The 15 best spy movies to stream on Netflix
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Valeria Florini/Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures; IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Collection; Giles Keyte/Courtesy See-Saw Films and Netflix Oscar Isaac in 'Operation Finale'; Stana Katic in 'A Call to Spy; Colin Firth in 'Operation Mincemeat'
When you're in the mood for intrigue, nothing hits the spot like a good spy movie. A genre driven by duplicity and deception, the films listed below are full of plots that twist, and missions that seem impossible. With options ranging from dramas, historical fiction, and action, spy movies can do it all — and they can do it undercover. Here are the best spy movies streaming on Netflix as of October 2023.
<i>The Interpreter</i> (2005)
Oscar-winning director Sydney Pollack's final feature film before his death in 2008 is a sturdy political thriller chock-full of twists and turns. Nicole Kidman plays the titular United Nations interpreter, Silvia Broome, who happens to overhear an assassination plot against a ruthless leader of an African country who is slated to answer for his crimes at the International Criminal Court. Soon, a Secret Service agent (Sean Penn) gets involved, discovering that Silvia has a past that intersects with the corrupt leader's actions. The densely plotted drama, described by EW's critic as "a serious invitation...for Americans to engage globally even while seeking local entertainment," is a fascinating look at geopolitical wheelings and dealings. —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watch The Interpreter: Netflix
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Sydney Pollack
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn, Catherine Keener
Related content: EW talks with Sydney Pollack
<i>Spy Game</i> (2001)
Starring matinee idols of yesterday and today, Tony Scott's intricate thriller Spy Game is a glimpse into federal bureaucracy and one man's attempt to cut through it and save his former protégé. Robert Redford plays the maverick CIA officer Nathan D. Muir, who is hoping to get Brad Pitt's Tom Bishop released from a Chinese prison — even though it's not in the agency's best interest to do so. Muir must use his wits to weasel his way into meetings while evading suspicion of his intentions. The film provides a strong showcase for Redford's steely charm, with EW's critic noting, "Spy Game ultimately belongs to Redford, who reinvigorates his nobility by drying it out, playing Muir with the subliminal sarcastic squint of an undercover Donald Rumsfeld." —K.J.
Where to watch Spy Game: Netflix
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack, Stephen Dillane, Larry Bryggman
Related content: Robert Redford's most memorable roles
<i>Operation Finale</i> (2018)
The true story of former Nazi officer Adolf Eichmann fleeing persecution and being captured nearly 15 years after the Holocaust ended was destined to be adapted for the big screen. This 2018 thriller sees Eichmann played by the great Ben Kingsley, with Oscar Isaac starring as Peter Malkin, one of the Mossad agents who helped track Eichmann down. Operation Finale drew praise for its gripping depiction of the high-stakes mission to capture Eichmann, and all the variables that nearly cause it to fail. But, as EW's critic wrote, "It's the psychological duel between the terrific Isaac and Kingsley as captor and prisoner that delivers the film's most charged jolts of electricity." —K.J.
Where to watch Operation Finale: Netflix
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Chris Weitz
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Ben Kingsley, Mélanie Laurent, Lior Raz, Nick Kroll, Haley Lu Richardson
Related content: Oscar Isaac hunts Nazi mastermind in harrowing Operation Finale trailer
<i>A Call to Spy</i> (2020)
A Call to Spy uncovers some of the hidden figures behind the British war effort in the mid-20th century. Castle's Stana Katic stars alongside Sarah Megan Thomas and Radhika Apte as a trio of women who become spies for Britain during World War II. The special operation finds the spies treading into dangerous territory, while also having to put up with the casual sexism of the time period. The film received a generally positive response from critics, who hailed the power of the story of these heroes who aren't talked about often enough. It premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2019, in honor of the 75th anniversary of D-Day. —K.J.
Where to watch A Call to Spy: Netflix
Director: Lydia Dean Pilcher
Cast: Sarah Megan Thomas, Stana Katic, Radhika Apte, Linus Roache, Rossif Sutherland
Related content: Stana Katic previews new thriller Absentia, opens up about 'harsh' Castle exit
<i>Operation Mincemeat</i> (2022)
The plot behind Operation Mincemeat might sound implausible if it weren't true. Taking place during World War II, Lt. Cmdr. Ewen Montagu (Colin Firth) strategizes with intelligence officer Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfadyen) to execute Operation Mincemeat. The plan: In order to trick the Nazis into thinking the Allies will invade from Greece rather than Sicily, they plant misleading papers on a corpse, passing him off as a deceased captain. Directed by John Madden (Shakespeare in Love, Miss Sloane), the film provides old-school thrills, with a massive ensemble of beloved British actors. Also of note is a fun inclusion by Johnny Flynn as Ian Fleming, the mastermind behind the James Bond book series. —K.J.
Where to watch Operation Mincemeat: Netflix
EW grade: C+ (read the review)
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald, Penelope Wilton, Johnny Flynn, Jason Isaacs
Related content: The utterly bizarre true-life inspiration for World War II movie Operation Mincemeat
<i>Munich — The Edge of War</i> (2022)
Two former college friends on opposite sides of the coming Second World War conspire to take down Hitler in this 2022 spy thriller. Based on the historical novel Munich by Robert Harris, the film centers on Hugh Legat, a private secretary for British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, and Paul von Hartmann, a translator for the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With Chamberlain hoping to reach a peaceful agreement, Legat conspires with Hartmann to stop the dictator while they still can. While it's hard to ignore how this story would ultimately end in reality, there is added resonance in viewing a historical account (however fictionalized its players may be) of the people who stuck their necks out to prevent catastrophe. George MacKay (1917) and Jannis Niewöhner play the friends/co-conspirators, while Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons portrays Chamberlain, with Sandra Hüller (Toni Erdmann) and Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) filling out the cast. —K.J.
Where to watch Munich — The Edge of War: Netflix
Director: Christian Schwochow
Cast: George MacKay, Jannis Niewöhner, Jeremy Irons, Sandra Hüller, Liv Lisa Fries, August Diehl, Jessica Brown Findlay
Related content: Steven Spielberg's long road to Munich
<i>Wasp Network</i> (2020)
Wasp Network follows the tangled web of operatives during Fidel Castro's reign of Cuba in the 1990s. Édgar Ramírez plays René González, a pilot who defects from Cuba without telling his family and establishes himself in Miami with a group of anti-Castro exiles who perpetrate terrorist attacks on Cuba. After his wife Olga (Penélope Cruz) looks for answers, she discovers that René actually infiltrated the group on behalf of Cuban intelligence. The intricate story is based on true events, with handsome visuals and a standout cast surrounding Ramírez and Cruz, including Gael García Bernal, Ana de Armas, and Wagner Moura. The film was directed by Olivier Assayas, who previously worked with Ramírez on the miniseries Carlos. —K.J.
Where to watch Wasp Network: Netflix
EW grade: C+ (read the review)
Director: Olivier Assayas
Cast: Penélope Cruz, Édgar Ramírez, Gael García Bernal, Ana de Armas, Wagner Moura
Related content: Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem add sparks to the kidnap drama Everybody Knows: EW review
<i>The Angel</i> (2018)
Ashraf Marwan, the son-in-law of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser who operated as a spy for Israel, gets the biopic treatment here in this 2018 spy thriller. The film tracks Marwan as he initially offers suggestions for peaceful solutions to their conflict with Israel, only to be rebuked by the president, eventually leading him to offer his intel to the Israeli government. Marwan Kenzari (Aladdin, Black Adam) portrays the real-life spy, who some believed to be a double agent. The film earned mostly positive reviews, with praise for its engrossing storytelling and Kenzari's performance. —K.J.
Where to watch The Angel: Netflix
Director: Ariel Vromen
Cast: Marwan Kenzari, Toby Kebbell
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<i>The Berlin File</i> (2013)
An illegal arms deal in Berlin is the catalyst for this action-packed Korean thriller. Ha Jung-woo stars as Pyo Jong-seong, a North Korean spy who must protect himself and his wife, Ryun Jung-hee (Jun Ji-hyun), who herself is a translator implicated as a double agent. What follows is pure espionage drama at its finest, as the couple are forced to go on the run. The Berlin File earned raves from critics for its clever plotting and well-orchestrated action set pieces. The film earned numerous accolades in South Korea and became a box office success, eventually crossing over for a theatrical run in the U.S. —K.J.
Where to watch The Berlin File: Netflix
Director: Ryoo Seung-wan
Cast: Ha Jung-woo, Han Suk-kyu, Ryoo Seung-bum, Jun Ji-hyun
Related content: Loved Parasite? Here are more great South Korean films to watch
<i>Madras Cafe</i> (2013)
Madras Cafe tells the story of Indian Army Special Forces officer Vikram Singh (John Abraham), who becomes the head of covert operations in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, during the Sri Lankan Civil War. After befriending a British journalist (Nargis Fakhri), he learns of a secret plot to take out Rajiv Gandhi, former Indian prime minister. The title comes from the location at which the conspiracy was planned. The Indian thriller was lauded for its well-rounded protagonists, tense spycraft, and treatment of weighty subject matter. For his role as Singh, Abraham was given the Anti-Terrorist Front's Pride of the Nation award. —K.J.
Where to watch Madras Cafe: Netflix
Director: Shoojit Sircar
Cast: John Abraham, Nargis Fakhri, Raashi Khanna, Siddharth Basu, Prakash Belawadi
Related content: Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden are star-crossed spies in trailer for the Russo Brothers' Citadel
<i>Romeo Akbar Walter</i> (2019)
A banker becomes a spy for India's Research and Analysis Wing in this 2019 Indian action thriller. John Abraham assumes the role of Romeo, the titular banker who has a knack for assuming different identities, becoming the operative Akbar and later the Pakistani officer Walter. The film centers on his experiences as a spy, particularly the toll it takes on his spirit. Loosely based on the life of Indian spy Ravindra Kaushik, the film provides an interesting portrait of its shape-shifting protagonist, giving Abraham a solid showcase as a performer. —K.J.
Where to watch Romeo Akbar Walter: Netflix
Director: Robbie Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff, Sikandar Kher
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<i>The 101-Year-Old Man Who Skipped Out on the Bill and Disappeared</i> (2016)
This sequel to the Oscar-nominated Swedish film The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2013) finds Allan (Robert Gustafsson) recalling his life as a double agent where he created a drink called "Folksoda." Now 101 years old, he attempts to track down the secret formula, hidden in a cigar box in Berlin, only to discover that a woman who claims Allan stole the formula from her father is hoping to get her own hands on it. Those who appreciated the cheeky comedy of its predecessor will find similar amusement in The 101-Year-Old Man's take on Cold War politics. —K.J.
Where to watch The 101-Year-Old Man Who Skipped Out on the Bill and Disappeared: Netflix
Directors: Felix Herngren and Måns Herngren
Cast: Robert Gustafsson, Iwar Wiklander, David Wiberg, Shima Niavarani, Jens Hultén
Related content: The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared: EW review
<i>The Pink Panther 2</i> (2009)
The clumsy Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Steve Martin) returns in this sequel to the 2006 original. This time, the bumbling detective is tasked with recovering stolen artifacts including the Pink Panther diamond. He is aided by a "Dream Team" of fellow detectives from around the world, including Randall Pepperidge (Alfred Molina), Vincenzo Roccara (Andy García), Kenji Mazuto (Yuki Matsuzaki), and Sonia Solandres (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan). Though the film was not well-received by critics overall, it can be fun to watch Martin do his thing, with, as EW's critic describes, "respectable riffs on Peter Sellers' demented obliviousness." —K.J.
Where to watch The Pink Panther 2: Netflix through Nov. 1
EW grade: B– (read the review)
Directors: Harald Zwart
Cast: Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, Emily Mortimer, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Andy García, Yuki Matsuzaki, Lily Tomlin, John Cleese
Related content: Behind the scenes of The Pink Panther
<i>The Gray Man</i> (2022)
Ken vs. Captain America! While on a mission, CIA agent Six (Ryan Gosling) learns his supervisor Carmichael (Regé-Jean Page) is running unsanctioned assassination operations. When Six refuses to play ball, Carmichael sends smarmy, murderous, child kidnapper Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans) to eliminate him, no matter how much collateral damage it causes. While the film wasn't shown much love by critics, the choice to cast two of Hollywood's most beloved leading men opposite each other was a strong one. According to EW's critic, "Evans, smirking like a catbird, is the movie's main antagonist, and his pairing with Gosling is the pretty-man Godzilla vs. Kong most viewers came to see." Evans' snarky banter — ripped straight from the Movie Villain 101 playbook — combined with Gosling's Jason Bourne impression make for a wild ride. —Terry Terrones
Where to watch The Gray Man: Netflix
EW grade: B– (read the review)
Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick, Regé-Jean Page, Wagner Moura, Julia Butters, Dhanush, Alfre Woodard, Billy Bob Thornton
Related content: Ryan Gosling returning for The Gray Man sequel as Netflix sets spinoff
<i>Red Notice</i> (2021)
Enjoyable spy movies don't always have to take themselves seriously, as Red Notice, an action spy comedy, clearly demonstrates. John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) is an FBI criminal profiler assigned to assist an Interpol agent in catching international art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds). But when the duo are both outwitted by Booth's rival, the Bishop (Gal Gadot), the film turns into a globe-trotting romp, allowing for a bevy of one-liners at Dwayne Johnson's expense, and plot twists galore. In an interview with EW, director Rawson Marshall Thurber compares Red Notice to "Fast & Furious 9.5," and attributes the film's success to Johnson and Reynolds' real-life bromance. "They have incredible chemistry together both on set and off," says Thurber. "When the cameras aren't rolling, they're yukking it up just as much as they are when we put them in front of the camera." Happy to sacrifice plot in favor of over-the-top action, Red Notice's playful nature is enough to justify its two upcoming sequels, with all its stars and the director set to return. —T.T.
Where to watch Red Notice: Netflix
EW grade: C+ (read the review)
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Ritu Arya, Chris Diamantopoulos
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