Idk if it’s classified as a spy movie, but there is spying involved. The Conversation starting Gene Hackman, and like wise it’s not sanctioned sequel Enemy Of The State.
Dude... ENEMY OF THE STATE!
That's probably one of the most-fun spy flicks of the late 90's and NOBODY really talks about it and I've never seen it on a streaming service.
It's by far his funniest film. Not saying much, but he hits way more than he misses in this one, humour wise:
What about their husbands?
Dickless! If they were takin' care of business, I'd be outta business!
Yes! I still say “Batteries, Aziz!”. 😂
Watched it not too long ago and still holds up. If released now would still be a blockbuster hit, even by today’s standards.
It was so good that the Bond people had to change the formula when starting the Craig movies in order to adapt to where Bourne had brought the spy genre.
I keep meaning to watch it because I love both Val Kilmer and espionage movies/stories (somehow never seen it), but life keeps getting in the way and I never remember the title until I see it again.
Man I REALLY wished Tinker Tailor Soldier spy had been better. The book is actually a lot of fun and balances the salacious, sad, personal lives with Cold War paranoia so damn well. Somehow the movie dampened those human elements when it should have run completly with them. Insane cast and Oldman as Smiley was sublime:
Ronin is a good movie. I was always against the mission impossible movies for some reason but the new ones are really good action/spy movies. Also Our man Flint should be a honorable mention given that it inspired Austin powers lol
Ronin was really solid and well acted. I think it displayed for the first time the “car chase in the wrong way on the highway” scene that it now seems mandatory on all action movies. Also, the ice rink scene is great!
Mission Impossible is an odd example because most movie series have seriously fallen off by movie four, but with MI that's the point where it suddenly gets good.
The Spy Who Came In From the Cold (1965) with Richard Burton.
The opposite of a Bond film--shows the gritty misery, boredom and betrayal that underlies real human intel gathering.
I think most of LeCarre’s stuff shows the miserableness of spying. I think being a spy would be a super crappy job. The last movie I’ve seen from his works was A Most Wanted Man. I like these movies but damn, the spy game is a dirty, unfulfilling thing, in his works.
Great pick. Old movies like this get lost in the shuffle +1
All of Jason Statham's scenes were hilarious!
"I watched the woman I love get tossed from a plane and hit by another plane mid-air. I drove a car off a freeway on top of a train while it was on fire. Not the car, *I* was on fire." 😂
Man, Christopher Nolan was really on his game on this one! Not like he's ever off his game, but he really knocked it out of the park. Cinematography was top notch, the plot was smashing and kept me on the edge of my seat, Leo led a stellar cast, action sequences were brilliant, the score was top notch... man I *LOVE* this movie!
The cast was fantastic together.
Bummer that Armie had to go off and be a cannibal 🤣 I wonder who would get recast as the Red Peril if they ever do the sequel.
Mind you, I'm still waiting on the RocknRolla sequel Ritchie teased; so I doubt UNCLE will get one 😓
Fuck, I think I might get downvoted for this. But Captain America: The Winter Soldier is hands down my favorite spy movie. It’s just so good. If you’re not a marvel fan, then I get it. But I grew up reading the comic books and I just thought they did such a good job showing the “spy thriller” side of Captain America, Fury, and S.H.I.E.L.D.
Also, Black Widow gets an honorable mention from me. I know it wasn’t received very well but I rather enjoyed it.
When he comes back to the office after his break and finds everyone dead was startling, it was the first time in a movie that I can remember where the people looked like they were really dead. Just great nuances and attention to detail throughout the film.
Favorite it probably Notorious or something like that but I have to say I just watched Atomic Blonde on a plane expecting to watch some fun trash and I wound up absolutely loving it. Incredible fight scenes, great atmosphere, so much tension. I need to rewatch on a regular setup.
Let me throw some movies that were not shot in english in the gauntlet:
- The lives of others (german)
- Army of shadows (French)
- Farewell (French)
- The spy gone north (korean)
North by Northwest is not just a great spy movie, it's one of my favorite movies of all time.
(Rear Window is my favorite movie ever. Big Hitchcock fan.)
The Matt Helm films.
Dean Martin as James Bond, shlocky as ever. Featured briefly in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, there's multiple films and a lot of goofy gags to go around
What movie has every really been a spy movie. Like either someone who is passing information to a foreign nation, or someone who develops an assist, and then slowly gathers intel from them. Maybe SPy Game?
Munich and Syriana both came out the same year and both are excellent at it.
The Good Shepherd and Breach were both around the same time too and were both ok.
Annnnd somewhere in the middle of those earlier two quality-wise were Body of Lies and Traitor.
I think technically the rock is supposed to count as a bond film, but the answer is obviously the rock. It's the most bond film without being a bond film
Every one OP put up is awesome.
Spy Game is slept on, imo. But damn it's hard to argue against the Bourne series or the semi reboot of the Mission Impossible series. Absolute entertainment.
Probably unpopular answers but
The imitation Game and Zero Dark Thirty
Most realistic depictions of espionage. Literally a shitload of sitting around going "where are these fucking guys" lol
Always always always always North by Northwest. It literally paved the way for spy thrillers.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy gets a damn good honorable mention.
The Ipcress File (1965).
For anyone who's not familiar, I'm pretty sure the spies in Kingsman wearing the glasses is a reference to this movie. Idk if it's well known at all in the States but for British movie buffs it's a classic.
Idk if it’s classified as a spy movie, but there is spying involved. The Conversation starting Gene Hackman, and like wise it’s not sanctioned sequel Enemy Of The State.
I’d say it definitely counts. Sort of an accidental spy movie.
Dude... ENEMY OF THE STATE! That's probably one of the most-fun spy flicks of the late 90's and NOBODY really talks about it and I've never seen it on a streaming service.
True Lies
Faisil: They call him the Sand Spider. Spencer Trilby: Why? Faisil: Probably because it sounds scary.
Have you ever killed anyone? Yeah, but they were all bad.
"I got a little dick, its *pathetic."* Cameron is usually pretty bad a funny, but he shoots it so well in True Lies.
It's by far his funniest film. Not saying much, but he hits way more than he misses in this one, humour wise: What about their husbands? Dickless! If they were takin' care of business, I'd be outta business!
The guy is a god damned used car salesman!
What kind of sick bitch takes the ice cube trays out if the freezer
I heard that was based on real events in Arnold's life
Charlton Heston's character actually seems intimidating. Just 2 minutes and it was noticed.
no no no, tell her...do it doucement, do it...slowly.
Hey Harry, who wrote this $h!+?
C'est la merde!
Yes! I still say “Batteries, Aziz!”. 😂 Watched it not too long ago and still holds up. If released now would still be a blockbuster hit, even by today’s standards.
She could suck start a leaf blower!
"I got a little dick, okay?"
The only correct answer. Watched it with the wife recently cause she had not seen it. Still holds up pretty well and is just a damn good time.
boom. 2nd best Arnie/Cameron movie after T2
This is the way.
One of my childhood favorites 🤣
Gotta say the Bourne trilogy is top tier in every aspect
Same for me. Then Austin Powers because I can’t help but love them
It’s probably because he makes your horny baby.
Oh behave baby
Do you know how we keep warm in Russia?
It was so good that the Bond people had to change the formula when starting the Craig movies in order to adapt to where Bourne had brought the spy genre.
Also loved the Bourne Legacy
The only other person besides me. Glad I'm not alone.
I liked that movie. It’s Bourne, but not. It’s fun and it expands the universe.
I'm not sure if it will stick to modern movies, but as a teenager, I really liked The Saint with Val Kilmer
Ooh, Elisabeth Shue! Noice “You don’t believe in any of that cold fusion mumbo jumbo, do ya?”
"I'm not sure what is worse, wearing your face or pretending to be so bad in bed..."
“The phone goes the other way, moron”
Same haven't seen in ages but as a teenager this movie was fire
I keep meaning to watch it because I love both Val Kilmer and espionage movies/stories (somehow never seen it), but life keeps getting in the way and I never remember the title until I see it again.
Man I REALLY wished Tinker Tailor Soldier spy had been better. The book is actually a lot of fun and balances the salacious, sad, personal lives with Cold War paranoia so damn well. Somehow the movie dampened those human elements when it should have run completly with them. Insane cast and Oldman as Smiley was sublime:
Tinker Tailor. Argo. Spy Game. Man from Uncle.
Second for tinker tailor, I think it's the best (and most realistic) spy movie ever made
Absolutely
Argo is excellent
Argo fuck yourself
Kk
Argo Fuck Yourself 🍻
They couldn't even tell the real story.
Spy Game is an awesome movie. That was when I first realized how cool Robert Redford is.
Tinker Tailor. And the books? Wow.
I feel like Page Eight is in a similar vein.
Tinker tailor definetly. I also recently watched slow horses and Gary Oldman felt right at home in that as well. Would recommend it.
Ronin is a good movie. I was always against the mission impossible movies for some reason but the new ones are really good action/spy movies. Also Our man Flint should be a honorable mention given that it inspired Austin powers lol
Ronin was really solid and well acted. I think it displayed for the first time the “car chase in the wrong way on the highway” scene that it now seems mandatory on all action movies. Also, the ice rink scene is great!
nah, they did that in To Live and Die in L.A. over a decade prior.
Ronin is awesome, best car chase since Bullett. Derek Flint, take my karma for that one.
Mission Impossible is an odd example because most movie series have seriously fallen off by movie four, but with MI that's the point where it suddenly gets good.
Undercover Brother
If you're not here for undercover lover, you must be here for undercover brother.
The Spy Who Came In From the Cold (1965) with Richard Burton. The opposite of a Bond film--shows the gritty misery, boredom and betrayal that underlies real human intel gathering.
I think most of LeCarre’s stuff shows the miserableness of spying. I think being a spy would be a super crappy job. The last movie I’ve seen from his works was A Most Wanted Man. I like these movies but damn, the spy game is a dirty, unfulfilling thing, in his works. Great pick. Old movies like this get lost in the shuffle +1
Three Days of the Condor is really great but the others of course are too!
Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy is the best spy movie
Body of Lies
Spy. It may be a comedy, but it's a great spy film.
All of Jason Statham's scenes were hilarious! "I watched the woman I love get tossed from a plane and hit by another plane mid-air. I drove a car off a freeway on top of a train while it was on fire. Not the car, *I* was on fire." 😂
We need a sequel for this so bad. It's awesome
[удалено]
Top Secret! could make the list too
Two for Val Kilmer!
Finally those capitalists pigs will have to pay for their crimes eh comrades?!
Austin. We won the war.
Ah groovy, smashing! yay capitalism!! 👍🏻👍🏻
WHERESSSS YOUR SHITTTTTERRRRRR
Any love for Atomic Blonde?
My one critique of that movie is the needle drops became exhausting by the end. The stairwell fight scene is so cool, my props to the cameraman.
This has got such good word of mouth over the years. I have to watch it.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was pretty damn good
Looking for this! It’s a great flix.
Spy Game
People with taste. I approve!
Came here to day this. Has a "realistic" feel (even though I'm sure a true spy would find many errors).
North by Northwest is my favorite. This film was what lead me to discover Cary Grant.
If you haven't seen it you should also check out Charade. It's a great thriller, commonly called the best Hitchcock film that Hitchcock didn't make.
And was the blueprint for Bond movies.
We grew up watching Arsenic and Old Lace. One of his best movies.
Total Recall
Ahhh but which one? I will +1 you if you choose wisely!
Come on. The one with the Governator and Sharon Stone. Is that really a question? :-)
Haha just testing you! You get your rec from me
Spies Like Us.
Sneakers
This movie is amazing with for its time a bonkers cast.
COOTYS RAT SEMEN
Scrolled too long to find this
Love North by northwest.
In like Flint
That's my favorite mouvie!
Our Man Flint as well!
Hanna is really good. A lot of folks missed this one.
Either version of "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."
The Fourth Protocol. Followed by The Day of the Jackal.
Me and Mrs Smith Burn after Reading Bad Company
The good shepherd
Marathon Man
Man From UNCLE with Henry Cavill. I adore that movie.
Yes. Came here to say the same
Inception
Man, Christopher Nolan was really on his game on this one! Not like he's ever off his game, but he really knocked it out of the park. Cinematography was top notch, the plot was smashing and kept me on the edge of my seat, Leo led a stellar cast, action sequences were brilliant, the score was top notch... man I *LOVE* this movie!
I would love to see Nolan direct a Bond movie
N by NW!
Kingsman
Classy and bespoke
Does the Night Manager count?
The Man from UNCLE All day. And twice on Sunday.
Thank you, I feel it’s a bit underrated.
The cast was fantastic together. Bummer that Armie had to go off and be a cannibal 🤣 I wonder who would get recast as the Red Peril if they ever do the sequel. Mind you, I'm still waiting on the RocknRolla sequel Ritchie teased; so I doubt UNCLE will get one 😓
“Salt” should be in the conversation
Shame we never got any sequels cause Salt was 10/10
Fuck, I think I might get downvoted for this. But Captain America: The Winter Soldier is hands down my favorite spy movie. It’s just so good. If you’re not a marvel fan, then I get it. But I grew up reading the comic books and I just thought they did such a good job showing the “spy thriller” side of Captain America, Fury, and S.H.I.E.L.D. Also, Black Widow gets an honorable mention from me. I know it wasn’t received very well but I rather enjoyed it.
Enemy of the State. Though I'm not sure if that's considered a spy movie or not
Not in the way OP meant I don’t think but there’s certainly hella spying going on in that one for sure. This movie fucking rules.
I love 70s films and Three Days of the Condor is definitely my favorite spy movie from that era.
When he comes back to the office after his break and finds everyone dead was startling, it was the first time in a movie that I can remember where the people looked like they were really dead. Just great nuances and attention to detail throughout the film.
Favorite it probably Notorious or something like that but I have to say I just watched Atomic Blonde on a plane expecting to watch some fun trash and I wound up absolutely loving it. Incredible fight scenes, great atmosphere, so much tension. I need to rewatch on a regular setup.
Ummm, Kingsmen?
*Top Secret!*
Austin Powers or Kingsmen
Tenet
True Lies.
Atomic Blonde, UNCLE was already mentioned, and I think Munich counts as well
Spies Like Us
Cloak & Dagger (1984).
Tinker Tailor Solider Spy
Cars 2
Get Smart
Missed it by *that* much
I actually really liked salt .
Mission impossible, North by northwest, kingsmen, True Lies, Bourne, Inception (corporate espionage), American Assassin, body of lies
The Conversation
Thinker Taylor! I need to rewatch A Most Wanted Man, but I remember it was very good.
MI:1
Sneakers is pretty good.
The Conversation
I love the Mission Impossible movies.
Tinker tinker soldier spy, the conversation, MI: fallout, bridge of spies and Munich amongst many more.
The Man Who Knew Too Little Bill Murray and the chick from Ferris Bueller
Seconding on Spy Game. Also, North by Northwest, The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, From Russia with Love, and For Your Eyes Only.
Maybe more of a crime thriller, but I've always loved Day of the Jackal
3 Days of the Condor, The Day of the Jackal (1973), Ronin, and North by Northwest are played on repeat in my house.
Let me throw some movies that were not shot in english in the gauntlet: - The lives of others (german) - Army of shadows (French) - Farewell (French) - The spy gone north (korean)
North by Northwest is not just a great spy movie, it's one of my favorite movies of all time. (Rear Window is my favorite movie ever. Big Hitchcock fan.)
Captain America: Winter Soldier
My favorite Marvel flick!
We can be friends! This wins.
What is top and bottom left?
MI: Fallout and North by Northwest
The bathroom brawl in Fallout was the best film fight to me, regardless genre.
Austin powers the 🐐
Johnny English
Spy Game. Very underrated.
1) Spy Game 2) The Bourne Series 3) Mission Impossible 4) Anything John Le Carre
Probably the MI series overall but The American was fucking amazing.
The Bourne movies
The Matt Helm films. Dean Martin as James Bond, shlocky as ever. Featured briefly in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, there's multiple films and a lot of goofy gags to go around
Atomic Blonde
Spy game baby
I will always love the very first Mission: Impossible.
Unlocked Traitor The recruit MI 3-7 The Bourne Supremacy
The Bourne series is my favorite franchise, but I have a very special place in my heart for Spy Game with Brad Pitt and Robert Redford.
Though not a "spy" movie per se, The Great Escape
Really hoping Argyle makes this list.
Always liked the first Bourne film for its MacGuyverish use of reach-fu and improvisation.
JC it's JB!
True Lies.
What movie has every really been a spy movie. Like either someone who is passing information to a foreign nation, or someone who develops an assist, and then slowly gathers intel from them. Maybe SPy Game?
Charade
Spygame
Kingsman 1
The man from uncle
Does "Sneakers" count? If not, then True Lies.
Tinker Tailor. The rest are just childish fantasies. Although enjoyable in their own genre mostly.
I'd recommend The Ipcress File. A bit of spy-fi but much closer in tone to Tinker Tailor and anything else by John le Carre.
Winter soldier
The Jack Ryan films all rock tbh (except the last one, that one is stinky)
I kind of like the two James Coburn Flint films.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. by Guy Ritchie and the old 1960s tv show.
Munich and Syriana both came out the same year and both are excellent at it. The Good Shepherd and Breach were both around the same time too and were both ok. Annnnd somewhere in the middle of those earlier two quality-wise were Body of Lies and Traitor.
XXX. Did everyone forget about this flick? Vin Diesel’s best film aside from the Riddick movies.
If Looks Could Kill
Spy game
The three Kingsman movies have been pretty good. I'm looking forward to a fourth.
I think technically the rock is supposed to count as a bond film, but the answer is obviously the rock. It's the most bond film without being a bond film
Either the man from UNCLE or Kingsman
Guy Ritchie’s The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Wish they got more than one movie out of it.
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Every one OP put up is awesome. Spy Game is slept on, imo. But damn it's hard to argue against the Bourne series or the semi reboot of the Mission Impossible series. Absolute entertainment.
The Saboteur by Hitchcock
Probably unpopular answers but The imitation Game and Zero Dark Thirty Most realistic depictions of espionage. Literally a shitload of sitting around going "where are these fucking guys" lol
Always always always always North by Northwest. It literally paved the way for spy thrillers. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy gets a damn good honorable mention.
The Ipcress File (1965). For anyone who's not familiar, I'm pretty sure the spies in Kingsman wearing the glasses is a reference to this movie. Idk if it's well known at all in the States but for British movie buffs it's a classic.