With the Spy Kids franchise now a firm favorite in the espionage genre, SPYSCAPE went on a mission to bring you the 10 top family-friendly movies to stream on a night in. Hold on to your joysticks!
 

1. Spy Kids Armageddon (2023) 

The first film in the franchise, Spy Kids still stands the test of time but Spy Kids Armageddon (2023) updates the entertainment for Roblox enthusiasts. In the midst of an impending global catastrophe, the offspring of the world's most renowned secret agents inadvertently aid a formidable game developer in releasing a computer virus that grants him dominion over all technology. Now, forced into the world of espionage, these young heroes must embark on a mission to rescue their parents and safeguard the fate of the world. It's formulaic, but why mess with perfection? (Netflix from September 22, 2023)

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2. My Spy (2020) 

Bumbling CIA operative JJ (former WWE legend Dave Bautista) is caught in the midst of routine surveillance by nine-year-old Sophie (Chloe Coleman) who threatens to blow his cover if he doesn’t teach her about espionage. This light-hearted comedy has a bit of action, romance, and a few saucy lines, but on balance it is a family film. Suitable for children 13+. (Prime Video, Disney+, Google Play, Apple TV, YouTube)

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3. Get Smart (2008) 

When crime syndicate KAOS attacks US spy agency Control, the Chief (Alan Arkin) promotes analyst Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) to field agent. Smart is partnered with veteran Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) and yes, the shoe phone fits! Rated PG13+. (YouTube, Apple TV, Google Play, Prime Video)

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4. Spies in Disguise (2019)

Super-spy Lance Sterling (Will Smith) is a suave operator until he is turned into a pigeon by Walter, a young scientist who creates gadgets for his missions. Walter is a social misfit but has a high IQ, so they team up to save the world in this animated film. Suitable for children 8+. (Prime Video, Disney+, Google Play, Apple TV, YouTube)
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5. Penguins of Madagascar (2014)

Penguin spies Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private join the elite, undercover North Wind team to save the world. Led by arrogant Agent Classified (Benedict Cumberbatch), they must stop villain Dr. Octavius Brine (John Malkovich) from destroying the world. Suitable for children 7+. (Prime Video, Netflix, Paramount+, Apple TV, Chili)

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6. Alex Rider: Stormbreaker (2006)

Prime Video’s Alex Rider series is awesome but you’ll also want to stream Operation Stormbreaker starring Alex Pettyfer as an orphaned 14-year-old. MI6 recruits Alex by threatening to deport his nanny (Alicia Silverstone) if he doesn’t cooperate, and Alex soon finds himself on a case involving a futuristic computer. Suitable for children 11+. (Netflix in some countries, Apple TV, YouTube, Google Play, Prime Video)

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7. The Spy Next Door (2010)‍

Jackie Chan is in fine form, performing death-defying stunts as CIA operative Bob Ho who plans to retire after nailing a Russian terrorist. His dream of a quiet life doesn’t last long as he must babysit his future stepchildren. Worse still, the terrorists are coming back for revenge. Rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for sequences of action violence. (YouTube, Prime Video, Google Play, Netflix, Apple TV) 

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8. Agent Cody Banks (2003)

Agent Cody Banks involves a high school student desperate to survive the tediousness of adolescence and become an adult. The twist is that Banks is already a CIA officer spying on fellow student Natalie Connors to get close to her father, a scientist who has invented killer nanobots. Suitable for young teens. (Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Apple TV, Sky Store)

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9. Harriett the Spy (1996)

Harriet likes to spy but her friends find her secret notebook and turn the tables on the young secret agent. Can she win them back but still carry on with her life in the shadows? Suitable for children 8-12. (Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV)

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10. G-Force (2009)

Armed with spy gear, a guinea pig named Darwin (Sam Rockwell) and his team of trained rodents are on active duty when the government shuts them down and sends them to a pet shop. Meanwhile, a mad billionaire (Bill Nighy) is planning to take over the world. Can a G-Force break-out be far behind? Suitable for children 8+. (Disney, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube)