If you’re a fan of spy movies, then this list is for you! Whether you’re looking for a new series to binge-watch or just want some good old-fashioned entertainment, these best spy movies should keep your attention.
From classics such as “Cloak and Dagger” (1946) to more recent films like “Mission Impossible” (1996), these best spy movies will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are endless lists of best spy movies on the internet, and they can be hard to sift through, so we’ve narrowed it down to only 30 best ones that will absolutely leave you wanting more. We hope our list helps!
Danger: Diabolik (1968)
There’s an Italian thief in this film, Diabolik. He wreaks havoc on the generic European country for his own financial gain and amusement to share with his girlfriend, who uses her awesome powers over evil criminals like him so they can foil gangsters together while stealing billions of dollars from a corrupt government agency that pays them off if their henchmen don’t get revenge first!
As antiheroes go, you won’t find one more interesting or entertaining but make no mistake about it: these two have got some serious firepower going up against any number of foes, including bumbling cops looking desperately around after losing someone close at hand because they couldn’t keep up, so they’re in a rage to find him before his girlfriend does.
Cloak and Dagger (1946)
The Allied forces needed to find out how much information about atomic bombs the Axis had. So they recruited a physicist, Alvah Jesper, for this task and sent him on his journey from Switzerland with one goal: To reach Katerin Lodor – now in Italy as part of a prisoner exchange program between Germany and Italy during World War II-era negotiations known as ” swapped captured or prisoners.”
After finally locating her old colleague at Polda’s facility, where she was being held against her will after escaping from German captivity, he convinces him not only to escape but also save their respective daughters. The latter were both trapped deep within enemy lines waiting desperately by telephone wires for word back home if any had been received yet, which would allow them some measure relief knowing their loved ones were still alive if not injured or worse.
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Mata Hari (1931)
Mata Hari is an exotic, self-confident temptress who spies for Germany when she feels like it. Her latest conquest in Russia, General Shubin, has been besotted with Mata’s charm and wit yet knows himself a traitor because of his allegiance to Imperial Russian Rule while every other man would be knocked senseless if he met this woman–and they did! The courier Alexis Rosanoff meets less encouragement than anticipated until finally remembering that “a spy in love becomes just another useless tool.”
She’s being followed in Paris by British counter-intelligence agent John Davis, played by Gary Cooper. He follows her around for weeks while she flirts with French officers, eventually getting her to the German embassy.
The Lady Vanishes (1938)
Iris Henderson (Margaret Lockwood) meets the kindly elderly woman Miss Froy on a train throughout Europe, and they talk for several hours. However, when Iris comes to her senses and discovers that this individual is missing from their seat or on the train, she wonders if it really happened at all — until Dr. Hartz assures her he remembers every detail of what transpired between them without any gaps.
This passage discusses how an elderly lady called “Miss Fréy” came into contact with one particular traveler while traveling abroad; however, we learn not only did Iris meet someone else named Margarethe but also overhear another passenger naming himself as DoctorHartz before waking back up after taking his rest during which no elderly lady was in sight.
A Most Wanted Man (2014)
Who is the most wanted man in Germany? The clock is ticking, and a race begins to understand this half-Chechen, Russian immigrant’s true identity. He claims he has been wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years by his stepfather, who was previously married with children from an earlier marriage before divorcing their mother.
In the Hamburg Islamic community, there are many immigrants who come into conflict as well as other conflicts arise between those born here vs. those not so much, but it all comes down to which side you’re on when push comes to shove.
Goldfinger (1964)
When James Bond heads to London, he is tasked by the Bank of England and Mi6. They suspect that gold magnate Auric Goldfinger has been stockpiling bars for some time now, a suspicion they have only just recently confirmed with information.
The agent inside his company also revealed how vast a supply it really was after she had gained knowledge about an upcoming scheme involving all this precious metal: codename “Operation Grand Slam.” It turns out we need him more than ever before; if not stopped soon enough, then the very economy could fall victim!
Haywire (2011)
Mallory Kane is a freelance covert operative with the skills, tricks, and abilities to get anything done. She’s been hired out by her handler to various global entities for jobs governments can’t authorize, or Heads of State would rather not know about. This time around, Mallory discovered that there were some unexpected consequences in play when she was double-crossed during an operation gone wrong!
With bounty hunters on alert across Europe looking to capture their escaped prey, it becomes imperative that you find all possible means at your disposal should they be after you too, because if caught, then no one will leave alive.
The Hunt for Red October (1990)
The Hunt for Red October is a thrilling and suspenseful 1984 film that follows the plans of Lithuanian submarine Captain Marko Ramius (Sean Connery). His attempt at defecting comes with strong opposition from Soviet Navy members who misunderstand his intentions while also dealing with misconceptions within America’s C.I.A., which pits him against Jack Ryan – an analyst on duty when he decides to defect instead; but will this man be able to predict what may happen next? The action climaxes in one great naval battle between two vessels: “The Russian Admiral” and “The American Carrier,” which leaves many wondering about its outcome until the very end!
Spione (1928)
Haghi is a criminal mastermind who has been running an operation with unparalleled efficiency for years. Enter Agent 326, the young and dashing man who thinks his disguise as “Dirty Beardy Vagrant” fooled them all into thinking he was just some run-of-the-mill crook on their tail,Then, but they’re not so easily duped by such simple tricks – especially when you have people like Sonya in your employ!
Haghi knows all about 326 and what he looks like. Sonya, a Russian woman working for Haghi, enters the picture. Haghi expects Sonya to undermine the government agent’s attempts, but he doesn’t anticipate her falling in love with him.
Citizenfour (2014)
Laura Poitras is a documentary filmmaker and recipient of the 2013 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. In January, she received encrypted emails from “CITIZENFOUR,” who claimed to have evidence on illegal surveillance programs run by NSA in collaboration with other intelligence agencies worldwide.
Five months later, this person turned out to be Edward Snowden. Laura traveled with Glenn Greenwald (journalist) and Ewen MacAskill. They met him face-to-face at a hotel room during their first meeting, which led them into many more since then, including Hong Kong SAR China – history was unfolding before our eyes!
Top Secret! (1984)
Nick Rivers is a rock star in East Germany, but he needs to escape capture by the High Command. Nick teams up with Hillary Flammond, and they don’t have much time before an attempt on his life starts! He sets out on this adventure because it’s what father would want him to–to stop ‘the Polaris Mine.’
The characters that join their quest are diverse: there’s Déjà Vu who can help them remember things from long ago; Chocolate Mousse has skills both sweet and tough, and Cookie is best with explosives! Will they be able to stop the Polaris Mine?
The Ipcress File (1965)
Tasked with investigating the kidnappings and brainwashed reappearances of top scientists, including Dr. Radcliffe (Aubrey Richards), British spy Harry Palmer navigates his way through criminals in order to find out who is behind these events. He eventually teams up with Nigel Green when he becomes convinced that there’s more than meets their eye.
While attempting to capture bluejay, Frank Gatliff, for information about what could be happening at a nightclub called IPCRESS where one or more people may have gone missing after the last call hours, he’s got to find out what information Gatliff holds and head back home as he may be the only hope for Britain now that Dr. Radcliffe is no longer among them!
No Way Out (1987)
In the 1980s, Navy Lt. Tom Farrell (Kevin Costner) meets a young woman named Susan Atwell. They share an affair which he ends up finding out due to his superior, David Brice, being also involved with her romantically as well, when she turns up dead from murder charges put onto him by government officials without knowing any other reason.
All these hints are given through clues left behind until eventually details surface about their sss encounter where now not only do we know more info but questions arise too such as “why would this happen” or even worse, “how did this ever get to happen” if Tom wasn’t responsible at all!
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
The Cold War was a time when America and Russia were officially enemies, but in secret, they both worked with each other to try and stop an unknown enemy from using nuclear weapons at any cost.
CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) had been tracking down leads on missing German scientists who could be behind the plot against humanity- until KGB Illya Kuryakin came into play! The two must put aside their animosity for good if there is anything left of civilization as we know it today!
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Ethan Hunt and the IMF team join forces with CIA assassin August Walker to prevent a disaster of epic proportions. The evil arms dealer John Lark has taken 3 plutonium cores from their place in Vatican City, Jerusalem, or Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
He wants to use these dirty bombs against civilization! When this does not happen as planned due to some unforeseen circumstances involving both good guys’ incompetence (or lack thereof), Ethan, alongside his best friends from the IMF, must figure out a way to find John Lark and stop him before he can cause any more damage!
Argo (2012)
The militants of Iran’s Islamic Revolution who stormed the U.S Embassy in 1979 took 56 American hostages, but six brave souls managed to escape and find refuge with Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor.
After two months under his protection at risk for their lives every day; it seemed like there was no way out until Tony Mendez proposed “ex-filtration” specialist idea: posing as a film crew scouting locations for Argo sci-fi movie–a plan which would make history by saving not only these six people’s lives but thousands more still trapped behind enemy lines that must be saved at any cost!
Notorious (1946)
After being convicted for treason against the United States, Alicia Huberman turns to drink and men. She is approached by a government agent (T.R Devlin) who asks her to spy on a group of friends operating out of Rio de Janeiro that are involved with Nazis from Germany. A romance develops between them, but she gets too caught up in her job, causing problems later down the line between their affair.
Alicia was born into an illustrious family: both sides coming from old moneyed families whose status dated back centuries before America even existed as its own country, yet there were many differences within these two great houses – mostly due largely-to circumstance rather than deliberate striving or design – which ultimately led each one toward vastly different ends once the war broke out.
From Russia With Love (1964)
James Bond has been on the search for Lektor, a Russian decoding machine. It’s not just any old everyday type of device, though; this one is capable of firing electricity from its wires and making people see things that aren’t there!
If SPECTRE (Restricted Organisation For Secretly Exploiting Criminal Interests) finds out about it-they’ll be able to read anyone who uses them like an open book -including 007 himself! He must get to it first before they do-but who will win this war of wills?
Spy Kids (2001)
Ingrid Cortez and Gregoryorio Cortez were the most accomplished secret agents in the world, but they had retired from their service for over a decade. So when four of their pals vanish without a trace, they suddenly spring back into action because they haven’t any clues left behind.
It is unclear what has happened to them- until now! Headed by Carmen (their daughter) and Juni (her younger brother), these two work tirelessly day after a long night in order to find answers as well save other captured family members along with Gregorio himself, who was kidnapped before his children even awoke that morning!
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
Maya is a CIA operative who, during her first experience with international terrorism following the 11th September 2001 attacks on America, found herself questioning all she knew. She became so immersed in this new world where life and death were not black-and-white but instead shades of grey.
In 2011 finally came when Maya believed everything would come together: capture/kill mission for Osama bin Laden was set into motion; SEAL team sent out, but alas! Only she and a few others know that this was the best way to end it.
Bridge of Spies (2015)
It was the height of Cold War when James B. Donovan, a lawyer from New York City, became involved in one mission that would change his life forever: negotiating with KGB officers to release and exchange U-2 spy plane pilot Francis G Powers who had been arrested alive after being shot down by the Soviet Union during an unauthorized flight across East Germany.
In 1961 Attorney Jim Donovan went behind enemy lines as part of negotiations for this American military aircraftman held captive deep within their country’s airspace far beyond its border into Soviet-controlled territory. Although a civilian with no military background whatsoever, Donovan was chosen to spearhead this mission because of his expertise in both German affairs as well as international law, which could best help him deal with the Russians throughout all their diplomatic wrangling.
Burn After Reading (2008)
Osbourne Cox, a Balkan expert and former CIA agent who had to resign for his drinking problem, starts writing about the events that led him there. He wants nothing more than to be happy but can’t seem to get past what happened in Georgetown with Harry’s wife wanting a divorce.
A CD gets thrown away from Osbourne’s bag during an exercise session which two people find. It has some other juicy details concerning the Russian embassy staffs’ private lives.
Enemy of the State (1998)
Will Smith stars in this action-packed film about an African American lawyer who runs into his old college friend after not seeing him for 30 years. Finally, the two are reunited, but it turns out that their relationship isn’t what it seems. The man is actually working as a Secret Service agent with top-secret clearance, and he has information concerning Will’s past.
After being assigned to protect the politician against political assassination threats from enemies within national security agencies across America, they begin hunting each other down until only one remains.
The Bourne Identity (2002)
There is a mystery man who seems to have forgotten everything in life when his body was found at sea still alive. He seemed to remember nothing. Then, he begins remembering smaller details and discovers that his name is Jason Bourne, and he reacts with surprise.
Before, he lost all memories of himself due to amnesia, except for one thing: someone wants him dead, or else they’ll lose what little information Damon has on them! So it’s now up to the protagonist with Marie Helena Kreutz Potente, a new friend who works as an agent herself! To travel from one country to another looking for clues while trying not to get caught by these relentless pursuers.
Three Days Of The Condor (1975)
Turner, an intelligence analyst for the CIA’s Center in New York, is reading a book when he gets word that lunchtime has arrived. Turner leaves to go get some food; first, he but upon returning, everyone at work has been murdered, and his superior requests that someone brings him into custody immediately. However, before anyone can arrive on the scene where Turner was last seen (already gone), another man arrives who tries to overpower both men.
North By Northwest (1959)
The C.I.A agent, George Kaplan, is on the run from his enemies in New York City when he crosses paths with Roger Thornhill, who has been abducted by Philip Van Damme and his spy gang for unknown reasons. The two men must work together to clear their names because it seems like they’re both framed in some type of murder plot against each other.
With Eve Kendall – an attractive female adversary that befriends our heroes along this dangerous journey across multiple states-by-state borders; assisting them every step possible without divulging any secrets at risk herself while also providing essential information needed throughout these trying circumstances.
The Lives Of Others (2006)
In the early 80s, when everything seemed bleak for democracy lovers everywhere, there were two people who refused to play nicely with others. Successful dramatist Georg Dreyman (starred alongside popular actress Christa-maria Sieland) and his lifelong companion Christernell Wiesler developed such immense fame.
Behind closed doors, always singing from their hearts, instead of wanting hard times or protesting against oppression, government agents kept tabs on what these high-profile personalities would be doing next without openly disagreeing.
The Third Man (1949)
A pulp fiction novelist arrives in post-war Vienna, where he discovers that the city has been divided into sectors by victorious allies with a shortage of supplies. He gets invited to Austria at his old friend Harry Lime’s invitation, who offers him an opportunity as their new employee. However, it turns out afterward that this ex-schoolmate recently died under mysterious circumstances after being involved with some shady characters on the black market.
Bridge of Spies (2015)
Abel was a Russian spy who had been living in America for years. He worked as an executive at Penthouse when he wasn’t moonlighting with the KGB, but it turns out that his intelligence-gathering skills weren’t enough to save him. He’s caught by FBI Agent James Donovan and prosecuted under suspicion of sending information back home about US nuclear weapons programs.
The trial ended up resulting not only in a 30-year imprisonment sentence on three counts—for conspiracy against rights (to refer), illegal acts upon property-related directly to national defense topics without license needed beforehand because Abel couldn’t get one due to being outside the country legally all this time while trying to keep his identity secret.
Mission: Impossible (1996)
The Impossible Mission Force, or I.M.F., was established to prevent another World War by uniting the CRI (Core Repertoire Intelligence). With their jump wings and black jumpsuits, they are unstoppable in battle! For years now, Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, has led this team on different missions. But, now, there’s an impossible at hand; the NOC list, which contains every agent under surveillance around the world, including themselves.
