Intelligence gathering is an art, and it’s depicted the most beautifully in cinema. Whether you like your spies wearing tailor-made suits or baggy clothes and mustaches, there is something for you. And whether you prefer a realistic film or one where spies take down large criminal organizations with little help from anyone else, you have plenty of films to choose from. But what are the greatest spy thriller masterpieces of all time?
The spy thriller genre blossomed during the Silent Era, when invasion literature (fictional novels that imagined raids by foreign countries) became popular. The Great War also contributed to the genre’s rapid growth. Since then, thousands of films have been made, but only a few truly capture what it’s like to be a secret agent while equally offering plenty of entertainment. The movies on this list are a nice mix of older movies that hold up well and more recent releases, and they feature action-packed scenes with strong character work.
‘The Falcon and the Snowman’ (1985)
Fusing elements of curiosity and suspense, The Falcon and the Snowman filters Cold War espionage through the eyes and ears of Christopher Boyce (Timothy Hutton). He is a nepo baby who got his job at a CIA communications facility because his dad (an FBI agent) knew a guy who knew a guy. Unsurprisingly, Chris isn’t all that passionate about what he does (his dream was to pursue falconry). As time passes, he begins to revere the Soviets and revile his own country. You can bet that this won’t end well for him.
Although it was less popular and profitable than several other ‘80s spy films, it beats them in the areas that matter: dialogue, cinematography, and plotting. While there isn’t much action, you’ll enjoy watching Chris become consumed by naïveté and embrace a misplaced sense of idealism. Be careful, though. You might be tempted to root for the character. Much credit also goes to a young Sean Penn for offering excellent support to Hutton.
‘The Bourne Identity’ (2002)
The Bourne Identity, an absorbing adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s popular novel, follows a man with psychogenic amnesia (Matt Damon), who uncovers a major CIA conspiracy while trying to find out who he is. Given the popularity of Ludlum’s books, many talked about making a Jason Bourne movie since the early ‘80s, but the ghosts of movie development hell prevented it from happening sooner.
From Damon and Brian Cox’s performances to the cat-and-mouse games, The Bourne Identity is pure bliss. The film’s arrival in the 2000s was arguably the best thing that could have happened, as it would have been hard to capture that gritty, grainy atmosphere in any other decade. It also changed the blockbuster spy genre and created a new, danger-filled route away from the goofy entries of the ‘90s. Its template would be used in Casino Royale and maintained in future Bond movies.
‘Three Days of the Condor’ (1975)
The melancholic, often twisty Three Days of the Condor was a highly personal project for Sydney Pollack, who spent many years researching the world of espionage. Perhaps this accounts for the movie’s lack of credulity and the absence of sentimentalism. The central character is Joe Turner (Robert Redford), a bookish CIA analyst working at the American Literary Historical Society in New York City (a clandestine CIA office). One day, he returns to the office from lunch to find everyone dead. What happened?
Endless close calls and a labyrinthine story make Three Days of the Condor a masterpiece. Even the quotes are golden. “You think not getting caught in a lie is the same thing as telling the truth?” Every line is carefully crafted and uttered. The film’s legacy is even more interesting. There are homages to it in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Seinfeld, and Out of Sight. The book, The Comrade J: The Untold Secrets of Russia’s Master Spy in America After the End of the Cold War, also reveals that the KGB set up a similar clandestine office in Moscow after watching the Sydney Pollack movie.
‘Argo’ (2012)
Ben Affleck is undoubtedly one of the greatest actor-directors, and the Best Picture-winning Argo is proof of that. The film dramatizes the “Canadian Caper” (a joint operation by the CIA and Canada), in which agents attempted to rescue six U.S. diplomats held captive in Tehran, Iran, during the 1979–81 Iran hostage crisis. In an inventive move, the agents went in under the guise of a science-fiction film crew.
While the geopolitical clashes and intra-agency dynamics may seem familiar, with such a winning plot and such appealing performers, who cares? Alan Arkin carries the film and received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Bryan Cranston and Affleck also gave strong performances. 16 years later, Argo is still considered a spy masterpiece, American cinema’s most deliciously acerbic commentary on the dangers that pop up due to unstable international relations.
‘Goldfinger’ (1964)
The James Bond franchise is populated by evil, monopoly-leaning businessmen. One of the best examples can be found in Goldfinger. Bond is still young here. His refreshing forthrightness and resourcefulness have made him MI6’s golden boy. However, he never has any shortage of hurdles to clear. This time, gold magnate Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe) seeks to contaminate the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox to increase the value of his own mineral reserves. Will Bond stop him?
For a glittering, feel-good spy thriller guaranteed to make you fall in love with the genre, bet on Goldfinger. Like many great movies, it has plenty of unforgettable scenes, including one where Auric tries to cut Bond’s body in half using a laser. And the dialogue? “You expect me to talk?” the MI6 agent asks. “No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die,” the villain replies. Many also praise the movie for establishing the franchise’s template full of gadgets, extensive pre-credits sequences, endless globe-trotting moments, and wild tongue-in-cheek humor.
‘Bridge of Spies’ (2015)
Undoubtedly one of the finest Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks collaborations, Bridge of Spies tells a story about some of the unique strategies used by the CIA and the KGB during the Cold War, including quid-pro-quo arrangements. James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), an insurance lawyer, is tasked with negotiating the release of a CIA pilot whose U-2 spy plane was shot down by the Soviets. The KGB will hand him over only if their own arrested spies are released.
Hanks unashamedly flaunts his talent in Bridge of Spies. It helps that he is surrounded by first-rate support: Amy Ryan is a gorgeous spouse who sees something special in James, and the dashing Mark Rylance is always fascinating to watch in his role as the KGB officer Rudolf Abel. This divine spy thriller still holds up as a compelling story about wrong political choices. Applause goes to the Coen Brothers, who surprisingly agreed only to take on script duties. For their work, they won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
‘The Conversation’ (1974)
Director Francis Ford Coppola was on fire in the ‘70s. He made The Conversation, around the same time as The Godfather: Part II, and it turned out to be magical. The movie opens with a sinister client’s aide (Harrison Ford) hiring the skilled surveillance expert Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) to keep an eye on a young couple. He soon realizes the couple is in danger. What will he do?
Faithful to the customs of surveillance experts and small spy agencies, this fresh, layered, artfully composed movie is every bit as absorbing as Coppola’s other works. Beware! While The Conversation is a slow burn, the dialogue and performances make the film worth the time investment. It was Roger Ebert’s favorite Gene Hackman movie, and the actor himself considered his portrayal of Harry Caul as one of his greatest performances. Don’t take our word for it, watch it yourself!
‘Mission Impossible: Fallout’ (2018)
A blockbuster driven by greed, treachery, and egotism, Mission Impossible: Fallout is about an attempt by Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF colleagues to prevent a villainous organization known as The Apostles from conducting nuclear attacks on Jerusalem, Mecca, and the Vatican using three plutonium cores. While the notorious CIA assassin August Walker (Henry Cavill) is helping them, the man isn’t who he seems.
Filmed on a massive budget, Fallout is beautifully photographed, superbly acted by all cast members, and engrossing throughout. Indeed, many great spy films came out in the 2010s, but the Tom Cruise flick stands out thanks to a more layered narrative with more than one strong villain. The action sequences remain unmatched, too. The motorcycle chase through the streets of Paris stayed in my mind for years.
‘Spione’ (1928)
Regarded as the first flawless spy film, Spione (Spies) throws us right into the lava from the opening minute. Agent 326 (Willy Fritsch), a man of pride and brains, finds himself increasingly frustrated and overwhelmed as he investigates a case involving the disappearance of government documents. He doesn’t realize that he’s up against one of Europe’s most sophisticated spy rings. Things become even more complicated when a Russian émigré enters his life.
Director Fritz Lang fashioned a powerful role for acting titan Fritsch. Audiences empathize with Agent 326, because Lang frequently forces everyone to follow the proceedings largely from the hero’s jumbled, anxiety-filled perspective – a clever conceit that really works. Like Spione itself, the behind-the-scenes stories are interesting. Lang’s affair with an actress made headlines, mainly because his wife, Thea von Harbou, worked on the script.
‘North by Northwest’ (1959)
Everyone loves movies where it feels like each day, each moment, the hero has to reorient themselves to an ever-shifting environment. While at it, they gradually lose themselves and everything they hold dear. Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest is such a movie. It finds New York City ad executive Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) in real trouble. A criminal organization that has mistaken him for a mysterious agent is after him. And, as if that’s not enough, Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), a siren whose loyalties are unclear, enters his life.
Some commentators refer to North by Northwest as “the first James Bond movie,” mainly because it has all the ingredients that would later be used in the popular franchise. From a clever, macho, and hedonistic hero to a femme fatale and a villain who is chasing a MacGuffin, there are too many similarities. From a technical angle, the Hitchcock film was groundbreaking, too. It was the first film to use extended kinetic typography in the opening credits.
Was your favorite spy thriller on the list? Would you add one? Let us know in the comments!
