lavglen filbirt bigtha
Albina Hickel
In a secret-filled world, spies can be hiding in every shadow. Whether secret agents are working for governments or acting as solo agents with their own positive or negative agendas, spies are everywhere in cinema. For viewers who love a good twist, the best spy movies explores the wild world of undercover agents with hidden agendas, similar to a lot of the best thrillers. Any luckily for the modern movie watcher, there is a big selection of some of the best spy movies on Netflix.
If your hobbies include spying on your passersby with binoculars or sticking your ear up against a wall to eavesdrop on your roommates, spy movies are right up your alley. I know from personal experience that being a secret agent for the government can be difficult (crap, did I just say that out loud?), and these movies and television shows elucidate different aspects of that tricky world. For now, we're putting aside the comedies, the cartoons and that awesome new "We Are The World" documentary, and breaking down the 21 best spy movies on Netflix.
Frankly, if you have anything bad to say about Spy Kids, I don't want to hear it. But sure, you're entitled to your own opinion of course, even it its wrong. That said, even I will admit that the series has...um...not quite progressed in terms of quality as it's gone on. So, to put Spy Kids 4 among the best spy movies might be a stretch, but since its the only one in the OG franchise on Netflix (there have been even more recent ones too, but with a new production team), I am using my free press card to include it anyway. Sue me!
Technically, yes, this is a spy movie. But Kevin James stars in it, so you know that the action film will have plenty of tasteful laugh out loud moments, too. True Memoirs of an International Assassin follows the misadventures of an author who finds himself mistaken for a skilled assassin after his fictional novel about a deadly operative is mistaken for a true story -- yep, sounds like the perfect role for Mr. James. Is it the best movie you'll ever see? No. But it's still well worth your time (we think).
Khufiya is an Indian spy thriller that dives into an extensive web of secrets inside Indian intelligence agencies. In the midst of political tensions and national security choas, the movie is a thrilling film full of complex missions, and plenty of twists. Khufiya will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
Nisman: The Prosecutor, The President, And The Spy is the only documentary series that we included on this list. The show, which only lasted one season, investigated the mysterious death of Argentine prosecutor, Alberto Nisman. To understand potential reasons for his demise, the series explored his high-profile investigation into the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which implicated top government officials. Through interviews, available footage, and insight from professionals, the series delves into the web of espionage and corruption that surrounded Nisman's life and work.
Omar is set in the occupied West Bank, and follows the story of a a young Palestinian baker turned freedom fighter, named Omar. The movie is a commentary on the harsh realities of life under occupation, with some heavy themes that are not always present in typical espionage films. Plus, if you ever start Googling a movie, and the first search suggestion that comes up is "so and so, explained", you know you're in for a good one.
The Conversation is a psychological thriller that follows Harry Caul, whose journey begins with a mundane job -- he's hired to record a seemingly innocent conversation -- but turns into a full on obsession with deciphering its true meaning. Is it paranoia? Is he on to something? The movie has viewers on the edge of their seats trying to figure out what on earth is going on.
Code Name: Emperor is basically one long ethical dilemma that will have you questioning who you can trust. Basically, it has everything a good spy movie needs: a little bit of deceit and questionable motives.
Another spy film that is loosely based on actual events, The Red Sea Diving Resort stars Chris Evans as an Israeli Mossad agent named Ari Levinson who works with Kabede Bimro (Michael K. Williams), an Ethiopian Jew, to evacuate Jewish refugees from persecution.
Based on the true story of Operation Mincemeat back in 1943, the eponymous film recreates the events, which was a British mission designed to trick Nazi forces into thinking they were going to attack Greece when in reality, the Allied forces were headed for Sicily. With its outstanding cast and true story, Operation Mincemeat is definitely one of the best spy movies on Netflix.
If you've been wondering about where the future of spy movies is going, this 2023 film has the answer for you. Artificial intelligence. Heart of Stone asks the question we all want to know the answer to: How can we ever protect data and sensitive information in this age of AI and Big Data? As if spy movies weren't already full of enough deceit and secrets, imagine how complex the espionage film world gets when accessible and universal AI is the topic.
American Assassin follows a young man named Mitch Rapp, who is seeking revenge after his fiance is killed in a terrorist attack. After being recruited by the CIA, Rapp undergoes intense training under veteran operative Stan Hurley to become a skilled assassin. O'Brien and Keaton make an unlikely but perfect duo in this thriller.
Based on an international bestselling novel, Munich: The Edge of War follows two diplomats, one British and one German, as they attempt to unravel a conspiracy that will unravel and spill over into World War II.
Set in the aftermath of the Six-Day War between the two countries in 1967, the film is full of double-crossings and loose ends that make it clear just how logistically and morally complicated being a spy can be.
I'm pretty sure Penelope Cruz and Ana de Armas were put on this world to play spies in complex spy movies. A quick rundown of this movie is that it involves Cuban spies in the 1990s who are on. a mission to stop anti-Casytro terrorists. Basically, just reading about the plot of this movie is enough to stress you out, so of course it's a great thriller.
One of Netflix's biggest and most expensive productions ever (I mean, look at this cast!) Red Notice is an action-packed thrill ride, in which an FBI profiler (Dwayne Johnson) must work together with an art thief (Ryan Reynolds) to track down another criminal (Gal Gadot).
Based on real-life events, the crux of the story follows Cohen as he disguises himself as a man named Kamel Amin Thaabet and integrates himself into Syrian society, eventually gaining the title of Deputy Defense Minister in the hopes that the knowledge he gains and actions he takes will all benefit Israel in the long run.
The Imitation Game is based on the truly remarkable true story of mathematician Alan Turing. He leads a team of codebreakers at Bletchley Park during World War II, tasked with deciphering the German Enigma code. Sounds easy enough, right?
The Good Shepherd follows Edward Wilson, a highly disciplined and very secretive CIA officer who is a spy during a particular scary time to be in the espionage business: the Cold War era. As he makes his way up through the ranks, Wilson grapples with moral dilemmas, personal sacrifices, and plenty of betrayals. At the same time, he's also worried about protecting his country's interests and maintaining his own integrity -- you know how it is.
As mentioned in the intro, The Cold War is when the world of espionage and secret agents first entered the mainstream imagination. The 2019 film The Coldest Game follows Joshua Mansky (Bill Pullman), an American mathematician who is forced to become a spy for the government during one of the Cold War's most dangerous eras.
Set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the movie follows the alcoholic Mansky as he prepares and competes in a chess tournament in Warsaw while simultaneously trying to discreetly take in as much information about the Soviets as possible.
A special brand of excitement can be found in spy movies. Audiences are swept away by dashing agents strutting into high-stakes scenarios, embedding into exotic locations, and entangling in sexy and dangerous alliances. Eye-popping gadgetry, heart-racing action sequences, and mind-bending twists are all to be expected, yet are nonetheless enthralling.
A popular trope in spy movies is the sleeper agent, a mild-mannered person who contains the muscle memory and spycraft skills of a deadly operative. In some cases, their true identity is a mystery even to themselves. That is until a cryptic code word unlocks a treasure trove of secrets.
Director Nima Nourizadeh brings a frenzied pace, explosive action, and an intoxicating goofiness to the familiar premise of an agent gone rogue to save his girl. Connie Britton, John Leguizamo, Walton Goggins, and Topher Grace co-star.
Directed by Trish Sie and written by Sarah Rothschild, The Sleepover has serious Spy Kids vibes, as it centers on a band of clever kiddos, who must use their wits to outsmart evil forces that have snatched away their secret-keeping parents. Malin kerman stars as a loving mom, whose past as a master thief has come back to gatecrash what should have been a simple sleepover.
Teaming with her former partner in crime (Joe Manganiello) and her oafish husband (Ken Marino), she's pushed to pull off one last job. Meanwhile, her kids and their friends (Sadie Stanley, Maxwell Simkins, Lucas Jaye, and Cree Cicchino) are plotting a rescue plan. Sure, no one is technically a spy. But The Sleepover follows the espionage playbook with action, reveals, reversals, high-tech gadgets, secret passageways, and glamorous glow-ups.
Kristy Puchko is the Film Editor at Mashable. Based in New York City, she's an established film critic and entertainment reporter, who has traveled the world on assignment, covered a variety of film festivals, co-hosted movie-focused podcasts, interviewed a wide array of performers and filmmakers, and had her work published on RogerEbert.com, Vanity Fair, and The Guardian. A member of the Critics Choice Association and GALECA as well as a Top Critic on Rotten Tomatoes, Kristy's primary focus is movies. However, she's also been known to gush over television, podcasts, and board games. You can follow her on Twitter.
90f70e40cf