The Best Movies Like James Bond: Spy Thrills and Style

The Bourne Identity follows a globe-trotting secret agent caught in covert operations, intense action, and espionage intrigue, making it a grounded, modern counterpart to James Bond with a focus on skill, danger, and international stakes.

Wounded to the brink of death and suffering from amnesia, Jason Bourne is rescued at sea by a fisherman. With nothing to go on but a Swiss bank account number, he starts to reconstruct his life, but finds that many people he encounters want him dead. However, Bourne realizes that he has the combat and mental skills of a world-class spy—but who does he work for? The Bourne Identity is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 59m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 7.5 by 9,838 people. The movie made an estimated total of $214,034,224 in the box office.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout delivers high-stakes spy missions, exotic locations, and death-defying stunts that strongly echo the spectacle, scale, and adrenaline associated with James Bond adventures.

When an IMF mission ends badly, the world is faced with dire consequences. As Ethan Hunt takes it upon himself to fulfill his original briefing, the CIA begin to question his loyalty and his motives. The IMF team find themselves in a race against time, hunted by assassins while trying to prevent a global catastrophe. Mission: Impossible - Fallout is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 27m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.4 by 8,910 people. The movie made an estimated total of $791,658,205 in the box office.

Kingsman: The Secret Service is a stylish, gadget-heavy spy film that openly pays homage to classic James Bond, blending suave agents, secret organizations, and over-the-top action.

The story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency's ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius. Kingsman: The Secret Service is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 2h 9m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.6 by 17,530 people. The movie made an estimated total of $414,351,546 in the box office.

Atomic Blonde features a sleek intelligence operative navigating Cold War espionage with brutal action and sophistication, sharing the espionage glamour and danger found in James Bond films.

An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents. Atomic Blonde is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 6.4 by 6,506 people. The movie made an estimated total of $100,014,025 in the box office.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. channels the retro charm, witty banter, and international spy antics that closely resemble the lighter, stylish side of James Bond storytelling.

At the height of the Cold War, a mysterious criminal organization plans to use nuclear weapons and technology to upset the fragile balance of power between the United States and Soviet Union. CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin are forced to put aside their hostilities and work together to stop the evildoers in their tracks. The duo's only lead is the daughter of a missing German scientist, whom they must find soon to prevent a global catastrophe. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.1 by 6,694 people. The movie made an estimated total of $110,045,109 in the box office.

Ronin centers on professional spies and mercenaries operating across Europe, emphasizing tradecraft, paranoia, and realism similar to the grittier tone of James Bond espionage missions.

A briefcase with undisclosed contents – sought by Irish terrorists and the Russian mob – makes its way into criminals' hands. An Irish liaison assembles a squad of mercenaries, or 'ronin', and gives them the thorny task of recovering the case. Ronin is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 2m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 7.0 by 2,570 people. The movie made an estimated total of $70,692,101 in the box office.

North by Northwest is a classic espionage thriller involving mistaken identity and global pursuit, widely seen as a key influence on the suspense and structure of early James Bond films.

Advertising man Roger Thornhill is mistaken for a spy, triggering a deadly cross-country chase. North by Northwest is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 16m runtime, released in 1959 with an average rating of 8.0 by 4,386 people. The movie made an estimated total of $13,275,000 in the box office.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy explores intelligence work at the highest level, offering a slower, cerebral take on espionage that complements the political and strategic side of James Bond.

In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet mole within his former colleagues at the heart of MI6. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 2h 7m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.6 by 2,838 people. The movie made an estimated total of $80,600,000 in the box office.

The Spy Who Came In from the Cold presents a morally complex spy world, reflecting the darker Cold War themes that underpin many James Bond narratives.

British agent Alec Leamas refuses to come in from the Cold War during the 1960s, choosing to face another mission, which may prove to be his final one. The Spy Who Came In from the Cold is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 52m runtime, released in 1965 with an average rating of 7.1 by 319 people.

True Lies blends espionage, action, humor, and a charismatic lead, mirroring the explosive spectacle and larger-than-life tone associated with James Bond movies.

A fearless, globe-trotting, terrorist-battling secret agent has his life turned upside down when he discovers his wife might be having an affair with a used car salesman while terrorists smuggle nuclear war heads into the United States. True Lies is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 21m runtime, released in 1994 with an average rating of 7.1 by 4,430 people. The movie made an estimated total of $378,900,000 in the box office.

The Ipcress File offers a grounded British spy perspective, serving as a more realistic counterpoint to James Bond while sharing the same Cold War espionage roots.

Sly and dry intelligence agent Harry Palmer is tasked with investigating British Intelligence security, and is soon enmeshed in a world of double-dealing, kidnap and murder when he finds a traitor operating at the heart of the secret service. The Ipcress File is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 1965 with an average rating of 6.8 by 333 people.

The November Man follows a retired CIA operative pulled back into international intrigue, evoking the seasoned-agent narrative and global danger typical of James Bond.

An ex-CIA operative is brought back in on a very personal mission and finds himself pitted against his former pupil in a deadly game involving high level CIA officials and the Russian president-elect. The November Man is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 6.1 by 1,561 people. The movie made an estimated total of $32,600,000 in the box office.

Safe House focuses on CIA safehouses, betrayals, and international chases, aligning with the modern espionage tension and urgency found in contemporary James Bond films.

A dangerous CIA renegade resurfaces after a decade on the run. When the safe house he's remanded to is attacked by mercenaries, a rookie operative escapes with him. Now, the unlikely allies must stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead. Safe House is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 6.5 by 3,822 people. The movie made an estimated total of $208,076,205 in the box office.

Body of Lies explores covert intelligence operations in the Middle East, reflecting the geopolitical stakes and dangerous spy world familiar to James Bond audiences.

The CIA’s hunt is on for the mastermind of a wave of terrorist attacks. Roger Ferris is the agency’s man on the ground, moving from place to place, scrambling to stay ahead of ever-shifting events. An eye in the sky – a satellite link – watches Ferris. At the other end of that real-time link is the CIA’s Ed Hoffman, strategizing events from thousands of miles away. And as Ferris nears the target, he discovers trust can be just as dangerous as it is necessary for survival. Body of Lies is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 2h 8m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.6 by 3,228 people. The movie made an estimated total of $113,280,098 in the box office.

Spy parodies espionage tropes such as secret agents, gadgets, and global missions, directly referencing and satirizing conventions made famous by James Bond.

A desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster. Spy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 6.8 by 6,282 people. The movie made an estimated total of $235,666,219 in the box office.

The Tailor of Panama mixes political intrigue, espionage, and manipulation, capturing the deceptive intelligence world that often surrounds James Bond missions.

A British spy is banished to Panama after having an affair with an ambassador's mistress. Once there he makes connection with a local tailor with a nefarious past and connections to all of the top political and gangster figures in Panama. The tailor also has a wife, who works for the Panamanian president and a huge debt. The mission is to learn what the President intends to do with the Canal. The Tailor of Panama is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 6.0 by 525 people. The movie made an estimated total of $28,000,000 in the box office.

The Saint follows a master of disguise operating internationally, combining charm, action, and criminal intrigue in a style reminiscent of James Bond.

Simon Templar (The Saint), is a thief for hire, whose latest job to steal the secret process for cold fusion puts him at odds with a traitor bent on toppling the Russian government, as well as the woman who holds its secret. The Saint is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 1997 with an average rating of 6.1 by 1,203 people. The movie made an estimated total of $118,100,000 in the box office.

The 39 Steps is an early spy thriller featuring an innocent man entangled in international espionage, laying narrative groundwork later perfected by James Bond.

Richard Hanney has a rude awakening when a glamorous female spy falls into his bed - with a knife in her back. Having a bit of trouble explaining it all to Scotland Yard, he heads for the hills of Scotland to try to clear his name by locating the spy ring known as The 39 Steps. The 39 Steps is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 26m runtime, released in 1935 with an average rating of 7.3 by 1,021 people.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit presents a modern intelligence hero dealing with global threats, sharing thematic DNA with James Bond’s mission-driven spy adventures.

Jack Ryan, as a young covert CIA analyst, uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 45m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 6.1 by 3,008 people. The movie made an estimated total of $135,500,000 in the box office.

The Hunt for Red October centers on Cold War espionage and high-level intelligence maneuvering, aligning with the strategic, global conflict aspects of James Bond films.

A new technologically-superior Soviet nuclear sub, the Red October, is heading for the U.S. coast under the command of Captain Marko Ramius. The American government thinks Ramius is planning to attack. Lone CIA analyst Jack Ryan has a different idea: he thinks Ramius is planning to defect, but he has only a few hours to find him and prove it - because the entire Russian naval and air commands are trying to find Ramius, too. The hunt is on! The Hunt for Red October is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 15m runtime, released in 1990 with an average rating of 7.4 by 3,525 people. The movie made an estimated total of $200,512,643 in the box office.