Spy movies can take many different forms, as the genre has been very popular ever since the initialwave in popularity of the James Bond franchiseafter the release ofDr. Noin 1962. There was obviously a lot of interest in where the genre was headed, as recent events in the Cold War served as a reminder that what was going on in the world of espionage was actually very real.
That being said,many of the best spy movies ever made are also quite entertaining, and aren’t afraidto take a more comical lookat what espionage might look like. Even if spycraft is a real thing, that doesn’t mean that cinema can’t subvert expectations and turn the stories into more broad entertainment that aren’t afraid to get silly. Here are ten spy movies that have the most fun, ranked.
10‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ (2015)
Directed by Guy Ritchie
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.was a terrific reboot of the classic television series of the same name by Guy Ritchie, who was already established as a veteran of making goofy gangster comedies.Henry Cavillgave the best performance of his careeras Napoleon Solo, a former thief turned secret agent who is assigned to work alongside a Soviet Union spy (Armie Hammer) to prevent a wealthy tycoon (Elizabeth Debicki) from unleashing chaos on the world.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.uses the best of Ritchie’s filmmaking style, with wildly energetic action scenes, non-linear narrative sequencing, clever needle drops, and a lot of slow motion. It’s one of the best buddy cop films since the originalLethal Weapon, and certainly could fill the spy movie void for cinephiles who had grown weary that the modern Bond films had gotten too dark and violent.
Watch on Netflix
9‘Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery’ (1997)
Directed by Jay Roach
Austin Powers: International Man of Mysteryis one of the quintessential spy movie spoofs of all-time, and was a true example ofMike Myersbeing at the height of his powers. Myers was able to spoof both Bond and his regular rogue’s gallery by taking on the dual roles of the 1960s secret agent Austin Powers and the maniacal supervillain Dr. Evil.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mysteryis quite clever in how it lampoons classic spy films, but never feels like it is mean-spirited or cynical. Althoughthe number of great comedy sequelsare actually rather few and far between, but bothAustin Powers in GoldmemberandAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Mewere satisfying follow ups that managed to give Myers room to expand on the character’s legacy and work in even more silly, ridiculous side characters.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
A world-class playboy and part-time secret agent from the 1960s emerges after thirty years in a cryogenic state to battle with his nemesis Dr. Evil.
Rent on Amazon
8‘GoldenEye’ (1995)
Directed by Martin Campbell
GoldenEyewas a seriousreturn to form for the Bond franchisethat launchedPierce Brosnanas the latest 007. In addition to having one of the best Bond villains ever inSean Beanas the traitorous MI6 agent formerly known as “006,”GoldenEyealso introduced a new version of the agency’s head, M, played by the future Academy Award-winning actressJudi Dench.
Brosnan was a great 007, and it is unfortunate that the subsequent filmsTomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, andDie Another Daydid not give him the strong writing that he needed to take the character in an interesting direction. That being said, the brilliant stunts and clever humor withinGoldenEyemakes it easily one of the most purely entertaining Bond movies ever made; it’s also a great way to convert non-Bond fans to the series.
Watch on Prime Video
7‘Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol’ (2011)
Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocolwas the boost of energy that theMission: Impossiblefranchise needed, as the veteran Pixar directorBrad Birdproved to be the right person to steer the saga in an exciting new direction. While it is almost easy to take the charisma thatTom Cruisebrings to the role of Ethan Hunt for granted,Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocolgave more room to some of the franchise’s most valued supporting players, including Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and William Brandt (Jeremy Renner).
Although the film isnot without its fantastic villains,the real star ofMission: Impossible- Ghost Protocolis the setpieces, as seeing Cruise scale one of the tallest buildings in the world is exactly what theMission: Impossiblefranchise has always been about. The fact that Cruise risks his life for the sake of entertainment is always a drawing factor.
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
The IMF is shut down when it’s implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization’s name.
Watch on Paramount Plus
6‘Top Secret!’ (1984)
Directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker
Top Secret!is a classic spoof filmthat gaveVal Kilmerone of his breakout roles as a rock’n’roll star (loosely modeled afterElvis Presley) who is assigned to go undercover as a secret agent. As with all of the films directed byJim Abrahams, David Zucker,andJerry Zucker, there’s just the right blend of genuine satire and laugh-out-loud goofiness. The use of genuinely entertaining musical numbers added an authenticity to the film that many of its spoof movie competitors lacked.
Top Secret!revealed the merits of Kilmer’s star potential, as he was always just as well suited for sillier roles as hewas for more intense action thrillers.Top Secret!was able to satirize a very specific moment in popular culture revolving around eccentric personalities, and in that sense, it has aged very well as a product of its time.
Watch on Pluto TV
5‘Spy' (2015)
Directed by Paul Feig
It’s no secret thatMelissa McCarthy’s filmography is uneven, often outright unworthy of the two-time Emmy winner’s formidable talents. Four years after her breakthrough inBridesmaids, the actress delivered what might be her best big-screen performance inan action comedy that garnered impressive box-office and substantial critical acclaim.
McCarthy is at once hilarious and sympathetic as Susan Cooper, a repressed CIA operative called to action after the death of a colleague.Rose ByrneandJason Stathamarguably steal the movie however, in top, raunchy comedic form as an arms dealer’s daughter and a catastrophically incompetent agent, respectively.Spyis easilythe second-greatest collaboration between McCarthy and Paul Feig.
A desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer and prevent diabolical global disaster.
4‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’ (2015)
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Kingsman: The Secret Servicewas a throwback to the classic era of Bond filmsthat took the genre in a decidedly R-Rated director, which isn’t all that unexpected consideringthe abrasive direction thatMatthew Vaughntookwith his previous filmsKick-AssandLayer Cake. While the sheer amount of violence may be too much for audiences with softer stomachs,Kingsman: The Secret Servicefeatured a star-making performance byTaron Egertonas the young spy recruit Eggsy.
Although Egerton’s youthful charisma allowed for a younger audience to connect with the story,the real shock ofKingsman: Secret Servicewas Colin Firthin the role of Harry Hart, a veteran agent of the Kingsman that serves as Eggy’s mentor. Seeing an actor like Firth, best known for his work in romantic comedies, become an action hero made for a very unexpected surprise.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
A spy organization recruits a promising street kid into the agency’s training program, while a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.
3‘True Lies’ (1994)
Directed by James Cameron
True Liesisn’t just one of thegreatest action films of the 1990s, but one of best showcases for whyJames Cameronis a much smarter filmmaker than he has ever been given credit for. In a twist on the traditional secret agent movie,True Liescenters on a veteran spy (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who is forced to tell the truth about his real identity to his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis), who becomes inadvertently involved in the adventure.
True Liesis actually a really great romantic comedy, as the chemistry between Curtis and Schwarzenegger actually has a sense of authenticity. That being said,True Liesis also most certainly a Cameron film, and delivers with a riveting third act climax that is worthy of the action inTerminator 2: Judgment DayorAliensin terms of scope, scale, and raw emotional impact.
Secretly a spy but thought by his family to be a dull salesman, Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is tracking down nuclear missiles in the possession of Islamic jihadist Aziz (Art Malik). Harry’s mission is complicated when he realizes his neglected wife, Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), is contemplating an affair with Simon (Bill Paxton), a used-car salesman who claims he’s a spy. When Aziz kidnaps Harry and Helen, the secret agent must save the world and patch up his marriage at the same time.
Watch on Hulu
2‘Red’ (2010)
Directed by Robert Schwentke
Redis one of the most underrated comic book movies ever made, as it wasbased on a limited run of DC comicsthat earned a cult following.Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren,andJohn Malkovichstar as a group of “retired, extremely dangerous” former assassins who are forced to reunite on a new mission after unveiling a conspiracy linked to the Vice President of the United States (Julian McMahon).
Redexamines the reality of aging within the context of an espionage adventure, and allows its cast to poke fun at the fact that they aren’t getting any younger. The film’s sequelRed 2was not nearly as bad as its toxic reputation suggests, but sadly the developments surrounding Willis’ health may make it impossible for a third and final entry in the series to ever come to fruition.
A retired black-ops operative’s quiet life is shattered when he becomes the target of a deadly assassination attempt. Reuniting with his old team, he uncovers a conspiracy involving powerful forces and must use his expertise to survive and expose the truth.
1‘Goldfinger’ (1964)
Directed by Guy Hamilton
Goldfingeris theepitome of what a Bond movie should be, and certainly inspired many of the precedents that the rest of the series would conform to. Many of the recurring hallmarks of the Bond franchise were established inGoldfinger, including the elaborate opening musical number, the iconic Aston Martin, the various cool gadgets, the alluring love interests, and the cheeky sense of humor.
Goldfingeris highly aware of how inherently goofy it is, and allowedSean Conneryto be just as charismatic as he needed to be. Although the Bond franchise had developed films that are deeper, such asSkyfallorOn Her Majesty’s Secret Service,Goldfingeris by far the most entertaining installment in a franchise that has existed for over six decades, and will likely continue into the near future whenDaniel Craig’s replacement is eventually decided on.
