Families gathered at The Paramount Theatre in Downtown Austin on Saturday to celebrate the blockbuster movie’s impact on the city’s film industry.
AUSTIN, Texas — Families packed into Downtown Austin’s historic Paramount Theatre on Saturday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of “Spy Kids” — a film with deep ties to the city and a lasting legacy for Austin filmmaking.
A line stretched outside the theater ahead of the anniversary screening, as both longtime fans and younger audiences gathered to revisit the family adventure film that first premiered at The Paramount Theatre in 2001.
“I mean, it’s pretty cool,” Austin resident Jack Webster said. “I’ve been to The Paramount Theatre at least two or three times before, and I think it’s going to be cool seeing it on the big screen.”
The movie, which was directed by Austin filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, became a landmark moment for the city’s film industry. The action-comedy showcased Austin’s ability to produce major studio films locally, while also helping cement Rodriguez as one of the city’s most recognizable creative figures.
“It was also kind of a landmark movie for Austin filmmaking because it really showed that we had the crew here and we had the technological capability here to make this big kind of blockbuster movie — a family film,” said Stephen Jannise, senior director of film programming at The Paramount Theatre.
The original “Spy Kids” starred Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara, who attended the movie’s Austin premiere in 2001 and took part in festivities along Congress Avenue.
“It was so cool,” Sabara and PenaVega told KVUE during an interview at the time. “We had so much fun with all the stunts and the gadgets. It was so much fun, and especially working with Robert. He’s like the biggest kid in the world.”
Rodriguez, whose star is displayed outside the Paramount Theatre, did not have time to speak with KUVE on Saturday. But, just like his stars, he also gave KVUE an interview in 2001, reflecting on the movie’s family-centered message.
“You really want to be there with your kids when they see it,” Rodriguez said at the time. “It’s really about the mission of keeping a family together.”
Twenty-five years later, that message is still resonating with audiences.
“We’re always looking for fun things to do,” Austin resident Sarah Key said. “To be able to come to an event that has Robert Rodriguez — we know that he’s an Austin-grown creative, so we’re excited to support that.”
Another attendee, Andrea Perez, said she quickly secured tickets for her family once they became available.
“I was able to snag four tickets,” Perez said. “There were only 55 available, but I was able to grab four.”
The Paramount Theatre is already planning a celebration for the 25th anniversary of Spy Kids 2 next year.
Meanwhile, theater officials also announced major renovation plans for the historic venue and the neighboring State Theatre. Renovations at the Paramount are expected to begin June 16 as part of a $66 million project aimed at modernizing and reimagining both theaters.
The Paramount Theatre is expected to close for approximately eight to nine months during construction, while the State Theatre is expected to close for 13 to 16 months beginning next summer.