A spy movie is a movie that typically revolves around espionage and secret agents.
Even if it’s just for a few hours, the best spy films make you feel like a real-life secret agent. We will most likely never jet across the world for a covert goal, parachute out of a plane to avoid an adversary, or be involved in a high-speed vehicle chase.
Another thing the greatest spy movies have in common is unpredictability. The stakes are high, the agents are well-trained, and you have no idea what they’ll do next. Whether it’s watching Jason Bourne being chased by assassins, James Bond completing his latest mission, or the Spy Kids going on an adventure, the only thing you can rely on is that the best spy movies will keep you guessing.
If you’re looking for the best spy movies on Netflix, we’ve got you covered. Check out our list of the best ones below.
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1. The Exception (2017)
If you are ever forced to choose between your beliefs and your emotions, which will you choose? This is a question that keeps some people up at night. If this is something that worries you, then you will find a reflection of this in the World War II drama directed by David Leveaux. However, it will be hard for you to find any comfort in the film as it is based on a true story.
The Exception follows German officer Colonel Stefan Brandt (Jai Courtney) who is sent to investigate the Dutch resistance during WWII. When he meets Jewish refugee Mieke de Jong (Lily James), his world is turned upside down as he begins to question everything he knows.
The film poses an intriguing question and weaves its tale to perfection around the same. If you haven’t yet seen ‘The Exception,’ go over to Netflix right now.
2. Checkmate (2015)
If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced thriller, then Checkmate is the film for you. The movie follows two strangers who are brought together by a twist of fate. After being involved in a car accident, the two discover that they have more in common than they thought.
As they try to piece together what is happening, they are drawn into a web of conspiracy and deceit. With its twists and turns, Checkmate will keep you guessing until the very end.
3. Snowden (2016)
Based on the book The Snowden Files by Luke Harding, this Oliver Stone film tells the story of NSA contractor Edward Snowden. The film chronicles how Snowden came to be in possession of classified information and his decision to leak it to the press.
Snowden stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the title character and is one of the best spy movies on Netflix. If you’re looking for a film that will make you question everything you know about government surveillance, then this is the one for you.
4. Get Smart (2008)
‘Get Smart,’ a hilarious spy comedy, features a fantastic star cast that includes Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, James Caan, and Alan Arkin. Maxwell Smart is played by Steve Carell in this film adaptation of the legendary TV show from the 1960s.
Maxwell has worked exclusively at a desk and has never been assigned a field mission until the tale of this film begins. When the headquarters of CONTROL is destroyed by the radical group KAOS, a terrorist group. He is named Agent 86 and assigned to work with Agent 99 (Hathaway) to find out the reason behind the KAOS attack and prevent any other destructive plan.
As they work together, Smart’s incompetence becomes a hilarious barrier. With strong performances from the main cast, Get Smart evolves into an amusing film with lots of action and humor in every sequence.
5. The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965)
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold is a 1965 British espionage film directed by Martin Ritt and starring Richard Burton, Claire Bloom, and Oskar Werner. The film is based on the 1963 novel of the same name by John le Carré.
The story follows Alec Leamas (Burton), a British intelligence officer who is tasked with finding out the identity of a high-ranking member of the East German intelligence agency. To do this, he must go undercover and pose as a defector.
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold is one of the best spy movies of all time. With its complex story and great performances, it is sure to keep you hooked until the very end.
These are just a few of the best spy movies on Netflix. So, if you’re in the mood for a good espionage thriller, be sure to check out one of these films. You won’t be disappointed.
6. Operation Finale (2018)
Operation Finale is also a great spy film currently on Netflix. The film follows the story of the capture of Adolf Eichmann, one of the main architects of the Holocaust.
A team of Mossad agents is sent to Argentina to track down Eichmann and bring him back to Israel to stand trial. The film is full of suspense and features some great performances.
If you’re looking for a good spy film to watch on Netflix, be sure to check out Operation Finale. You won’t be disappointed.
7. The Red Sea Diving Resort (2019)
Chris Evans joined the Netflix original film The Red Sea Diving Resort and delivered a more restrained but powerful performance in this political thriller, which has enthralled the world with his ‘Avengers: Endgame’ performance.
Evans stars as Ari Levinson, a Mossad secret agent in the African country of Sudan. Along with his colleagues, Ari plans to evacuate Ethiopian Jews from the country and send them back to Israel. The unique thing that Ari does to make his operation successful is by turning a abandoned resort into a cover to smuggle the refugees.
He asks Mossad to let him use an abandoned hotel to set up a resort. This way he can do his work without getting caught. Things go smoothly at first, but then the Sudanese officials start to get suspicious of what Ari is up to.
Although the film is well made, it is a fairly typical thriller. It doesn’t have any surprises in store for the audience.
8. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
When the president of the United States is taken hostage, the best minds in the American intelligence community must come together to track him down and rescue him. One of these minds is Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill), a top agent for U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law and Enforcement).
Solo is tasked with teaming up with Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer), a Soviet agent, to track down the president’s kidnappers. The two men must put aside their differences and work together if they want to succeed in their mission.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a fun and action-packed spy movie that is sure to entertain. Cavill and Hammer have great chemistry, and the film is full of humor and suspense. If you’re looking for a good spy movie to watch on Netflix, be sure to check out The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
9. Men in Black: International (2019)
When the Men in Black organization is compromised, it’s up to Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) and Agent M (Tessa Thompson) to track down the culprit and save the world. Joined by Pawny (Liam Neeson), a highly advanced alien life form, the trio must travel the globe to stop a sinister plot that could have devastating consequences for the entire universe.
Men in Black: International is a fun and action-packed spy movie that is sure to entertain. Hemsworth and Thompson have great chemistry, and the film is full of humor and suspense. If you’re looking for a good spy movie to watch on Netflix, be sure to check out Men in Black: International. You won’t be disappointed.
10. Wasp Network (2019)
Wasp Network is a 2019 Netflix original film directed by Olivier Assayas. The film stars Penélope Cruz, Édgar Ramírez, Gael García Bernal, and Wagner Moura.
The film is set in Cuba in the 1990s and follows a group of Cuban spies who are recruited by the CIA to infiltrate militant anti-Castro terrorist organizations. The film is full of suspense and features some great performances by its star-studded cast. If you’re looking for a good spy movie to watch on Netflix, be sure to check out Wasp Network. You won’t be disappointed.
These are just a few of the best spy movies on Netflix. So, if you’re in the mood for a good espionage thriller, be sure to check out one of these films. You won’t be disappointed.