watch-faq,news-19966.html Seems like Apple took this concept seriously.]]
** Also in the second movie, Steve Buscemi plays Romero who creates hybrid creatures that inhabit in his island and asks a [[MemeticMutation memetic]] existential question about how "God stays in Heaven because He too lives in fear of what he's created here on Earth?" More than a decade later, Buscemi would play God in ''Series/MiracleWorkers''.
** Creator/RobertRodriguez later went on to direct ''Film/AlitaBattleAngel'', which is co-written by Laeta Kalogridis, who will be creating LiveActionAdaptation of ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', which gets frequent comparisons with Spy Kids 3D.

* MemeticMutation:
** WE'RE TRAPPED! FLOOP IS A MADMAN HELP US SAVE US!
** "Do you think God stays in Heaven because he too lives in fear of what he's created?" [[labelnote:Explanation]]An extremely popular quote from ''Spy Kids 2'', which a lot of people feel was ''way'' too good of a line for the movie it was used in. It's often used in a similar vein to {{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'s "I don't want to live on this planet anymore" to express horror at the apparent stupidity of the human race[[/labelnote]]
** SOMEBODY RING THE DINKSTER?
*** And then the above quote mutated further into "The Dinkster Channel". [[labelnote:Explanation]] There is now a [=YouTube=] channel called "[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYu1rWyr0TxTnHo99oW7ddA/videos DinksterDaily]]" which does nothing but repost the exact same clip of the above quote every single day of the year. As of April 2021, this has been going on ''without missing a single day'' for nearly [[OverlyLongGag five entire years,]] uploading the clip over ''1,800'' individual times.[[/labelnote]]
** The ''sheer'' lunacy of "The Guy" being built up in ''Game Over'' only to appear and be '''booted''' immediately afterwards. Creator/ElijahWood playing him for basically ''2 minutes'' makes it more surreal.
** "shit talking mushrooms"[[labelnote:Explanation]]Another meme quoted line from ''Island of Lost Dreams'' during Carmen's fight with Gary Giggles. The actual line was " You're so full of shiitake mushrooms", however due to Carmen's ''off beat pronouncation'', it make it sound like "shit talking mushrooms". [[ItMakesSenseInContext The skeletons gasping during the line makes it obvious the writers knew what they wrote]].[[/labelnote]]
%% * NightmareFuel:
%% ** The Fooglies [[spoiler: and what they really are]].
%% ** Don't forget their song. ''Floop is a madman, help us, save us, Floop is a madman, help us, save us!''
%% ** And this happens to [[spoiler:their dad]]!
* {{Padding}}:
** Juni's relationship with Alexandra in the second film, who's daddy issues are barely explained and who doesn't reappear for the third film; Demetra herself isn't much better, and is forgotten about entirely after her HeroicSacrifice.
** To add to that, Juni is terminated from the OSS for all of a few hours before Carmen signs him back up, and nobody makes any fuss about this change.
** Creator/ElijahWood's cameo as "The Guy", who lasts for all of sixty seconds upon his reveal.
* {{Sequelitis}}:
** The second film manages to avoid this. The third however plays this trope straight between its copious amounts of SpecialEffectFailure, DullSurprise acting, and disjointed plot.
** [[FranchiseZombie And then they made a fourth one]].
* SpecialEffectFailure: The 3D in the third movie is very poorly done, barely resembling 3D at all. Understandable, seeing as this movie came out when the advent of 3D was still trying to get on its feet, and the movie itself was filmed using a primitive version of Creator/JamesCameron's 3D camera system.
** The greenscreening is also incredibly blatant, especially during the fight scene at the end of the movie.
** One from early in the first movie involves Ingrid moving her chair over to Gregorio. The track on which her chair is on is very clearly visible. Whether this is justifiable as yet another spy gadget's visible elements is debatable.
* {{Squick}}:
** At one point in the second movie, Gerti and Gary wind up in a desert (due to Carmen and Juni's meddling) and are unsure of where they are. They fall into what at first seems to be a mud pit, only to look around and see camels surrounding them. Horrified, Gerti exclaims that it is, indeed, [[spoiler:camel poop]]. Skip a few seconds into the future, and you see Gary opening his mouth and spitting a big chunk of...er, "mud" out of his teeth.
** The fourth film sees Marissa uses her baby's used diapers as weapons against several mooks in the movie.
* TearJerker:
** Gregorio imagining himself trouncing a bully's parent (which he easily could) and impressing Juni. All he wants is to be his son's hero.
** The Time Keeper's backstory in the fourth movie. Frozen in time, forced to watch his father grow old, wasting his life trying to find a way to free him, only to be released by a DeusExMachina ''after'' his death. Say what you will about the rest of the film, that is heartbreaking.
* ToyShip: Juni and Alexandra in the second film, and Juni and Demetra in the third film (with a ShipTease of Juni and Gertie at the end, too). Carmen, who at least looked old enough to be interested in the opposite sex, only got an unreciprocated crush on Gary in the second film.

* WTHCostumingDepartment:
** Some of the battle suits from the third movie are quite laughable. "The Guy" in particular looks absolutely hysterical for a supposed badass.
** The Time Keeper's costume would have looked just fine if he wore an actual clock shaped helmet and not just a rubbery, plastic mask. [[spoiler:All the funding of the OSS]] and he couldn't get himself a decent mask?

*** And then the above quote mutated further into "The Dinkster Channel". [[labelnote:Explanation]] There is now a [=YouTube=] channel called "[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYu1rWyr0TxTnHo99oW7ddA/videos DinksterDaily]]" which does nothing but repost the exact same clip of the above quote [[UpToEleven every single day of the year]]. As of April 2021, this has been going on ''without missing a single day'' for nearly [[OverlyLongGag five entire years,]] uploading the clip over ''1,800'' individual times.[[/labelnote]]

* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** First movie: Floop and Machete.
** Second movie: Dinky Winks, Ralph and Romero.
** Third movie: The Beta Testers and Demetra.

** [[FranchiseZombie And here comes a fourth....]]

** The second film arguably falls under this despite its respectable rating with fans and critics. The third however plays this trope straight between its copious amounts of SpecialEffectFailure, DullSurprise acting, and disjointed plot.

** FLOOP IS A MADMAN HELP US SAVE US!

*** And then the above quote mutated further into "The Dinkster Channel". [[labelnote:Explanation]] There is now a [=YouTube=] channel called "[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYu1rWyr0TxTnHo99oW7ddA/videos DinksterDaily]]" which does nothing but repost the exact same clip of the above quote [[UpToEleven every single day of the year]]. As of August 2019, this has been going on ''without missing a single day'' for nearly [[OverlyLongGag three entire years.]][[/labelnote]]

* NeverLiveItDown: Although already intended as the final entry of the series upon its initial release, the third film is still widely considered a FranchiseKiller not just for its poor acting and plethora of unfulfilled plot points, but also for its underwhelming 3D effects on which it was banking its entire success.

* NightmareFuel:
** The Fooglies [[spoiler: and what they really are]].
** Don't forget their song. ''Floop is a madman, help us, save us, Floop is a madman, help us, save us!''
** And this happens to [[spoiler:their dad]]!
** The Machete series is set in the same universe as the Spy Kids movies. Meaning that the villains from the Machete movies are in the same universe as the Spy Kids movies! Meaning that the horrible deeds that those villains committed are in the same universe as a squeaky-clean kid's series!!

* WTHCastingDepartment: Most if not all of the adult characters are played by actors known for starring in much more mature content, so having ''Spy Kids'' on their resumes is [[CreatorsOddball a bit interesting]]. Arguably, it works in the franchise's favor for making [[HamAndCheese excellent use]] of PlayingAgainstType, especially since [[ParentalBonus parents/older viewers are more likely to catch this than younger viewers unfamiliar with them]].

** Elijah Wood's cameo as "The Guy", who lasts for all of sixty seconds upon his reveal.

** The second film arguably falls under this despite its respectable rating with fans and critics. The third however plays this trope straight between its copious amounts of SpecialEffectFailure, DullSurprise acting and disjointed plot.

** The second film arguably falls under this despite its respectable rating with fans and critics. The third however plays this trope straight between its copious amounts of ConspicuousCG, DullSurprise acting and disjointed plot.

* EarWorm: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMphtvvSo5w Floop's Song]]". Doesn't really help that this song was written by Music/DannyElfman.

*** And then the above quote mutated further into "The Dinkster Channel". [[labelnote:Explanation]] There is now a YouTube channel called "[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYu1rWyr0TxTnHo99oW7ddA/videos DinksterDaily]]" which does nothing but repost the exact same clip of the above quote [[UpToEleven every single day of the year]]. As of August 2019, this has been going on ''without missing a single day'' for nearly [[OverlyLongGag three entire years.]][[/labelnote]]

* ContestedSequel: The second film.

* EarWorm: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMphtvvSo5w Floop's Song]]". Doesn't really help that this song was written by Danny Elfman.

* FridgeHorror: So if Minion was going to replace all the world officials' kids with robots, what was he going to do with the originals?
* FridgeLogic: The children of the most important people in the world are all apparently the exact same age...

** Robert Rodriguez later went on to direct ''Film/AlitaBattleAngel'', which is co-written by Laeta Kalogridis, who will be creating LiveActionAdaptation of ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', which gets frequent comparisons with Spy Kids 3D.

** "Do you think God stays in Heaven because he too lives in fear of what he's created?" [[labelnote:Explanation]]An extremely popular quote from Spy Kids 2, which a lot of people feel was ''way'' too good of a line for the movie it was used in. It's often used in a similar vein to {{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'s "I don't want to live on this planet anymore" to express horror at the apparent stupidity of the human race[[/labelnote]]

** The ''sheer'' lunacy of "The Guy" being built up in ''Game Over'' only to appear and be '''booted''' immediately afterwards. Elijah Wood playing him for basically ''2 minutes'' makes it more surreal.

* JustHereForGodzilla: Oh be honest, the only reason any of us saw ''All The Time In The World'' is for Juni and Carmen's parts.

** The fourth film sees Jessica Alba use her baby's used diapers as weapons against several mooks in the movie.

** The Time Keeper's costume would have looked just fine if he worn an actual clock shaped helmet and not just a rubbery, plastic mask. [[spoiler:All the funding of the OSS]] and he couldn't get himself a decent mask?

* HamAndCheese: ''Creator/SylvesterStallone'' as The Toymaker in the third movie. He is clearly having the time of his life as a madman evil video game programmer who talks to holograms of himself as a hippie, a general and a mad scientist. Him sporadically shouting his dialogue helps.
-->''[[SeriousBusiness This isn't a game...]]'''[[SeriousBusiness IT'S LIFE!!!]]'''''

* SoBadItsGood: The third film; some consider it the best one for being [[NarmCharm the most unintentionally hilarious]].

** The Timekeeper's backstory in the fourth movie. Frozen in time, forced to watch his father grow old, wasting his life trying to find a way to free him, only to be released by a DeusExMachina ''after'' his death. Say what you will about the rest of the film, that is heartbreaking.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: The third film might have been a little better if it had put more focus on Grandpa getting to ''feel'' young and powerful again, instead of summing his CharacterDevelopment up in a little speech at the end.
* TookTheBadFilmSeriously: Ricardo Montlebon in ''Game Over'', the scenes between him and Toymaker were easily the best of the film

* DracoInLeatherPants: Gary Giggles. Invoked in-film by Carmen.

* IdiotPlot: ''Spy Kids 2'' has a plot that is largely driven by every character being stupid.
** The president announces the new head of the OSS during his speech at the party. The screen he reads off of starts saying, "Gregorio Cortez", but then changes to "Donnagon Giggles". The way it happens makes it blatantly clear that his teleprompter was hacked, not experiencing a typo or malfunction, yet he never questions it. For that matter, the president is clearly about to say, "Gregorio Cortez" before his screen changes, yet no one at the party is suspicious of the obvious sabotage going on. Also, the president's announcement alone probably shouldn't be the deciding factor for who becomes head of the OSS, and the decision was probably already made before his announcement at the party. Shouldn't someone be investigating why his speech was changed instead of automatically instating Donnagon as the head?
** When Donnagon is making is speech, he promotes Gary and Gerti to level one agents. Is no one going to call him out on the blatant {{Nepotism}}?
** At the party, all of the wine glasses have been drugged, and all the adults are rendered unconscious when they all have a toast. Apparently, the villains never considered that someone might drink from their glass before the big toast, which would've exposed them if it happened. The fact that one of the waiters tries to give a wine glass to Juni implies that they expected everyone to be knocked out, including the kids. Seems they DidntThinkThisThrough.
** The Magnamen were able to steal the Transmooker device from the president after all the adults were drugged. If it's such a highly dangerous device that was on his desk initially, why did he just have it in his jacket pocket? The last time the device was seen, it was being carried away by helicopter, so you'd expect them to put it somewhere more secure, especially since it just got stolen.
** Juni gets fired from the OSS entirely because Gary Giggles accused him. Did no one seriously consider getting Juni's testimony on those events? Or the testimony of the other spy kids who were there?
*** For that matter, no one seriously questions how Juni got reinstated so quickly.
** Carmen and Juni are able to learn about the Ukata assignment by having R.A.L.P.H. spy on Gary and Gerti as their father is briefing them on the mission. The reason R.A.L.P.H. was able to spy on them was because Juni apparently left it on his desk, which he knew was going to be cleaned out. You'd think he'd take a valuable piece of technology (and companion) with him when he left.
** Felix gives Carmen and Juni the Ukata assignment, which he should know is a level one agent mission. Why does he not question why level two agents are getting this mission?
** The Giggles siblings are put on a vessel to the Gobi Desert. Apparently, they relied solely on autopilot and never noticed that they were going somewhere far away from the location that their father told them to go to.
** By the time they actually reach the island, you would think Carmen would've figured out by that point that electronic technology doesn't operate in that area, based on her experiences in the [=DragonSpy=] vessel and the amount of time she's had to think about it. Yet she still expects her spy gadgetry to make an automatic campsite on the beach.
** Romero's growth serum falling into his "Romero's Zoo Two" is the reason for why the island is full of gigantic MixAndMatchCritters. The flashback depicting this event shows a stunning lack of caution in his initial use of the serum.
** [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Someone should fire the architect who designed the office of the head of the OSS.]] There is [[NoOSHACompliance no way that room is safe at all]]. For one, there is no floor. There's just a regular desk on an elevated platform with very little walking room, and the only way to get across the deep abyss it stands in the middle of is to walk on very small floating platforms that fly over to beneath your foot just before you would take a step and fall to your death.

* {{Squick}}: At one point in the second movie, Gerti and Gary wind up in a desert (due to Carmen and Juni's meddling) and are unsure of where they are. They fall into what at first seems to be a mud pit, only to look around and see camels surrounding them. Horrified, Gerti exclaims that it is, indeed, [[spoiler:camel poop]]. Skip a few seconds into the future, and you see Gary opening his mouth and spitting a big chunk of...er, "mud" out of his teeth.

* TookTheBadFilmSeriously: Ricardo Montlebon in Game Over, the scenes between him and Toymaker were easily the best of the film

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: "Isle of Dreams", the song played during the end credits of the second movie.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: The appearance of the "real Guy" (played by Elijah Wood) in the third movie. To clarify, he just suddenly shows up, gives an inspirational speech... then he gets severely curb-stomped, booting him out of the game. He is never talked about again.

* {{Padding}}: Juni's relationship with Alexandra in the second film, who's daddy issues are barely explained and who doesn't reappear for the third film; Demetra herself isn't much better, and is forgotten about entirely after her HeroicSacrifice.

* TearJerker: Gregorio imagining himself trouncing a bully's parent (which he easily could) and impressing Juni. All he wants is to be his son's hero.

* UncannyValley: The hideous distorted faces of Floop's Fooglies from the first movie.
* WTHCostumingDepartment: Some of the battle suits from the third movie are quite laughable. "The Guy" in particular looks absolutely hysterical for a supposed badass.