Best Spy & Secret Agent Movies Of All Time 2020

Best Spy & Secret Agent Movies Of All Time (According to IMDb)

Spy Game: Score 7.1

When CIA agent Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt) is arrested in China, aptly for espionage, his mentor Nathan Muir (Robert Redford) gets pulled from the edge of a long-awaited and lusted-after retirement as he sets out to free his old friend.

The stakes are high, as Bishop's life hangs in the balance - a life that the U.S. government is prepared to sacrifice if necessary. But for Muir, Bishop's rescue is of highest priority - he feeds a variety of information (and misinformation) to the CIA to allow him time enough to save his friend. And in the midst of all this, he must also uncover the true nature of the operation that went so far awry for Bishop.

True Lies: Score 7.2

From awarding-winning director James Cameron, True Lies adds a layer of comedy to a genre that can easily become overwhelmingly dark.

This film follows world-class secret agent Harry Tasker's (Arnold Schwarzenegger) latest mission: track down the nuclear warheads possessed by Islamic jihadist Aziz. But things quickly get complex when Tasker, whose family believes him to be an ordinary (and boring) salesman, discovers that his wife might be having an affair with a used-car salesman who claims to be a world-class spy.

The irony here is pretty blatant but still allows for high-paced action, as well as those comedic moments that meld so well with Schwarzenegger's iconic accent.

Ronin: Score 7.3

Ronin is a masterpiece in every conceivable way. It's one of the most unappreciated spy movies in the genre, but its cult following is undeniable. Robert De Niro plays ex-U.S. intelligence agent Sam, a man who joins a ragtag band of mercenaries to recover a mysterious case from international bad guys.

The entire plot goes to Hell when his team is betrayed, leaving him a Ronin, or "masterless samurai." Rather than walk away, he teams up with surviving merc Vincent to track down their betrayer, and recover the case. The film's story is both tense and riveting, and features spectacular action sequences including an amazing car chase that makes Steve McQueen's Bullitt blush.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol: Score 7.4

The first three Mission: Impossible films varied in visual style and action sequences, thanks to the distinct visions of its directors. After a slightly disappointing third installment, the series was iced before returning with 2011's Ghost Protocol. From the start, it was clear that the franchise had a strong vision.

Subsequent M:I movies have followed the same template, with incredible success. Ghost Protocol started off big, with the bombing of the Kremlin, and never let up. So far, the series has been soaring with each new outing, while lead actor Tom Cruise shows no signs of giving up the role any time soon!

Three Days Of The Condor: Score 7.5

Released at a time when James Bond was all the craze, Three Days of the Condor provides a welcome change in pace, focusing on the CIA rather than MI6. It follows an average CIA codebreaker, Joe Turner (Robert Redford), as he stumbles upon a massacre in his workplace. The tension builds as he discovers that his superiors at the CIA, in addition to being responsible for the workplace-murders, are now after him.

This 1975 film is a fast-paced story of survival that is integrated with a hunt for the truth, which is retrospectively fitting, as one of Redford's most famous movies, All The Presidents Men, was released just one year later.

Argo: Score 7.7

Argo is unique among spy films in the fact that it's based on an actual, true story about the rescue of U.S. hostages in Tehran in 1979. Ben Affleck plays CIA exfiltration specialist Tony Mendez, who leads a team of agents disguised as Canadian filmmakers into the heart of the viper's nest.

The movie is comical, edgy and nail-biting to the very last minute, despite audiences already knowing how the entire thing played out. Well acted, shot and directed, Argo is a fantastic spy thriller that deserves its accolades.

Kingsman: The Secret Service: Score 7.7

In 2014, the world was getting a bit tired of the traditional spy movie formula, which is why director Matthew Vaughn put so much insanity into Kingsman: The Secret Service. The plot centers around a young kid tossed into an elite secret spy agency's training program who soon becomes their star pupil.

Meanwhile, a criminal tech genius plans to wipe out the majority of the population using a nefarious technology, putting the Kingsmen on his trail. The film is remembered for an outrageously violent tongue-in-cheek mass murder sequence at a church, featuring Colin Firth as the principle grim reaper!

Skyfall: Score 7.7

The second Bond film on the list unsurprisingly stars Daniel Craig, arguably one of the better Bonds. After his latest mission goes horrifically wrong, MI6 is openly attacked - with the entire organization compromised, M (Judi Dench) goes into hiding, seeking the help of the only person she can trust - James Bond.

Following a murky trail that provides never-before-seen insight into his troubled past, Bond must stop Silva, the man behind the attacks, and save M. With the high-stakes that have become signature to the Daniel Craig Bond films, Skyfall is a nail-biting thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat for all two-and-a-half hours of this 2012 blockbuster.