A good spy movie is always a treat. The double-crosses, the secrets, the globe-trotting chases all tap into the audience’s love of mystery and danger. The British spies like James Bond may have been more renowned globally for their suaveness and ingenuity, but the best of American spy films often ground their stories in realism or moral gray areas. They tackle Cold War paranoia to modern tales of counterterrorism and surveillance. In a way, they are not only entertainment, but also a time capsule of the anxieties and ambitions of the time.
This list brings together a varied mix of the best American spy movies, from blockbuster franchises that redefined action to true stories so unbelievable they could only have come from history. Each of these films brings something different to the table, whether it’s razor-sharp storytelling, unforgettable performances, or a fresh spin on the timeless theme of espionage. One thing is for sure: these American spy films are as thrilling as their foreign counterparts.
10
‘The Good Shepherd’ (2006)
Edward Wilson (Matt Damon) and Margaret Wilson (Angelina Jolie) in ‘The Good Shepherd’Image via Paramount Pictues
Directed by Robert De Niro, The Good Shepherd follows Edward Wilson (Matt Damon), a Yale graduate recruited into the OSS during World War II, who later becomes one of the founding members of the CIA. Spanning across decades, the movie chronicles Wilson’s rise through the clandestine world of American intelligence, where secrecy and sacrifice consume both his career and his personal life. The film itself is based on a real-life figure named James Jesus Angleton.
The Good Shepherd received mixed reviews at the time of its release, most likely due to its slow pace and dense storytelling. However, it is notable for its ambitious attempt to show the birth of modern American espionage. Damon embodies Wilson with a cold, haunting quality, showing the toll of his job. The ensemble cast that includes De Niro himself, Angelina Jolie, Joe Pesci, and a young Eddie Redmayne is an additional treat to this riveting film. The Good Shepherd is an underrated yet essential American spy film, as it shows one of the most comprehensive depictions of the intelligence agency that has become renowned throughout the world.
9
‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ (2018)
In Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team have to recover stolen plutonium after a mission goes wrong. Hunt is forced into a partnership with CIA operative August Walker (Henry Cavill), whose brute-force methods clash with Hunt’s instincts. Hunt and the team have to take down the remaining members of The Syndicate before they unleash nuclear war. Once again, the mission reunites Hunt with his previous enemy, Solomon Lane (Sean Harris).
This sixth entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise is the perfect marriage of blockbuster cinema and spy genre, combining breathtaking action with a layered spy story. Tom Cruise once again puts his life on the line, this time with a thrilling helicopter chase as well as a number of dangerous stunts he performed himself. Writer-director Christopher McQuarrie manages to fully form Ethan Hunt’s character as a person in a relentless pursuit of doing what’s right, no matter the cost, making the film also character-driven on top of being stunt-driven. Fallout may be the biggest film on this list in terms of budget and gross, but a great tentpole film like this keeps the genre alive and well.
8
‘Body of Lies’ (2008)
Hoffman (Russell Crowe) and Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) in ‘Body of Lies’Image via Warner Brothers
Body of Lies follows CIA operative Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he navigates the landscape of counterterrorism in the Middle East, trying to catch a terrorist called Al-Saleem. Their target remains difficult to apprehend, and Ferris is feeling the difference in approach between his manipulative superior Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe) and the restrained Jordanian intelligence chief Hani Salaam (Mark Strong).
This film by Ridley Scott struggled at the box office as audiences were not in the mood for a post-9/11 thriller, and it was overshadowed by flashier spy thrillers of its era. However, Body of Lies has aged remarkably well. The film’s unflinching look at modern intelligence work feels sharper today, while its exploration of surveillance, misinformation, and U.S. intervention abroad resonates in today’s age. The film’s dense and intricate plot, as well as its moral complexity, stand out as the film’s greatest strengths. The cast, led by DiCaprio, is simply entertaining to watch. If you have missed the film before, Body of Lies is a prescient, layered film that deserves to be watched and reappraised.
7
‘Argo’ (2012)
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
Set during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, Argo retells the true story of a covert CIA mission to rescue six American diplomats trapped in Tehran. With revolution brewing in Iran, CIA operative Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) devises an audacious, silly-on-paper plan to pose as a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a fake sci-fi movie to save the diplomats.
Argo won Best Picture at the Oscars for a reason. It is one of the best American spy movies for its perfect blend of geopolitical thriller and Hollywood satire with historical resonance. Affleck directs with precision, cranking up the tension in the film’s nail-biting airport finale while never losing sight of the human stakes. The performances, particularly Alan Arkin’s sharp comic relief and Bryan Cranston’s fiery CIA officer, ground the story in both realism and heart. With a sharp script, Argo is a crowd-pleasing, well-made spy film that resonates with the biggest audience through its spirit of ingenuity and collaboration. It’s the ideal spy movie for Hollywood, mixing politics and pop culture.
6
‘Bridge of Spies’ (2015)
Rudolf Abel and James Donovan standing on a bridge in ‘Bridge of Spies’Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Based on a true Cold War story, Bridge of Spies follows James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), an insurance lawyer unexpectedly asked to defend a Soviet Spy named Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), who is captured in New York. Against public outrage, Donovan insists on giving Abel a fair trial, a decision that ultimately earns him the trust of both sides. He is further tested when he’s recruited to negotiate a tense prisoner exchange: Abel for a downed American U-2 pilot.
Bridge of Spies shines as a spy movie for its quiet, human-centered approach to espionage. Steven Spielberg turns what could have been a dry historical drama into a suspenseful negotiation thriller. Tom Hanks delivers an empathetic performance while Rylance steals scenes with his understated, enigmatic portrayal of Abel, which ultimately earned him an Oscar. Rather than focusing on action, Bridge of Spies emphasizes diplomacy and trust, standing out as a reminder that spy stories are not only about the chase but also the discussions in the courtroom and negotiation table. Simply put, it’s one of the best spy movies released in the last decade.
5
‘The Hunt for Red October’ (1990)
Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery standing atop a submarine in ‘The Hunt For Red October’ (1990).Image via Paramount Pictures
The Hunt for Red October follows Soviet submarine captain Marko Ramius (Sean Connery), who secretly plans to defect to the United States with his crew and their advanced nuclear submarine. CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) is the only one who believes Ramius’s intentions are genuine, and he must convince skeptical U.S. officials before a deadly misunderstanding ignites war between the superpowers. Based on Tom Clancy’s bestseller, it is the first of several movies featuring Jack Ryan.
The movie excels as a spy thriller because it combines technical detail with riveting human drama. Connery brings gravitas to Ramius, while Baldwin portrays Ryan with sharp intelligence and urgency, making their chess game of trust compelling. Director John McTiernan, who previously directed Die Hard, builds tension not with constant action but with atmosphere, from the claustrophobic submarine interiors to the threat of global disaster. Released just as the Cold War was coming to a close, The Hunt for Red October carried an added resonance for audiences grappling with the end of a decades-long standoff. The film may put Jack Ryan as the second fiddle to Connery’s Ramius, but it remains one of the best movies in the Ryanverse.
4
‘The Manchurian Candidate’ (1962)
Frank Sinatra in ‘The Manchurian Candidate’Image via United ArtistsÂ
The Manchurian Candidate follows Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra), a Korean War veteran plagued by recurring nightmares about his unit. As he investigates, Marco discovers that fellow soldier Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), a decorated war hero, has been brainwashed by communist forces to act as their assassin. Also in the mix is Shaw’s manipulative mother, Eleanor (Angela Lansbury), who is using her son’s position for her political ambitions.
The Manchurian Candidate stands as one of the greatest American spy movies for its intense psychological element and political suspense. John Frankenheimer’s direction is sharp, blending surreal dream sequences with Cold War-era politics. The performances are outstanding, with Angela Lansbury stealing the film and being nominated for an Oscar. The Manchurian Candidate captured the anxieties of its time, like fear of communist infiltration and failing democracy, while still feeling eerily relevant decades later. It was remade in 2004 with Denzel Washington and Liev Schreiber, but the original still towers as a genre-defining classic and a cultural touchstone.
3
‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ (2007)
Image via Universal Pictures
The Bourne Ultimatum picks up with Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) still on the run, hunted by the CIA as he pieces together the truth about his past and the black-ops program that created him. This time, he discovers there’s a new program called Blackbriar, an upgrade from the Treadstone project that created him. Across London, Tangier and New York, Bourne moves to expose the new program while uncovering the full extent of Treadstone.
The Bourne Ultimatum is a much more grounded and immediate espionage film than the usual Hollywood offering, where spies are suave and equipped with high-tech gadgets. Bourne is the raw and efficient agent, perfect for the 21st century. Damon, on his third film as the amnesiac spy, is both physical and vulnerable, making him compelling for audiences. The film, which moves at a breakneck pace, is heightened even more by Paul Greengrass’ shaky cam style that gives a sense of realism, a style that has changed the action film genre ever since. This film tied the trilogy together and cemented itself as one of the most important modern spy films.
2
‘Three Days of the Condor’ (1975)
Joe Turner (Robert Redford) on the phone in ‘Three Days of the Condor’Image via Paramount Pictures
Three Days of the Condor follows Joe Turner (Robert Redford), a low-level CIA analyst whose job is to read books and newspapers and flag if there are any unusual plots. His routine world comes to a stop when he returns from lunch to find all of his colleagues assassinated. Unsure who to trust, Turner goes on the run to avoid death. In trying to find the perpetrator, he unravels a conspiracy that reaches deep into the agency itself.
This film is a cornerstone of American spy cinema because it reflects the paranoia of its era while still being thrilling and relevant. Robert Redford’s performance as an ordinary man caught in extraordinary circumstances makes the tension hit harder. Sydney Pollack directs with restraint, letting suspense build through dialogue and atmosphere as much as action. Few spy films so effectively convey the idea that the real threat isn’t just the enemy abroad, but the institutions at home. Its DNA can be seen in everything from Bourne to modern political thrillers. It’s a classic that helped redefine the spy genre from glamorous escapism to gritty, unsettling realism.
1
‘North by Northwest’ (1959)
Cary Grant as Roger Thornhill, wearing a suit and running away from a crop duster plane in North by NorthwestImage via MGM
North by Northwest tells the story of Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant), a New York advertising executive who is mistaken for a government agent and suddenly gets entangled in danger. Pursued across the country by foreign spies led by the sinister Phillip Vandamm (James Mason), Thornhill must clear his name while unraveling the truth behind the false identity pinned on him. Along the way, he encounters Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), whose loyalties remain uncertain, leading to a romance as suspenseful as the chase itself.
A third of this list could have been filled by Alfred Hitchcock films, and anyone can agree that North by Northwest is the best of his spy-thriller films. It’s such an enduring American spy classic for Hitchcock’s masterful blend of suspense and romance, as well as its iconic setpieces like the crop-duster sequence. Cary Grant embodies the wrong man archetype with effortless charisma, while the film keeps the tension high. More than just a spy thriller, North by Northwest became the blueprint for countless films that followed, establishing tropes like the innocent man on the run and the double agent love interest. Its influence on the genre is immeasurable, and decades later, it remains as entertaining and stylish as the day it was released.