16 Best Spy Movies of All Time

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By Swapnil
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Let’s check out the best spy movies of all time.

Spy Movies have always been loved and watched with great interest by audiences worldwide. Ever since the era of silent movies, audiences have loved the escapism of the movies.

Before the movies, the spy thriller novels such as Rudyard Kipling’s “Kim” were in trend. These novels are loved mostly because of their unpredictability, uncertainty, and the most amazing plot twists. But ever since the movies started to come out, the audiences loved them even more.

There have many outstanding directors who gave several stunning and marvellous spy thriller movies, and the most popular ones are Steven Spielberg, Tony Scott, Hitchcock, and Robert Rodriguez.

We all grew up watching several spy movies and among the names are the most famous spy of cinema history, “James Bond” who several actors have portrayed.

best spy movies
brava_67/Flickr/copyright 2008

This article will discuss some of the best Spy movies that should be on the must-watch list of every movie nerd and the rest of the audience.

James Bond Films

James Bond was a fictional character created by the novelist Ian Fleming in 1953, and he wrote about 14 books on James Bond. James Bond is a secret agent working for the British Secret Service, the MI6.

James Bond is the longest-running film series in film history. He is considered to be the best spy in the world. He has his codename “007”.

When the first film appeared with Sean Connery as the first James Bond in 1962, the people loved the movie. It was so widely appreciated.

Ever since the first movie made its debut in 1962, and with all the appreciation it received from the audiences, it started a series of Bond movies that are considered the best spy franchise.

Since then, several actors have portrayed the character: Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and the current actor playing James Bond, Craig.

The most popular and best rated of the entire Bond film are:

1. Casino Royale (2006)

Director: Martin Campbell

Writers: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis

Stars: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench

IMDB Rating: 8.0/10

This spy movie starts with Bond getting the “00” status and the license to kill, and he sets out on his first mission.

The story revolves around trying to defeat a private banker funding a terrorist organisation in a high-stakes poker game at Casino Royale, Montenegro.

Casino Royale Official Trailer (2006) James Bond Movie HD

Craig gives an outstanding performance as James Bond in the film. Bond is more like a sadist and a cold-hearted killer with very little sense of empathy for his victims, and Craig, with his piercing eyes, suits the role very well.

The acting, the action sequences, and the violent tone of the movie are genuinely amazing.

Overall it is the best-rated bond movie with humungous action sequences, outstanding cinematography, a tense plot, and an excellent example of an Espionage thriller.

2. Skyfall (2012)

Director: Sam Mendes

Writers: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan

Stars: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris

IMDB Rating: 7.8/10

Another great spy movie with the second-highest bond movie rating. Rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language, and smoking.

The plot revolves around a grave mistake at the latest assignment of Bond, which exposes the secret agents worldwide and is followed by an attack on MI6 Headquarters and M relocating the headquarters.

SKYFALL - Official Trailer

The MI6 is compromised from inside and out, so the only ally she can trust is Bond. Seeing the situation, 007 eliminates the threat at a great personal cost.

Again Daniel Craig’s amazing performance as the secret agent and a great movie with plot twists and great action sequences. It is a must-watch movie for the outstanding cinematography and great level of acting.

3. No Time To Die(2021)

Director: Sam Mendes

Writers: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga

Stars: Daniel Craig, Ana De Armas, Rami Malek

IMDB Rating: 7.3/10

NO TIME TO DIE Trailer – In Cinemas October 2021.

The latest of the Bond films and an outstanding one. In the movie, James has left active service and is trying to live a peaceful life, but that is also short-lived.

A friend who is a CIA agent turns up asking for help, and Bond goes on his final mission, following a trail of blood and new villains with modern and high-tech weapons.

An action-packed thriller spy movie with brilliant cinematography. This movie is the last movie of Craig as Bond, so you won’t get to see him in action again.

4. Spy Game (2001)

Director: Tony Scott

Writers: Michael Frost Beckner, David Arata

Stars: Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack

IMDB Rating: 7.0/10

Spy Game Official Trailer #1   Brad Pitt Movie 2001) HD

The spectacular movie by director Tony Scott features Nathan(Robert Redford), who is a CIA Operative and on the brink of his retirement, finding out that his protégé Tom Bishop(Brad Pitt) has been arrested in China for espionage, he takes it upon himself to free him from the grasp of the Chinese enslavers.

This movie is considered Redford’s best spy movie since Three Days of the Condor. Bot Robert Redford and Brad Pitt’s acting is outstanding in the movie. The chemistry between Robert Redford and Brad Pitt is brilliant.

Tony Scott’s brilliant direction made this movie a great espionage thriller, and the critics appreciated the movie too. This movie is intriguing, and one of the best espionage movies but is highly underrated.

5. The Man From U.N.C.L.E.(2015)

Director: Guy Ritchie

Writers: Guy Ritchie, Lionel Wigram, Jeff Kleeman

Stars: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikaner, Elizabeth Debicki

IMDB Rating: 7.2/10

Guy Ritchie’s The man from U.N.C.L.E. is set in the 1960s. The film focuses on the story of FBI agent cum CIA agent Napoleon Solo(Henry Cavill) and Soviet agent Illya Kuryakin(Armie Hammer) working together on a combined mission unwillingly under the circumstances of a national security threat from a mysterious criminal organisation where both the United States and the Soviet Union is under threat. They have to stop the criminal organisation from making their nuclear bomb.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Comic-Con Trailer [HD]

The movie shows how the two operatives from different rival security agencies work together to gather information and the secrets of the criminal organisation to eliminate the potential threat.

6. Allied (2016)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Writers: Steven Knight

Stars: Brad Pitt, Marion Cottilard, Jared Harris

IMDB Rating: 7.1/10

Allied Official Trailer 1 (2016) - Brad Pitt Movie

Set in 1942, at the height of World War II, Allied is an intense spy thriller. It is the story of a Canadian Intelligence Officer, Max, who meets a French Resistance fighter Marianne in the desert dunes of Morocco on a deadly mission on the enemy lands.

The turbulent pressure of the war further tests the relationship Max is shown to be going to find answers for his mission in the bombarded London.

The two spies of the enemy countries fall in love, but after uncovering the truth and treachery against the country, Intelligence Officer Max must kill Marianne.

An excellent wartime movie by Zemeckis depicts the essence of duty and devotion to the country. It depicts beautifully how spies work living secret lives hiding their true identities. Apart from the emotional drama part, great examples of war spy movies.

7. The Bourne Identity(2002)

Director: Doug Liman

Writers: Tony Gilroy, W. Blake Herron, Robert Ludlum

Stars: Matt Damon, Chris Cooper, Franca Potente

IMDB Rating: 7.9/10

The Bourne Identity Official Trailer #1 - Brian Cox Movie (2002) HD

The movie features Jason Bourne(Matt Damon) losing his memory and searching for his true identity. After losing his memory, Jason Bourne tries to discover who he is and why a gun and a fake passport belong to him.

He and his new friend, Marie(Franca Potente), try to put together the missing parts of the puzzle and try to save their necks while their investigation is on finding out about Jason’s past life from the person who is not happy to see Jason Bourne alive.

The Bourne Identity has all the elements of the spy genre. The film deals with the subject of espionage realistically. The way Bourne struggles to find out about his past and tackles the obstacles to get going is depicted beautifully.

8. Bridge of Spies(2015)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Writers: Matt Charman, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Stars: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda

IMDB Rating: 7.6/10

Bridge of Spies Official Trailer #1 (2015) - Tom Hanks Cold War Thriller HD

The plot revolves around a cold war lawyer, James B Donovan, who, when recruited by the CIA for a negotiation mission for the release and exchange of a CIA agent, a U-2 spy plane pilot Francis is captivated by the soviet union shot down his plane during a mission during the cold war.

The movie is not a spy film but is a legal historical drama and does a fine job depicting the historical docudrama.

Most of the facts in the movie are put in with historical reference and are based on a true story. It might deeply interest the history nerds.

9. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Writers: Mark Boal

Stars: Jessica Chastain, Chris Pratt, Joel Edgerton

IMDB Rating: 7.4/10

ZERO DARK THIRTY - Official US Trailer - In Theaters 12/19

Zero Dark Thirty, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, is based on a true story of the international manhunt to put down al-Qaeda terrorist group leader Osama Bin Laden after he took responsibility for the attacks on September 1, 2001.

In the movie, we can see the task of finding the whereabouts of bin laden and tracking him down is given to the CIA analyst Maya(Jessica Chastain).

The movie beautifully shows the story of Maya uncovering the trails of Bin laden and tracking him down with a single-minded pursuit of finding him.

Finally, her hard work pays off, and Bin Laden is found and hunted down by the S.E.A.L. team on 6th May 2011.

The work of CIA analysts and how much digging they have to do to uncover certain facts is shown quite clearly.

10. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy(2011)

Director: Tomas Alfredson

Writers: John le Carre, Bridget O’Connor, Peter Straughan

Stars: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong

IMDB Rating: 7.0/10

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Official US Trailer

The phrase Tinker tailor soldier spy means an espionage agent or a person hired by a foreign country to spy on his own country.

The movie itself is one of the best spy movies and stars Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Tom Hardy.

The movie, set in the 1970s, is about the time of the cold war era and is about how double agents operated stealthily within the national bodies to harm the nation.

In the movie, George Smiley(Gary) is set on the task of finding a rogue double-agent inside the MI6 itself.

George Smiley must find the mole(soviet double-agent) who led to several major assignments failure in other countries.

Suspicion was on the four higher officials of the agency for being the mole and working for the soviet union. The movie is one of the best espionage movies and must be watched.

11. Lust, Caution(2007)

Director: Ang Lee

Writers: Eileen Chang, James Schamus, Hui-Ling Wang

Stars: Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Tang Wei, Joan Chen

IMDB Rating: 7.5/10

Lust, Caution - Trailer HD

The NC-17 rated and R-rated History drama/romance movie by director Ang Lee is based on the novella of the same name by Eileen Chang, which came out in 1979.

The plot is set in the World War II era. It revolves around a young woman who entangles herself in a dangerous game of emotional intrigue with a powerful political figure.

The cinematography, outstanding screenplay, and amazing cast acting in the movie are just marvellous to watch.

12. Mission Impossible Films

Sony Pictures and Paramount pictures brought the incredible Mission Impossible film franchise Starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. The Franchise has a few great spy movies.

It is a series of American spy movies where Ethan Hunt, the operative, goes on deadly missions to save the nation from the potential threats by eliminating them.

Every movie of the series is worth watching and has scored a really good rating on the IMDB platform. The movies by chronology and their ratings on IMDB are as given below:

  • Mission: Impossible I– 7.1/10
  • Mission: Impossible II: 6.1/10
  • Mission: Impossible III: 6.9/10
  • Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation: 7.4/10
  • Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol: 7.4/10
  • Mission: Impossible Fallout: 7.7/10

13. North by Northwest(1959)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Writers: Ernest Lehman

Stars: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Manson

IMDB Rating: 8.3/10

The 1959 movie by Hitchcock is a classic example of a spy movie and a must-watch movie for all the espionage movie fans.

The plot revolves around a guy named Roger Thornhill(Cary Grant) who is mistaken for a government spy by a group of foreign spies trying to hunt down another spy and now runs to save himself from them.

North by Northwest comes to every fan’s mind when talking about the classic examples of the spy cinema, even before the popular James Bond movies that gained much fame.

For having an idea of the genre, one must watch the classic movies, and this movie could be the best one to begin with.

14. Argo(2012)

Director: Ben Affleck

Writers: Chris Terrio, Tony Mendez, Joshua Bearman

Stars: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman

IMDB Rating: 7.7/10

Argo Official Trailer #1 (2012) Ben Affleck Thriller Movie HD

The plot was set in 1979. Argo is based on true events and tells us about the rescue of 6 American civilians who escaped during the takeover of the US Embassy in Iran.

The suspenseful tone of the movie and the rest of the Grasping, funny and emotional storyline make it a really good movie. It is a gripping suspense film.

The direction by Ben is truly extraordinary, and you can feel the tension expressed by every character. The extraordinary direction of Ben Affleck rightfully brings out the true events of Iran.

15. Burn after reading(2008)

Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Writers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Stars: Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Frances McDormand

IMDB Rating: 7.0/10

Burn After Reading Official Trailer #1 - Brad Pitt Movie (2008) HD

Burn after reading is a 2008 spy comedy movie where we see that a disc containing mysterious information about the CIA gets the n the hands of two gym employees who try to sell it back to them. When they fail to do so, they try to sell it to the Russian Embassy.

The movie Burn After Reading tells us that spy movie can be funny, too, though it contains violence and sexual content.

Not always, spy movies should contain tense plots and action sequences. The movies can be good and funny and still be spy movies.

16. Penguins of Madagascar(2014)

Director: Eric Darnell, Simon J Smith

Writers: Michael Colton, John Aboud, Brandon Sawyer

Stars: Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights

IMDB Rating: 6.6/10

Penguins of Madagascar TRAILER 1 (2014) Benedict Cumberbatch Animated Movie HD

This is a run animated movie that depicts Rico, Kowalski, and Skipper together in a private band, a crime-fighting organisation named The North Wind, on their way to stop the evil Dr. Octavious, who wants to wipe out the earth of the penguin population.

Totally funny spy story of the three penguins spying around Octavious to try and stop him. The movie is constantly entertaining right from the beginning to the end. It is a must-watch if you want to have a good laugh.

So, these were some of the best spy movies you could watch over the next weekend.

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