Welcome to the exciting world of Netflix's spy thriller movies! If you love thrilling action, secret missions, and exciting plots, you're on the right place. Get ready to discover hidden secrets, solve puzzles, and join an adventurous journey through the world of spies. Grab some popcorn and explore the best spy thrillers on Netflix - a rollercoaster of double agents and undercover missions awaits you!
Here is the list of all films that we'll talking about in this blog post.
10. Clear and Present Danger (1994)
9. Salt (2010)
8. Hanna (2011)
7. Skyfall (2012)
6. The Imitation Game (2014)
5. Operation Finale (2018)
4. A Call to Spy (2020)
3. Munich: The Edge of War (2021)
2. The Gray Man (2022)
1. Operation Mincemeat (2021)
Let the excitement begin!
Tom Clancy lives on through acclaimed projects on both the big and small screen. With the Indiana Jones franchise still going strong, Harrison Ford remains busy in Hollywood despite being in his 80s. It's too bad he didn't get an Emmy nod for his hilarious turn in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking. Decades earlier came one of the stronger Jack Ryan film adaptations — a sequel to Patriot Games with Ford back in action called Clear and Present Danger. This time, he gets all wrapped up in an illegal war fought between the U.S. and the Colombian drug cartel. It's classic '90s popcorn entertainment, and Ford never fails.
09) Salt (2010)
Angelina Jolie has also dabbled in espionage cinema! She was magnetic as Lara Croft in those early film adaptations of the classic video game Tomb Raider, so it's a welcome return to see her playing the titular butt-kicking role in Salt. Jolie is magnetic as a CIA officer-turned-fugitive who goes on the run after being accused of being a Russian spy.
08) Hanna (2011)
Prime Video has the series, but the O.G. Hanna can be found on Netflix at the moment. It stars Oscar-nominee Saoirse Ronan as a girl raised in the outskirts of Finland by her dad (Eric Bana), an ex-CIA operative who trains her to be an assassin. It's a stacked cast that also includes Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett as a senior CIA agent who tries to track down and eliminate them.
07) Skyfall (2012)
The latest bond film No Time to Die had its fun moments, but Daniel Craig has done better Bond films over the years. No. 1 goes to Casino Royale, and a close second is Skyfall, one of two installments directed by the legendary Sam Mendes. Javier Bardem and Judi Dench steal the show in their supporting roles here, and Naomi Harris as Moneypenny is always a delight. The movie's highlight (pictured above) was that epic train sequence that ranks up there with the locomotive showdown between Peter Parker and Doc Oc in Spider-Man 2.
06) The Imitation Game (2014)
Benedict Cumberbatch's star-making role (we'd say) came in 2014. Before The Imitation Game, he was more of a "familiar face" in Hollywood. Now, he's getting nominations left and right — see: The Power of the Dog, Patrick Melrose, and Sherlock. But his groundbreaking Oscar-winner that is The Imitation Game was gripping from start to finish, as it focuses on the incredible true story of Alan Turing and his team of code-breakers in Britain during WWII.
05) Operation Finale (2018)
Director Chris Weitz made a name for himself when he and his brother brought American Pie to life back in the '90s. More recently, he took on the spy thriller subgenre with Operation Finale, which is based on the true story of the arrest of a notorious SS officer (Ben Kingsley), who laid the groundwork for the Nazi genocide plans in Argentina — aka the "Final Solution." Oscar Isaac and Nick Kroll co-star in this gripping historical thriller.
04) A Call to Spy (2020)
Here's another WWII entry for you. Gary Oldman won the Oscar for playing Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. In A Call to Spy, however, Churchill takes on a different ordeal as he orders his espionage firm to train women for covert operations, with hopes of taking down the Nazi regime in France. Women empowerment can shine across a wide array of film genres, so this unique entry is a refreshing look at the dark times of WWII through a new lens.
03) Munich: The Edge of War (2021)
Steven Spielberg's underrated film Munich is always worth a revisit. Another acclaimed film containing the German city's name can be found on Netflix. As expected, it also takes place as WWII descends on society as Hitler is preparing to invade other parts of the globe. In Munich: The Edge of War, negotiations take place in the city with hopes of averting the inevitable war. George McKay is dynamite in the lead role — and it's interesting how the Captain Fantastic actor starred in a different World War movie just two years earlier, with the groundbreaking Oscar winner that is 1917.
02) The Gray Man (2022)
Watch out: a sequel to The Gray Man is already in the works! Despite its mixed reviews — and rumors that Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans didn't get along in real life — there's no denying that the first film was a thrill ride overall. Plus, it's kind of fun watching Evans playing a villain, eh? Last time we saw something like this was Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
In The Gray Man, Evans plays a former CIA agent trying mercilessly to track down Six, a highly-skilled assassin, after a high-profile mission goes south. I have a feeling the Russo brothers will learn from their "mistakes" with the first film and create something better with The Gray Man 2.
01) Operation Mincemeat (2021)
Who doesn't love Colin Firth? Furthermore, who's going to try and dispute the fact that Matthew Macfadyen is the best part of HBO's Succession? They teamed up in 2021 for a Netflix spy thriller that shouldn't be missed. Yes, it's another WWII film, with the two playing charming intelligence offers who put together an unorthodox strategy of thwarting Hitler's plans of taking over virtually all of Europe. We won't give away too much, but the end result that is Operation Mincemeat is a hoot to watch.
And there you have it! These are all the must-watch spy thriller movies on Netflix. From heart-pounding action to thrilling espionage, these films will keep you hooked till the very end. So, grab your popcorn, get cozy, and embark on a thrilling adventure with these undercover agents.
If you know someone who loves spy thriller movies as much as you do, don't forget to share this article with them. Spread the excitement and let them join in on the pulse-pounding fun! Happy watching!