As parents, we’re all looking for ideas of things to keep our children busy. So, why not let them watch some spy movies made for kids?
To help with this, we at Spy Movie Navigator have looked at the movies available that are kid-friendly and created this list of spy movies for kids.
Please note that Spy Movie Navigator receives no compensation if you purchase or rent any of these movies.
Note: The online information was gathered at the beginning of April 2020 so it may change over time.
PG-Rated Spy Movies
Spies in Disguise (2019 movie)
Description (from 20th Century website)
In this high-flying animated comedy, super-spy Lance Sterling (Will Smith) and scientist Walter Beckett (Tom Holland) are almost exact opposites. Lance is smooth, suave and debonair. Walter is none of the above. But this unlikely duo must team up for the ultimate mission to save the world when a “biodynamic concealment” experiment transforms Lance into a brave, fierce, majestic…pigeon!
Rating: PG
Run Time: 101 minutes
Trailer: (click here to view the trailer from YouTube)
Podcast: Spy Movie Navigator has a podcast about Spies in Disguise which discusses it in more detail. You can find it by clicking here.
Where to find it online:
This movie is currently not included free in any service that we’ve found. Therefore, there is currently a rental/purchase charge to view this movie from any of these sites.
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Penguins of Madagascar (2014 movie)
Description: (from Dreamworks website)
They’re cute…they’re cuddly…they’re back! From the creators of MADAGASCAR comes the hilarious new movie that proves global espionage is for the birds! In DreamWorks’ PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR, your favorite super-spies–Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private–join forces with the elite North Wind team to save the world. It’s a side-splitting, globe-trotting adventure the whole family will love!
Rating: PG
Run Time: 1 hour 32 minutes
Trailer: (click here to view the trailer from YouTube)
Where to find it online:
This movie is currently not included free in any service that we’ve found. Therefore, there is currently a rental/purchase charge to view this movie from any of these sites.
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Inspector Gadget (1999 movie)
Description: (from Disney’s website)
A security guard’s dreams come true when he is selected to be transformed into a cybernetic police officer.
Inspector Gadget isn’t technically a spy movie, but when we ask kids about their favorite spies, his name comes up often so we included him in this list
Rating: PG
Run Time: 1 Hour 18 Minutes
Trailer: (click here to view the trailer from YouTube)
Where to find it online:
This movie is included in a Disney+ subscription, click –> 
Also, if you don’t have Disney+, you can rent/purchase this movie online here:
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Spy Kids (2001 movie)
Description: (from Miramax website)
Nine years ago, top international spies Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez traded the excitement of espionage for the adventure of parenthood. But when they’re called out on a secret mission, the Cortezes are separated from their family and kidnapped by the evil Fegan Floop. Fortunately, there are two people who possess the skills and know-how to reunite the family: Carmen and Juni Cortez, their kids.
Note: Three more Spy Kids movies followed upon the success of this one. They are Spy Kids 2, Spy Kids 3: Game Over, and Spy Kids: All the Time in the World.
Rating: PG
Run Time: 1 hour 28 minutes
Trailer: (click here to view the trailer from YouTube)
Where to find it online:
If you have Netflix, Spy Kids is included in the membership at no additional charge (Spy Kids is only on Netflix until 4/30/2020).
However, if you don’t have Netflix, you can rent/purchase the movie online here:
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Spy School (2008 movie)
Description: (From IMDB)
Spy School is the story of a twelve-year-old boy known for telling tall tales who overhears a plot to kidnap the President’s daughter. When he goes public with his story, no one believes him, and he is forced to save her on his own.
Please note this movie is also known as Doubting Thomas. However, in 2018 another movie called Doubting Thomas was released that is a different movie and isn’t a spy movie. We don’t know if it is a movie for kids as it is unrated and we haven’t seen it. Also, there is a 1935 Will Rogers movie called Doubting Thomas. So, please make sure you are looking at the 2008 movie if you want the right one.
Rating: PG
Run Time: 1 hour 26 minutes
Trailer: (click here to view the trailer from YouTube)
Where to find it online:
This spy movie is available at no cost on Tubi under the title Doubting Thomas.
Additionally, it is available at the following links for an additional charge:
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Agent Cody Banks (2003 movie)
Description: (From IMDB)
A government agent trains Cody Banks in the ways of covert operations that require younger participants.
In addition to this movie, please note that there is a sequel called Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London.
Rating: PG
Run Time: 1 hour 42 minutes
Trailer: (click here to view the trailer from YouTube)
Where to find it online:
This spy movie is currently available as part of an HBO GO subscription.
However, if you do not subscribe to HBO, choose one of these other options. You have a rent/buy option at these other sites.
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Harriet the Spy (1996 movie)
Description: (From IMDB)
Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. But when Harriet’s friends find her secret notebook the tables are turned on her. Can she win her friends back and still keep on going with the spy business?
Rating: PG
Run Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Trailer: (click here to view the trailer from YouTube)
Where to find it online:
You’ll find Harriet The Spy for rent in your Amazon Prime membership.
It is also available to rent or buy at the following links:
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G-Rated Spy Movies
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency (2009 movie)
Description: (From IMDB)
13-year-old Sam Steele Jr. forms his own private detective agency to emulate his father, Des Moines detective Sam Steele and helps track down a jewel thief.
In this movie, Sam is a detective. We included this in our list as it is rated G and has some spy-movie elements. The sequels call Sam a spy, so we’ll start with this first one. The sequels are Sam Steele and the Crystal Chalice in 2011 and The Junior Spy Agency in 2014.
Rating: G
Run Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
Trailer: (click here to view the trailer from YouTube)
Where to find it online:
You’ll find Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency in your Amazon Prime membership at no additional cost.
Also, you might also want to poke around on YouTube. The links for the three related movies are not consistent on YouTube with trailers for the different movies using each other’s titles. However, you’ll find what you are looking for there. In addition, this YouTube link will take you to where you can buy/rent the spy movie. But we strongly suggest you do a YouTube search first.
Cars 2 (2011 movie)
Description: (From Disney website)
Star race car Lightning McQueen and the incomparable tow truck Mater take their friendship on the road from Radiator Springs to exciting new places when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage!
Rating: G
Run Time: 1 hour 46 minutes
Trailer: (click here to view the trailer from YouTube)
Where to find it online:
You’ll find Cars 2 in your Disney+ subscription.
However, if you don’t have a Disney+ subscription, you can rent/buy Cars 2 online at these sites:
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Odd Squad: The Movie (2016 movie)
Description: (from IMDB)
Odd Squad is forced out of business when Weird Team, a rival team of adults, arrives with a gadget that solves odd problems. But while leading normal lives, the Odd Squad agents discover that the group isn’t solving problems, just covering them up.
Rating: G
Run Time: 1 hour 7 minutes
Trailer: (click here to view the trailer from YouTube)
Where to find it online:
If you have Amazon Prime, this spy movie is included in the membership at no additional charge (as of 4/9/2020).
In conclusion, we hope you and your kids liked these spy movies. Please let us know your thoughts on these movies. Also, if there are other spy movies your kids like that we should include in our next list, please let us know. To make that easy, just press the red button on the right side of this page. Then, you can leave a voicemail for us with your thoughts.
Related Content
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In this 7 1/2 minute podcast, we look into the 2019 spy movie for kids, Spies in Disguise and show you why it has a PG rating.
