LOS ANGELES — “Spy Kids: Armageddon” is now streaming on Netflix, but local families had a chance to see an early screening of the movie in partnership with Northgate Market. 

“I’m in a treat right now, said 10-year-old Erik Hernandez, who spent the evening with his family. “I’m in for the ride.”

Northgate Market worked with the streaming service to offer this opportunity to the community. Teresa Anaya, director of customer marketing for the market, said that as a Hispanic-owned company it is important to connect Latino children with media led by people who look like them.

“We were seen as the bad people, as the villains, but we are seen as the superheroes. When I was growing up, there wasn’t a lot of Latino actors, actresses or movies. I’m proud as a Latina to support these movies and, more than anything, to see the enthusiasm it brings to kids in our community,” Anaya said.

This was always the goal for the director of the “Spy Kids” franchise, Robert Rodriguez. When the first installment hit the scene in 2001, he said Latino representation was not what it is today, and he is proud to be at the forefront of the movement.

But even so, in 2022, Latinos represented just 5.2% of lead actors, according to a report by the Latino Donor Collective.

“I always had been a proponent of that since the beginning. I would say it’s the one thing I wanted to do different to bring some diversity to the screen. No one knew what you were talking about back then. If I led by example, it would be the best thing. If I just do it, those people will be stars. Someone had to be first and they will copy you and do it more, because they will see there is money there because people see themselves on screen,” Rodriguez said.

This is also why he chose to stream the movie on Netflix, so it could be watched over and over without having to continue to visit the theater.