The cast of The Spy Next Door is an absolute fever dream of early-2010s pop culture, packing in a lineup that makes zero sense on paper but somehow ended up in the same goofy Jackie Chan family movie. If you just sat down to watch this with your kids and spent the first twenty minutes squinting at the screen whispering, "Wait, is that...?" you are definitely not alone.
TL;DR: If you are trying to place the familiar faces in The Spy Next Door, you are spotting martial arts legend Jackie Chan, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, comedian George Lopez, and LazyTown star Magnús Scheving. While the film itself is a highly formulaic, slapstick-heavy PG action-comedy best suited for kids aged 6 to 10, the bizarre cast makes it a fun retro watch for parents. If your kids enjoy this spy-comedy vibe, they will likely have a blast with Spy Kids or The Pacifier.
Jackie Chan is the undisputed anchor of this entire operation. He plays Bob Ho, a mild-mannered pen salesman who is secretly a badass, undercover CIA operative. By 2010, Jackie was already a global icon, having conquered Hollywood with the Rush Hour franchise and Shanghai Noon.
What makes this film a fun trivia point for Jackie Chan fans is that the opening credits actually pay tribute to his real-life career, showing montage clips from his classic, high-octane Hong Kong action movies. It is a great nod for parents who grew up on his death-defying stunts, even if this specific movie features a slightly slower, more wire-assisted version of the legend.
This is where the casting director must have been drawing names out of a hat. The adult supporting cast is a wild trip down memory lane:
Yes, the main Russian villain with the slicked-back hair and the absurdly tight turtleneck is none other than Magnús Scheving. If you had toddlers in the mid-2000s, you know him as Sportacus, the hyperactive, blue-clad, healthy-eating hero of the surreal Icelandic kids' show LazyTown. Scheving is actually a former world-class aerobic gymnastics champion, which explains why his villain character does weirdly athletic flips and stunts throughout the film. Seeing "Sportacus" play a Russian terrorist trying to control the world's oil supply is worth the watch by itself.
Fresh off his peak Hannah Montana fame, Billy Ray Cyrus shows up as Bob’s fellow CIA partner, Colton James. He wears a leather jacket, sports his signature country-rock hair, and brandishes high-tech spy gadgets like he’s trying to remember his lines. It is peak 2010 Disney-adjacent casting.
George Lopez plays Bob’s CIA boss, Glaze, who—spoiler alert for a decade-old kids' movie—ends up being a double agent. Lopez plays it with his usual sarcastic, fast-talking energy, though the script doesn't give him a ton of room to actually be funny.
Supermodel-turned-actress Amber Valletta plays Gillian, the sweet, oblivious single mom of three who has no idea her boring boyfriend is a super-spy. You probably recognize her from Hitch or her high-fashion runway days.
The kids in the movie have some of the most interesting connections. If you've been wondering where you've seen them, here's the breakdown:
Madeline Carroll plays Farren, the rebellious teenage stepdaughter who resents Bob. Carroll was a massive child star in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Shortly after this, she starred in Rob Reiner's beloved coming-of-age film Flipped (2010) and alongside Jim Carrey in Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011).
Alina Foley plays Nora, the adorable four-year-old who is obsessed with dressing up like a princess. Alina is comedy royalty—she is the daughter of Dave Foley, the legendary co-founder of the Canadian comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall and star of NewsRadio. Alina also went on to play Ellie, FX's The League character (Taco's daughter), where she had some of the funniest, most deadpan line deliveries on television.
Will Shadley plays Ian, the middle child who is a nerdy, bullied kid obsessed with science and gadgets. Shadley did a lot of voice acting around this time, including voicing characters in The Lorax and guest-starring on various Disney and Nickelodeon shows.
Here is a quick look at how the cast has aged since the film's 2010 release:
Let’s be real: The Spy Next Door is not cinematic gold. It currently sits at a brutal 12% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the critics weren't wrong—the writing is incredibly lazy, the green screen effects are painfully dated, and the physical comedy leans heavily into "guy gets hit in the groin" territory.
But here is the Screenwise take: it is perfectly fine, low-stakes entertainment for younger kids.
If you have a 6-to-10-year-old who is starting to express interest in action movies but isn't ready for the intensity of Marvel, this movie is a great stepping stone. It’s got cartoonish, bloodless action, silly gadgets, and Jackie Chan doing what he does best—using random household objects (like oatmeal, pots, and stepstools) to fight off bad guys.
For parents, the fun isn't in the plot; it’s in pointing out the ridiculousness of the cast. If you want to explore better options in this genre, check out our best family movies list for some higher-quality picks.
If your kids actually stick around for the whole movie, you can use it to talk about some real-world concepts. This isn't about lecturing them; it's about shifting the screen time from passive consumption into an actual conversation.
- Real Stunts vs. CGI: Jackie Chan is famous for doing his own stunts (and the end credits of his movies, including this one, usually show the bloopers and injuries to prove it). Ask your kids: “What did you think of the stunts? Do you think it’s cooler when actors do things for real, or when they use computer graphics like green screens?”
- The "Blended Family" Dynamic: A big part of the movie's plot is Bob trying to win over Gillian’s kids, who are highly resistant to him. Ask: “Why do you think the kids were so mean to Bob at first? How did he earn their trust?”
- Internet Safety (The 2010 Version): The whole plot kicked off because Ian tried to download a 3D printer file but accidentally downloaded a top-secret Russian formula. You can use this for a quick, low-key check-in: “Ian thought he was just downloading a cool file but ended up getting hacked. What do we do when a website asks us to download something we don't recognize?”
Q: What age is The Spy Next Door appropriate for?
The Spy Next Door is best suited for kids aged 6 to 10. Younger kids will enjoy the slapstick physical comedy and silly gadgets, while older kids (11 and up) will likely find the plot too predictable and the special effects too dated.
Q: Is The Spy Next Door on Netflix?
Streaming availability changes constantly, but you can typically find The Spy Next Door on major digital platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, or Google Play for rent or purchase.
Q: Did Jackie Chan do his own stunts in The Spy Next Door?
Yes, Jackie Chan did many of his own stunts, as is his signature style. However, because he was 55 years old at the time of filming, the movie does utilize stunt doubles and wire-work more visibly than his classic Hong Kong action films.
Q: Who plays the Russian villain in The Spy Next Door?
The main Russian villain, Anton Poldark, is played by Magnús Scheving. He is best known to parents and kids as Sportacus, the creator and star of the hit children's television show LazyTown.
If your kids loved the spy-action vibe of The Spy Next Door but you want something with a bit more substance, here is where to go next:
- For more high-energy family action: Check out Spy Kids, which holds up surprisingly well and has a much more creative world.
- For more Jackie Chan classics: If they are ready for slightly more mature (but still highly comedic) martial arts, try his animated series Jackie Chan Adventures.
- Explore our curated lists: Browse our best family movies list or dive into our digital guide for elementary school for older kids who are ready to graduate from slapstick.
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