Robert Rodriguez didn't want to make another one and was in no hurry to make another film for producer Harvey Weinstein after he was single-handily blamed for the failure of Grindhouse. However, Rodriguez owed Weinstein one more movie in a contract signed before Grindhouse was released and Weinstein wanted a sequel. This movie was the result.
The genesis for this film came from an incident on the set of Machete (2010). Star Jessica Alba had her then-one year old baby Honor Marie and was dressed to appear on camera when her diaper "exploded". Watching Alba change the diaper while trying not to get anything on her clothes prompted Robert Rodriguez to think "What about a spy mom?"
At $27 million, this Spy Kids movie cost the least to make. Every other movie in the series each cost between $35 million and $38 million to make.