# Agent Cody Banks

> 2003 film directed by Harald Zwart

**Wikidata**: [Q392677](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q392677)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Cody_Banks)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/agent-cody-banks

## Summary

Agent Cody Banks is a movie that blends the genres of romantic comedy, spy film, children's film, and action film.

## Summary
Agent Cody Banks is a 2003 American spy comedy film directed by Harald Zwart and produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film stars Frankie Muniz as a teenage CIA agent who must complete a mission while navigating high school life.

## Key Facts
- Release date: March 14, 2003 (premiere), August 28, 2003 (US release)
- Director: Harald Zwart
- Production company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Genre: Spy film, romantic comedy, children's film, action film
- Country of origin: United States
- IMDb ID: tt0313911
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 38%
- Metacritic score: 41/100
- Box office gross: $842,685 (domestic opening weekend)
- Runtime: 102 minutes
- Website: http://www.agentcodybanksmovie.com
- Followed by: Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004)

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Agent Cody Banks?**
Agent Cody Banks follows a teenage CIA operative who must befriend a girl at his school to gain access to her scientist father, who is unknowingly working on dangerous technology for an evil organization. The film blends spy action with teenage comedy as Cody balances his secret mission with normal high school life.

**Who stars in Agent Cody Banks?**
The film stars Frankie Muniz as the titular character Cody Banks, alongside Hilary Duff as his classmate and mission target Natalie Connors. The cast also includes Angie Harmon as Cody's CIA handler and Keith David as the CIA director.

**What genre does Agent Cody Banks belong to?**
Agent Cody Banks is primarily a spy film that incorporates elements of romantic comedy, children's film, and action film. The movie targets a young teen audience while featuring typical spy genre elements like gadgets, missions, and villains.

**Is Agent Cody Banks part of a series?**
Yes, Agent Cody Banks is the first film in a two-part series. It was followed by Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London in 2004, which continued the adventures of the teenage CIA agent in a new international setting.

## Why It Matters
Agent Cody Banks represents an important entry in the teen spy comedy genre, combining elements of James Bond-style espionage with coming-of-age humor targeted at younger audiences. The film showcased Frankie Muniz's transition from television star (Malcolm in the Middle) to film actor, while also featuring Hilary Duff during her peak popularity as a teen idol. As a production of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it demonstrated the studio's continued investment in family-friendly entertainment during the early 2000s. The film's success helped establish a template for subsequent teen-oriented action-comedy films and contributed to the broader trend of adapting adult genres for younger demographics.

## Notable For
- Frankie Muniz's first major film role following his success on Malcolm in the Middle
- Hilary Duff's transition from television (Lizzie McGuire) to feature films
- Blending of spy genre conventions with teenage comedy
- Production by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during a period of focus on youth-oriented content
- Establishing a franchise that spawned a sequel within one year
- Featuring practical effects and stunts performed by young actors
- Incorporating real CIA consultation for authenticity in spy elements

## Body
### Production and Development
Agent Cody Banks was developed as a family-friendly spy comedy targeting the early 2000s teen demographic. The film was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, one of Hollywood's most established studios, which had been producing films since 1924. The project was directed by Harald Zwart, a Norwegian filmmaker known for his work in both European and American cinema. The screenplay was written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, who had previously worked on biographical films and comedies.

### Cast and Characters
The film stars Frankie Muniz as Cody Banks, a 15-year-old CIA operative who must complete his first major mission. Muniz was already well-known for his starring role in the television series Malcolm in the Middle, which had been running since 2000. Hilary Duff plays Natalie Connors, Cody's classmate and the daughter of the scientist Cody must befriend. Duff was simultaneously starring in Lizzie McGuire on the Disney Channel, making this film part of her crossover into feature films. The supporting cast includes Angie Harmon as Ronica Miles, Cody's CIA handler, and Keith David as the CIA director.

### Genre Classification
Agent Cody Banks spans multiple genre classifications, reflecting its hybrid nature. It is primarily classified as a spy film, incorporating typical espionage elements like secret missions, gadgets, and villains. The film also falls into the romantic comedy category due to the developing relationship between Cody and Natalie. Additionally, it is categorized as a children's film and action film, making it accessible to a broad young audience while maintaining entertainment value for accompanying adults.

### Release and Reception
The film premiered on March 14, 2003, and received its wide theatrical release in the United States on August 28, 2003. It received mixed reviews from critics, earning a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 41 out of 100. Despite the lukewarm critical reception, the film performed well enough commercially to warrant a sequel. The domestic opening weekend gross was $842,685, indicating modest but sufficient box office performance for a film of this type and budget.

### Franchise Development
The success of Agent Cody Banks led to the development of a sequel, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London, which was released in 2004. This follow-up film continued the adventures of Cody Banks in a new international setting, expanding the scope of the original while maintaining the same blend of spy action and teenage comedy. The quick turnaround between films (one year) was typical for youth-oriented franchises of the era, capitalizing on the popularity of the young cast members.

### Technical Specifications
The film has a runtime of 102 minutes, which is standard for family adventure films of this period. It was shot in color and distributed in standard theatrical format. The production utilized practical effects and stunts appropriate for the spy genre while maintaining safety standards for the young cast members. The film's visual style balanced the sleek aesthetics of spy films with the more colorful, accessible look typical of children's entertainment.

### Cultural Context
Agent Cody Banks emerged during a period when Hollywood was increasingly producing films that adapted traditionally adult genres for younger audiences. This trend included teen versions of horror films, romantic comedies, and in this case, spy thrillers. The film capitalized on the popularity of both Frankie Muniz and Hilary Duff, who were among the most recognizable young stars of the early 2000s. Their involvement helped ensure the film's appeal to the target demographic of pre-teens and young teenagers.

### Distribution and Marketing
As an MGM production, the film benefited from the studio's distribution network and marketing resources. The official website (http://www.agentcodybanksmovie.com) served as a central hub for promotional materials, trailers, and interactive content aimed at the target audience. The marketing campaign emphasized the film's blend of action and comedy, highlighting both the spy elements and the teenage romance aspects to appeal to different segments of the young audience.

### Legacy and Influence
While not considered a classic of the genre, Agent Cody Banks contributed to the evolution of teen-oriented action-comedy films in the early 2000s. It demonstrated the commercial viability of adapting adult genres for younger audiences and helped establish patterns for subsequent films in this category. The film's success also reinforced the value of casting popular young television stars in feature film roles, a practice that continued throughout the decade.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313911/)
2. [Source](http://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film842685.html)
3. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=44448.html)
4. [Source](http://www.adorocinema.com/filmes/filme-44448/)
5. [Source](http://www.interfilmes.com/filme_12527_o.agente.teen.html%E2%80%8E)
6. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
7. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313911/fullcredits)
8. The Movie Database
9. Agent Cody Banks. Rotten Tomatoes
10. Freebase Data Dumps
11. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313911/releaseinfo)
12. Kinopoisk
13. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/agent-cody-banks/)
14. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
15. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/108289)
16. [Source](http://portal.mj.gov.br/ClassificacaoIndicativa/jsps/DadosObraForm.do?select_action=&tbobra_codigo=9012)
17. Brazilian Advisory Rating System
18. [Source](https://jmkextern.bmb.gv.at/app/detail.aspx?FILID=16311)
19. mymovies.it
20. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/45C2-D642-0F15-6F8C-1EAB-G)
21. Danish Film Database
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24. FilmVandaag.nl