As kids, all of us loved play-pretend games, and though there's a myriad of variations, one theme that was by far the most thrilling of them all - playing spies on a secret mission. Such secrecy and importance sure seemed thrilling, and emulating the super cool tricks we saw on the cinema screens felt like the best thing in the world. Naturally, most of us grew out of these play-pretend frolics, but the infatuation with everything spies hasn't gone anywhere. And what's a better way to relive these thrilling fantasies than by watching some of the best spy movies ever made? So, here we are with our list that'll cater to even the pickiest spy movie connoisseur and give you some pretty decent choices for your next adventurous viewing.
Although the rankings here are based on the general views of movie critics, we are pretty sure that you will like to rearrange them based on your own favorites. So, if you think that Casino Royale is better than The Bourne Supremacy, express your opinion by upvoting it! And if you think the top ten in this list isn't just right, remember you can always fix it. From classics like North by Northwest to almost classics like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, there are lots to choose from and to play with.
So, brew yourself some invisible ink to write your commentary with, grab your rear-vision glasses, turn your back to the screen and pick the spy movie you're going to watch today! The submissions are just a little bit further down, and once you are there, don't forget to vote for the thrillers you think deserve to be on the top of this list.
This post may include affiliate links.
The Bourne Supremacy
2004 | 1 hour 48 minutes | Directed by Paul Greengrass
Starring Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Joan Allen
As the second installment in the Bourne series, Supremacy delves deeper into Jason's past, trying to unravel his involvement with the CIA and Operation Treadstone. This time, we get to see some Russian bandits, and where there are Russians - there's tenacious fighting, non-stop action, and plenty of dirty deeds. Besides all that, The Bourne Supremacy is where we get to learn Jason's real name. Curious?
The Bourne Ultimatum
2007 | 1 hour 55 minutes | Directed by Paul Greengrass
Starring Matt Damon, Edgar Ramirez, Joan Allen
The third piece in The Bourne series, Ultimatum, is viscous with stuff that might leave you confused and trying to wrap your head around it. See, the whole movie is like one big deja vu moment. Not only do we get to see flashbacks to Bourne's life before all this mess with CIA conspiracies, but the movie references itself in many instances, thus creating an eerie feeling of seeing it all before. Bourne's mythic quest of figuring stuff out also seems to be a never-ending one, but we don't mind at all - more thrills for us!
Casino Royale
2006 | 2 hours 24 minutes | Directed by Martin Campbell
Starring Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench
Casino Royale is, if you care to know, the 21st James Bond movie and the third screen adaptation of Ian Fleming's 1953 novel of the same name. After this many movies and adaptations, you'd rightfully think that Bond has nothing new to offer; however, the 2006 Casino Royale delivers a fresh dose of spy action and thrills and gets rid of all the fancy tricks that made some of the previous Bond movies hardly believable. A truly good old-fashioned spy movie with a sensitive human touch.
The Bourne Identity
2002 | 1 hour 59 minutes | Directed by Paul Greengrass
Starring Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper
Fished right out of the Mediterranean sea, an American, whom we all later come to know as Jason Bourne, has no memories of his identity or the life that he had. To our amusement, though, he retains astonishing combat abilities and fluency in several foreign languages. And here's when the story starts to unfold, and with it - fantastic fight scenes, international mysteries, and one unbelievably good car chase sequence. Although at times, this movie seems a bit naive, you definitely relish it to relax after action-packed, adrenaline-fueled action scenes.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
2011 | 2 hours 7 minutes | Directed by Tomas Alfredson
Starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a Cold War spy thriller film based on John le Carre's 1974 novel of the same name. Set in the early '70s in London, the story here follows a hunt for a Soviet double agent that has successfully infiltrated the top of the British secret service MI6. Filled with anxiety and paranoia, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy isn't an easy watch, but that's mainly because you can't help but fully invest yourself in the story. A truly stylish and atmospheric spy movie if there ever was one!
Skyfall
2012 | 2 hours 23 minutes | Directed by Sam Mendes
Starring Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris
Skyfall is the twenty-third James Bond movie and the third one with Daniel Craig starring as 007. This time it is the British MI6 that's under attack, and it's Bond's task to find and destroy the attackers, even if it comes at a very personal cost. Skyfall, arguably, is one of the better Bond movies to this day, as it manages to modernize the classic spy lore and deliver it in a fresh, witty, endearing, and thrilling way. A sure shot for spy movie lovers!
Three Days Of The Condor
1975 | 1 hour 57 minutes | Directed by Sydney Pollack
Starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson
Three Days Of The Condor is a political thriller film that caters very well to the spy genre, too. Based on James Grady's 1973 novel Six Days of the Condor, the events here are set mainly in New York City and Washington, D.C., where a CIA researcher finds his coworkers murdered coming back from lunch. Now he has to outwit those responsible and, most importantly, come back from it alive. Though Three Days Of The Condor at times might seem a bit slow, it doesn't fall short of building copious amounts of edge-of-your-seat suspense.
The Day Of The Jackal
1973 | 2 hours 23 minutes | Directed by Fred Zinnemann
Starring Edward Fox, Terence Alexander, Michel Auclair
No matter the year of conception (though, in this case, it's 1973, if you were wondering), a movie based on politics will undoubtedly show you dirty deeds and sleazy secrets. Add in a professional assassin to the mixture, and a thrilling experience is bound to unravel before your very own eyes. Suspenseful and spellbinding, The Day Of The Jackal is worth any action movie fan's time.
North By Northwest
1959 | 2 hours 16 minutes | Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason
North by Northwest is a classic spy thriller film directed by the legendary Alfred Hitchcock. It's a story of mistaken identity where an innocent man is being chased across the United States by suspicious agents of a mysterious organization. It being Hitchcock, you can expect heaps of suspense, a dash of very healthy romance, and exceptional movie-making skills shining through in every take. And don't be skeptical about this movie's age - even after sixty years or so, North by Northwest is still original and very relevant.
Spy Game
2001 | 2 hours 6 minutes | Directed by Tony Scott
Starring Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack
Spy Game is an action thriller film that follows a retiring CIA agent upon finding his protege arrested by Chinese agents for espionage. Now it is time for him to remember all that he has learned and use his skills to rescue his young colleague. Spy Game, albeit a Hollywood blockbuster, is a very well-written, intelligent, and enthralling movie that has all the right ingredients to become an iconic spy film for years to come.
