10 Greatest Spy Movies of the 21st Century, Ranked

Spy movies in the 21st century have moved far beyond tuxedos, gadgets, and glamorous one-liners. In the early 2000s, the world was shaken to its core when 9/11 happened, which sparked a whole new genre of movies in Hollywood. Global politics grew messier, and intelligence work became more visible yet more secretive; thus, spy movies evolved into something sharper, darker, and far more introspective.

Here, we take a look at the greatest spy movies of the 21st century. These pictures balance their tension with substance and entertainment. From grounded reboots of iconic franchises to meticulous real-world procedurals, these films redefine what it means to be a spy on screen. Together, they show a genre that offers a variety of spy stories for its audience, from real-world events to fictional tales.

10 'Red Sparrow' (2018)

Red Sparrow follows Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence), a Russian ballerina whose career-ending injury forces her into the world of espionage when she is recruited by the Sparrow School, a brutal program that trains operatives to manipulate, seduce, and psychologically dismantle their targets. When she's assigned to extract information from a CIA officer about a potential mole, Dominika becomes trapped in a dangerous game that can expose her identity at any time.

Based on a novel by a former CIA member, the story draws from real espionage that uses sex and blackmail. The film shows it all by portraying it in an unsentimental way, where the training process is coercive and dehumanizing. It reflects the harsh truth about espionage as psychological warfare, where control over one’s body and identity becomes a weapon. Jennifer Lawrence shines in this film as the cold Dominika, making her one of cinema's most memorable spy women. Red Sparrow's cruel themes set it apart from more glamorous and bombastic entries in the genre.

9 'The Constant Gardener' (2005)

The Constant Gardener follows British diplomat and gardening enthusiast Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) as he investigates the murder of his activist wife, Tessa (Rachel Weisz), uncovering a web of political corruption and pharmaceutical exploitation in Africa. His personal quest for answers evolves into an international conspiracy that involves governments, corporations, and intelligence services.

Directed by Fernando Meirelles, who directed City of God, The Constant Gardener is not a typical spy story. As one of the best British spy films, it's driven by its romantic subtext and urgent political context. Ralph Fiennes delivers a quiet yet effective performance, while Rachel Weisz’s presence is palpable throughout the film, earning her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The spycraft here may not be as flashy as other entries on this list, but it's a realistic depiction that focuses on information manipulation and institutional dynamics. The Constant Gardener was a modest box office success and was nominated in three other Oscar categories.

8 'Body of Lies' (2008)

Body of Lies follows CIA operative Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he works the volatile landscape of Middle Eastern intelligence operations, trying to catch a notorious terrorist named Al-Saleem. His mission leads him to be stationed in Jordan as station chief by his handler, Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), where he works with the head of Jordanian intelligence to capture Al-Saleem.

Body of Lies is a type of film that Hollywood rarely makes anymore, where it's dense, full of intrigue and rooted in real practices. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a committed performance, while Russell Crowe provides a sharp counterpoint as a detached, calculating supervisor in this Ridley Scott film. Body of Lies also has a strong ensemble, albeit with politically incorrect casting of Mark Strong and Oscar Isaac as Middle Eastern characters. Made as a response to the US' war on terror at the time, it received a mixed reception on release, but it's noted for its nuanced depiction of intelligence work.

7 'Black Bag' (2025)

Black Bag centers on George (Michael Fassbender) and Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), two married intelligence officers whose professional lives collide with personal trust when a leak threatens their agency. George is tasked to find a double agent within the team and starts a relentless hunt that tests his trust and relationships with his friends and wife.

This Steven Soderbergh film stands out for its stylish, sexy take on the spy genre. The film’s strength lies in its script and performances, emphasizing realism in how intelligence officers operate internally, including compartmentalization and mistrust. Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett deliver controlled, deeply layered performances that boast incredible chemistry while selling the idea of spies as emotionally guarded professionals rather than action heroes. Despite bombing at the box office, Black Bag is praised for its gripping tone and grounded depiction of spycraft and is often included in the best of the year lists for 2025.

6 'Argo' (2012)

Argo dramatizes the real-life CIA operation to extract six American diplomats from Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis. CIA operative Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) came up with the idea to rescue the diplomats by posing as a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a fake science-fiction movie. The diplomats are unconvinced by this absurd plan but have no other choice but to follow Mendez as the situation becomes dire by the second.

Argo was a massive success, critically and financially. While the premise seemed engineered for Hollywood, it was widely praised for highlighting a lesser-known, real intelligence success, even though some historical liberties were taken. The film cemented Ben Affleck as a director to be reckoned with, while the ensemble cast all bring authenticity and tension to an already wild story. Argo won the Academy Award for Best Picture and secured its status as one of the most impactful and crowd-pleasing spy films in recent memory.

5 'The Lives of Others' (2006)

Set in 1984 East Berlin, The Lives of Others follows Stasi captain Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Muhe) as he is assigned to surveil playwright Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch) and his actress lover, Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck). This routine intelligence operation gradually becomes something far more personal as Wiesler listens in on their private lives and artistic problems.

Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2007, The Lives of Others shows that real spying is not about action or gadgets but more about quiet observation and control. It shows the moral conundrum that arises in the process, too. Ulrich Muhe's performance as Wiesler is extraordinary in its restraint, conveying inner transformation almost entirely through stillness and small expressions. The script’s patience allows tension to build without sensationalism, which reportedly caused real-life spies to quit, as it made them empathize with their supposed targets.

4 'Casino Royale' (2006)

Casino Royale reboots James Bond (Daniel Craig) as a new double-O agent tasked with bankrupting terrorist financier Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen). After Bond sabotaged Le Chiffre's attempts to manipulate stocks by conducting a terrorist attack, Bond must now defeat him in a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro. This time, he's not acting alone as British Treasury agent Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) makes sure he spends the cash wisely.

Casino Royale is widely regarded as a masterpiece because it redefined Bond for the new generation without abandoning the character’s core appeal. Daniel Craig’s performance is raw, physical, and emotionally exposed, making Bond feel human in a way the series rarely had before. His pairing with Eva Green is so strong that it fueled the rest of Craig's tenure as Bond. In terms of spycraft, Casino Royale opts for a bombastic route, to which critics and audience responded positively, with the film enjoying great reviews and a massive worldwide gross.

3 'Zero Dark Thirty' (2012)

Zero Dark Thirty follows Maya (Jessica Chastain) as she leads the CIA's decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden following the September 11 attacks. Her relentless pursuit of the terrorist ultimately leads to SEAL Team Six's mission in Pakistan that killed Bin Laden in his compound. The film also stars Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, and Chris Pratt.

Released just two years after the actual events, this Kathryn Bigelow film stands out for its procedural realism and refusal to offer easy moral conclusions. Jessica Chastain delivers a steely, career-defining performance, portraying Maya as driven, isolated, and emotionally stripped down by her work, receiving a nomination for Best Actress for her work. Zero Dark Thirty received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won Best Sound Editing, which it shared with another spy film, Skyfall. The film's theme, premise, and its relation to the real-life events make it one of the most defining spy films of the century.

2 'The Bourne Ultimatum' (2007)

In The Bourne Ultimatum, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) reaches the final leg to uncover the truth about his identity and Treadstone, the CIA program that created him. When he uncovers that Treadstone is being used to create a new program called Blackbriar, Bourne moves through multiple countries following a trail of clues to expose the inner workings of the black ops intelligence.

The Bourne franchise includes three of the best American spy films, depicting how modern spies work. Bourne is a cultural icon for his instinct and smart improvisational skills as he escapes the people who chase him. Paul Greengrass' signature handheld style gives the film an unmatched intensity that other films tried to imitate, while Matt Damon’s performance grounds the plot emotionally with his calm demeanor and fast combat choreography. Besides being a huge success at the box office, The Bourne Ultimatum was also a major awards success, sweeping three Academy Awards trophies.

1 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' (2011)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy follows retired intelligence officer George Smiley (Gary Oldman) as he is brought back to uncover a Soviet mole at the highest levels of British intelligence. Smiley goes through everyone with any relation to the death of Mark Prideaux (Mark Strong), which set the whole thing in motion.

This film is not your average spy story. The plot is dense and deliberately opaque, unfolding through fragments of memory, coded conversations, and subtle shifts in loyalty. Its uncompromising commitment is exactly why it is regarded as one of the best spy films ever made. Gary Oldman’s performance as Smiley is a masterclass in understatement, and the ensemble cast, filled with the best of British actors, is all amazing in their respective roles. The film received widespread critical acclaim and three Academy Award nominations, including Oldman's belated first Best Actor nomination.