Action is the most popular and highest-earning movie genre in the United States by quite a big margin, and thespy subgenre within that category is one of the best. There is something uniquely fascinating about the way espionage-themed films intermingle mystery, intrigue, and drama along with plenty of exhilarating action shots and stunts galore.
Theera of Old Hollywood, considered to have lasted from the 1920s to the 1960s, dominated the spy subgenre with highly acclaimed movies that have stood the test of time and are still considered top-tier hits even today.Alfred Hitchcock is probably the most famous director from the era, and his closely followed by Guy Hamilton, who directed classics such asGoldfingerandFuneral In Berlin.Rotten Tomatoes' critics are known to be somewhat stingy with the stamp of perfection, and these 10 exquisite spy films just barely missed that mark.
10’Hit Man' (2023)
Score: 95%
Richard Linklater’sHit Manis several things at once: comedy, romance, crime thriller, and a genuinely good film. It starsnewly crowned Hollywood it-boy Glen Powellas Gary Johnson, a chill professor who secretly doubles as a special agent for the New Orleans Police Department. Hedances with danger and romance as he takes over the daring assignmentof a recently suspended colleague. Fans of the based-on-a-true-story genre will appreciate that the film does justice to the jaw-dropping tale.
Sizzling Chemistry and a Solid Story
The film contains several steamy scenes between Powell and his costar, Adria Arjona, which conjure up alluring chemistry on the screen. The story also has anunderlying dark element that gives it more depththan originally meets the eye. Praised by critics as a great showcase for Powell, the project smartly avoids the common pitfall of losing the plot under a heap of stunts and spectacles.
Glen Powell Got His TV Start on a Survivor Style Show for Teenagers
Glen Powell first appeared on the small screen in an obscure early 2000s reality show. What’s the story?
9’Spy' (2015)
WhileSpyis actually acomical spoof of the typical espionage movie, it says a lot that the film received more critical acclaim than the majority of thriller releases these days. A cohesive spy story is admittedly challenging to put together, but it seems to have become a common theme for writers to abandon all pretenses of thoughtful filmmaking and instead throw together a string of flashy stunts, hoping it’s enough to keep viewers entertained for 90 minutes. Movie Web writer Nathan Williams calls this phenomenon “the rise of slop.” In contrast to quick cash grabs,Spyis sincerely well-thought-out, with funny slapstick as well as clever jokes.
Jason Statham Proves He Can Do Comedy
Accomplished action star Jason Statham, who has appeared in a large collection of high-stakes thrillers, shows another side as he plays Rick Ford, an aging CIA agent who is blind to his own blundering ways. He delighted fans with the unexpected performance. Melissa McCarthy was also praised for her contributions, with critics praising her “polished comedic expertise.” Despite all the jokes, the movie isn’t a meaningless comedy. It sends amessage about look-ism and contains an interesting feminist twist.
8’The 39 Steps' (1935)
Score: 96%
The 39 Steps
This Alfred Hitchcock mystery is a classic of Old Hollywood. It stars Robert Donat as a Canadian man named Richard Hannay who gets caught up in an international spy ring. He is joined by Lucie Mannheim, who plays the beautiful spy Annabella Smith. Annabella is killed in Richard’s apartment soon after meeting him, setting up a perplexing conundrum to be unraveled. Hemust unravel the stunning conspiracy in order to save himself.
The Origins of a Classic Plot Device
The film contains possibly the first example in film of the “handcuff” gag where two people at odds with each other are handcuffed together and thereby forced to get along. Legend has it that before filming the scene between Hannay and Madeline Carroll, in which they must run together handcuffed through a field, Hitchcock handcuffed the actors together for several hours to create a realistic reaction. The highly rated film represents anearly showing of Hitchcock’s geniusas well as a class in movie-making techniques.
Best Alfred Hitchcock Films, Ranked
From Frenzy to Vertigo, here’s a look at the movies of a true filmmaking master, the great Alfred Hitchcock.
7’Argo' (2012)
Starring Ben Affleck, who also served as director,Argois based on the real events that unfolded in 1979 whenmilitants took over the U.S. embassy in Tehran, capturing over 60 American hostages. Affleck plays Tony Mendez, the extractor who is tasked with recovering them. He creatively goes undercover as a Hollywood filmmaker, pretending to scout locations as he plots the daring rescue. The critical success won the 2013 Oscar for Best Picture, but Affleck was surprisinglysnubbedfor a Best Director nomination.
An Awards Show Success
The film garnered 7 Oscars, cementing the movie as a critically respected success. Awards Daily reviewer Mark Johnson called it “extremely rewatchable” and praisedBen Affleck’s dramatization of the historical moment. While most fans agreed the truth-is-stranger-than-fiction tale was great movie material, some fans were bothered by the film’s Islam-phobic attitude and minimization of Canada’s helpful role in the rescue.
6’Notorious' (1946)
Not to be confused with the 2009 movie about legendary rapper Biggie Smalls, 1946’sNotoriousis a scintillating black and white work by Alfred Hitchcock. It stars Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and Claud Rains as a trio who become closely mixed up with one another when awoman falls for a government agent who has recruited herto spy on her German father’s Nazi friends. The story incorporates romance along with a dark, suspenseful tone.
One of Hitchcock’s Best
Fans have called the film an intriguing inversion of Alred Hitchcock’s usualmovie-making method. Although it is a tier below his revered classicsVertigo,Psycho,andRebecca,it is still considered a must-watch masterpiece. Ingrid Bergman gives an unbelievably good performance marked by intricacy and elegance. Thewine cellar raid scene has been applaudedas a highlight for its skillfully edited build-up of suspense.
5’North by Northwest' (1959)
Score: 97%
North By Northwest
Dominating his era’s spy subgenre, Alfred Hitchcock produced another thrilling hit with 1959’sNorth by Northwest.The film stars one of his favorite muses, Cary Grant, as Roger O. Thornhill, a New York City executive who is being chased down by a spy who mistakenly thinks he is a government agent. With his hunter hot on his heels, Thornhill pauses his dash across the country long enough to fall for a curious beauty played by Eva Marie Saint. The film culminates in a masterful series of action scenes whose technical complexity proves Hitchcock was ahead of his time.
Nearly Everything Works in ‘North by Northwest’
The camaraderie and working chemistry between Grant and Hitchcock is evident in a relationship reminiscent of the modern ones between Luca Guadanino and
Timothée Chalamet, orSofia Coppola and Kirsten Dunst. The two friends' creative styles are perfectly suited for movie magic that brings a triumphant result. Along with the strong acting, it is acclaimed for itswitty humor and exciting pace.
4’From Russia With Love' (1963)
From Russia With Love
From Russia With Loveis the second installment in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions, and marks Sean Connery’s second appearance in the role famously held by Daniel Craig from 2006 to 2021. The story features Bond’s entanglement in anassassination scheme in order to recover a stolen Soviet encryption deviceof great value. The film’s plot is slightly overcomplicated, but the stunning visuals of Istanbul make up for the somewhat muddled story.
Endearing Sincerity
The presence of so many films from the ’60s and earlier on this list proves that Hollywood simply doesn’t make spy thrillers like they used to. 1963’sFrom Russia With Love,directed by the talented Terence Young, is a golden example ofOld Hollywood’s filmmaking finesse. Some fans believe part of what made the films so good was the earnestness with which they were written and performed. Although they at times took on a dark tone, they seldom, if ever, became cynical.
3’The Manchurian Candidate' (1962)
The Manchurian Candidate
The Manchurian Candidateis a 1962 Cold War thriller which inspired a 2004 remake starring Denzel Washington, who hasnow become an MCU starand has been featured in an impressive list of action films. The original movie, directed by John Frankenheimer, stars Laurence Harvey as aKorean War veteran who is brainwashed after becoming a prisoner of war. He is joined onscreen by legendary jazz vocalist Frank Sinatra, who plays a U.S. intelligence officer.
Enduringly Relevant
While the Cold War might be over, the film explores themes and ideas that are still relevant today. The movie broadly examines institutional corruption and the way “every societal check or balance is manipulated by people at the top,” as Vulture writer Michael Weinreb put it. The modern attitudes of Donald Trump can be easily compared the McCarthyism that was in play at the time.The Manchurian Candidateis a story thatasks the masses to wake up from their complacency.
2’Mission Impossible: Fallout' (2018)
Score: 98%
Mission Impossible 6
Clocking a 98% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Tom Cruise’s sixth appearance in theMission Impossibleseries marks one of the stronger modern-day spy thrillers. The film follows Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and his team of spies as they oppose a group of terrorists that are planning coordinated nuclear attacks on multiple cities. Atense sky-diving sceneimpressively performed by Cruise himself, who is famous for doing his own stunts, is a high point of the action hit.
Connected to the Series
In an era where so many films lack meaning or connection,Falloutdoes well to incorporate common threads previously touched on in earlier installments of Hunt’s story. Although the action stunts take precedence, theplot is sturdy and has an interesting twist.
1'007: Goldfinger' (1964)
Score: 99%
Goldfinger
Just a point away from perfection on the Tomatometer,Goldfingeris a nostalgic classic from the ’60s, a decade of timeless films that helped define the genre. The movie is best known for being the project thatestablished the enduring character of James Bond that is still beloved by audiencesand frequently used by Hollywood to this day. The plot features James Bond (Sean Connery) fighting a murderous villain named Goldfinger.
Shaken, Not Stirred
The movie is revered for originating the oft-imitated iconic phrase “shaken not stirred” to describe the way James Bond famouslyprefers his vodka martinis. The project is acclaimed for thedazzling way it intertwines espionage with action. Honor Blackman’s charismatic portrayal of the jawdroppingly gorgeous Pussy Galore character has also been praised. Despite the numerous Bond-themed movies that followed, many fans still cite this film as their favorite and consider it the one to beat.
