For fans of spy movies, this is the place to be! From Agent Salt to James Bond, and beyond, the best spy movies offer a thrilling blend of intrigue, danger, and action. These movies make you feel like a real secret agent, even if it’s just for a few hours. While most of us won’t experience flying around the world on a secret mission, jumping out of planes to evade enemies, or engaging in high-speed car chases, we can still enjoy an exhilarating adventure from the comfort of our couch. While Mission: Impossible and the James Bond series are iconic highlights of the genre, there are plenty of other action-packed secret agent movies to explore. So, what should you watch? This list includes the best spy movies available for your viewing pleasure.
The best spy movies 👀
The best spy movies transport viewers to a world brimming with intrigue, danger, and action. When talking about the top movies in this genre, the first character that comes to mind is undoubtedly James Bond. If you enjoy thrilling chases, espionage, and captivating locations, there are plenty of engaging spy movies available online.
1.Agent Salt
Salt turns the traditional formula for spy movies on its head by revealing the hero as a Russian sleeper agent. Evelyn Salt (played by Angelina Jolie) is a sleeper agent who is ordered to instigate a nuclear holocaust but struggles to override her programming. Like the best secret agent movies, Salt keeps its secrets until the final reveal. Director Phillip Noyce, known for his work in the espionage genre with the Jack Ryan movies starring Harrison Ford, created a new female action hero with this movie. Salt was both a box office success and critically acclaimed, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Sound Mixing.
Information about Salt (2010)
- Director: Phillip Noyce
- Cast: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski
- Release Year: 2010
- Duration: 100 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Action, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
- Similar Movies: Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Hanna (2011), Red Sparrow (2018)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Salt on IMDb
2.Tenet
Tenet perfectly embodies Christopher Nolan’s signature style by introducing a time travel element into his spy movies. John David Washington stars as an unnamed agent who must prevent an arms dealer from using time travel to plunge the world into chaos. The movie was nominated for two Oscars and won Best Visual Effects. Despite being released during the pandemic, it was a box office success, grossing $359 million. However, due to its high production budget, it did not yield substantial profits for its producers. Although it faced limited theater viewership because of the pandemic, it has since become one of the most-watched spy movies on digital platforms.
Information about Tenet (2020)
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Cast: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Kenneth Branagh
- Release Year: 2020
- Duration: 150 minutes
- Country: United Kingdom, United States
- Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- Similar Movies: Inception (2010), Interstellar (2014), Memento (2000)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Tenet on IMDb
3.Spy (Agent)
Adding comedy to a spy movie without making it a full-fledged parody is challenging, but 2015’s Spy successfully achieves this. Melissa McCarthy stars as Susan Cooper, a desk worker at a spy agency who is thrust into the field after her friend and fellow agent (played by Jude Law) is murdered. McCarthy delivers a surprising performance during the action scenes, showcasing her versatility. Jason Statham‘s uncharacteristic role, combined with McCarthy’s hilarious performance, helped the movie gross over $235 million at the box office. Spy also garnered two Golden Globe Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress.
Information about Spy (2015)
- Director: Paul Feig
- Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Jude Law
- Release Year: 2015
- Duration: 119 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
- Language: English
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
- Similar Movies: Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), Get Smart (2008), The Heat (2013)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Spy on IMDb
4.Atomic Blonde (Blonde Bombshell)
In Atomic Blonde, Lorraine Broughton is a high-ranking MI6 agent tasked with protecting a list of double agents living in Berlin during the Cold War. As the Berlin Wall is about to fall, the list goes missing, and Lorraine must track it down while determining who to trust on both the American and Russian sides. Atomic Blonde is a spy thriller that twists and turns until the very end. Although it may feel more like a John Wick movie, with its intense action scenes led by a female protagonist, it fits well within the spy genre. This connection makes sense given that David Leitch, the director of Atomic Blonde, also directed the first John Wick movie.
Information about Atomic Blonde (2017)
- Director: David Leitch
- Cast: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman, Sofia Boutella
- Release Year: 2017
- Duration: 115 minutes
- Country: United States, Germany
- Genre: Action, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
- Similar Movies: Red Sparrow (2018), John Wick (2014), Hanna (2011)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Atomic Blonde on IMDb
5.Argo (Operation: Argo)
Argo stands out among spy movies as it is based on the true story of the rescue of US hostages in Tehran in 1979. Ben Affleck stars as CIA specialist Tony Mendez, who leads a team of undercover agents. Directed by Affleck, who won a Golden Globe for his direction, the movie recounts a dramatic episode from one of the most frightening periods in American history after World War II. Alan Arkin, who was nominated for an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG Awards for his performance, also received significant acclaim for his role in the movie.
Information about Argo (2012)
- Director: Ben Affleck
- Cast: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman
- Release Year: 2012
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Biography, Drama, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Similar Movies: Bridge of Spies (2015), Zero Dark Thirty (2012), Munich (2005)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Argo on IMDb
6.The Imitation Game (Enigma)
Benedict Cumberbatch earned his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a real-life hero in The Imitation Game. The movie is a biopic about how Alan Turing and his colleagues developed a code-breaking device during World War II that played a crucial role in ending the war. This movie stands out in the spy genre because it focuses on a real individual who made a significant impact through his intelligence work, and unlike many other spy movies, it does not rely on action scenes.
Information about The Imitation Game (2014)
- Director: Morten Tyldum
- Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong
- Release Year: 2014
- Duration: 114 minutes
- Country: United Kingdom, United States
- Genre: Biography, Drama, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
- Similar Movies: A Beautiful Mind (2001), The Theory of Everything (2014), Hidden Figures (2016)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: The Imitation Game on IMDb
7.Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Mole)
Given Gary Oldman‘s legendary movie career, it’s surprising that he didn’t receive his first Oscar nomination until 2011 for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. However, it’s undeniably one of his best roles. Based on the work of John le Carré, one of the most renowned spy writers, the movie is set during the intense paranoia of the Cold War. It follows veteran MI6 agent George Smiley, who is called out of retirement to hunt down a mole. Oldman delivers a stellar performance as Smiley. The movie earned Oldman his first Oscar nomination and also received nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score. Additionally, it won multiple BAFTA awards in the UK.
Information about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
- Director: Tomas Alfredson
- Cast: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong
- Release Year: 2011
- Duration: 127 minutes
- Country: United Kingdom, France, Germany
- Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
- Similar Movies: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), A Most Wanted Man (2014), Bridge of Spies (2015)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy on IMDb
8.Mission: Impossible – Fallout (Mission: Impossible – Reflections)
Mission: Impossible has evolved into one of the best spy movie franchises in cinema. The early movies were entertaining spy adventures that offered thrilling spectacle and action scenes, distinguishing themselves from the more serious James Bond movies of the time. This dynamic shifted with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. In the sixth installment, Ethan Hunt and his team race against the clock to prevent a mysterious figure from detonating a nuclear weapon. The movie highlights Tom Cruise‘s dedication to thrilling his fans, with Henry Cavill joining in a memorable role. While the subsequent movie, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, aims to ramp up the action even further, Fallout remains a tough act to follow and is considered the best in the series to date.
Information about Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
- Director: Christopher McQuarrie
- Cast: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg
- Release Year: 2018
- Duration: 147 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Similar Movies: Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), Skyfall (2012), Jason Bourne (2016)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Mission: Impossible – Fallout on IMDb
9.Inglourious Basterds
Quentin Tarantino’s unconventional story structure is ideal for spy movies, particularly in his war epic Inglourious Basterds. The fmovie follows various groups, including Nazi hunters, Allied spies, and French saboteurs during the war, with a focus on a team of Jewish American soldiers led by Aldo Raine (played by Brad Pitt). Their mission is to infiltrate the premiere of a Nazi movie with the goal of assassinating Adolf Hitler. Tarantino infuses his distinctive style into this old-school spy/war movie, creating a dramatic effect. While the movie features action and a wildly over-the-top climax that dramatically alters history, the real success of Inglourious Basterds lies in its dialogue, showcasing Tarantino’s mastery across any era his movies explore.
Information about Inglourious Basterds (2009)
- Director: Quentin Tarantino
- Cast: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth, Mélanie Laurent
- Release Year: 2009
- Duration: 153 minutes
- Country: United States, Germany
- Genre: Adventure, Drama, War
- Language: English, German, French
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- Similar Movies: Django Unchained (2012), The Hateful Eight (2015), Fury (2014)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Inglourious Basterds on IMDb
10.Casino Royale
In the list of the best spy movies, it’s impossible not to include Hollywood’s most iconic spy character, James Bond. With over 20 movies featuring the MI6 British super spy 007, the role has been portrayed by several renowned actors. Everyone has their favorite James Bond movie; ours is Casino Royale. In this movie, James Bond (played by Daniel Craig) seizes the chance to take down Le Chiffre (portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen), a private banker for a terrorist group. The British agent gathers intel for a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro
Information about Casino Royale (2006)
- Director: Martin Campbell
- Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench
- Release Year: 2006
- Duration: 144 minutes
- Country: United Kingdom, United States, Czech Republic, Germany
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
- Similar Movies: Skyfall (2012), Quantum of Solace (2008), Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Casino Royale on IMDb
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Netflix best spy movies 🍿
Spy movies are a popular genre that captivates viewers with thrilling chase scenes, secret intrigue, intense fight scenes, engaging characters, and compelling stories. Netflix offers a wide range of movies, from classic spy movies to modern interpretations of the genre. Here are the best spy movies you can watch on Netflix:
- Heart of Stone
- Hunter’s Heart
- Allied
- International
- The Coldest Game
- Red Notice
- The Angel
- Munich: War is Coming
- The Return of Johnny English
- Charlie’s Angels
From classics like The 39 Steps and the James Bond series to modern spy movies and beyond, the cinematic appeal of espionage has never waned in Hollywood. In fact, spy movies have produced some of the most thrilling action movies in cinema history. With their complex plots, they offer a natural balance between brains and brawn, featuring clever schemes, car chases, explosions, and more that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. If you’re wondering what to watch in this genre, be sure to check out our list of the best spy movies.
