37 Best Movies like Mission: Impossible (1996)

High-stakes espionage and secretive missions set Ronin alongside Mission: Impossible, but Ronin stands out for its intricate plotting and relentless action. Its labyrinthine alliances and suspenseful pacing make for a tense, rewarding thriller on its own terms.

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 2,727 people. The movie made an estimated total of $70,692,101 in the box office.

The Bourne Identity earns its place for its amnesiac protagonist caught in a web of covert operations. With a tightly constructed narrative and relentless pacing, this movie provides gripping action and memorable intrigue.

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 10,244 people. The movie made an estimated total of $214,034,224 in the box office.

Corporate espionage and a clever heist element anchor Sneakers on this list. This film distinguishes itself through a lighter touch and ensemble camaraderie, making it both suspenseful and surprisingly witty.

When shadowy U.S. intelligence agents blackmail a reformed computer hacker and his eccentric team of security experts into stealing a code-breaking 'black box' from a Soviet-funded genius, they uncover a bigger conspiracy. Now, he and his 'sneakers' must save themselves and the world economy by retrieving the box from their blackmailers. Sneakers is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 1992 with an average rating of 6.9 by 1,074 people. The movie made an estimated total of $105,232,691 in the box office.

An innocent character wrongfully implicated in a government conspiracy unites No Way Out with Mission: Impossible. Here, the compelling unraveling of truth within a political thriller context creates a tense, engaging watch.

Navy Lt. Tom Farrell meets a young woman, Susan Atwell, and they share a passionate fling. Farrell then finds out that his superior, Defense Secretary David Brice, is also romantically involved with Atwell. When the young woman turns up dead, Farrell is put in charge of the murder investigation. He begins to uncover shocking clues about the case, but when details of his encounter with Susan surface, he becomes a suspect as well. No Way Out is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 1987 with an average rating of 6.9 by 823 people. The movie made an estimated total of $35,509,515 in the box office.

Spy Game delves into mentor-protégé dynamics within the intelligence world. Its blend of urgency and strategic mind games, enhanced by high emotional stakes, offers an absorbing look at the shadowy workings of espionage.

On the day of his retirement, a veteran CIA agent learns that his former protégé has been arrested in China, is sentenced to die the next morning in Beijing, and that the CIA is considering letting that happen to avoid an international scandal. Spy Game is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 6m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 6.9 by 2,399 people. The movie made an estimated total of $143,049,560 in the box office.

Three Days of the Condor earns its spot for its atmosphere of paranoia and surveillance within the intelligence community. The film’s slow-burning tension and suspenseful plotting give it enduring appeal as a classic thriller.

When bookish CIA researcher Joe Turner finds all his co-workers dead, he, together with a woman he has kidnapped, must work together to outwit those responsible until he determines who he can really trust. Three Days of the Condor is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 57m runtime, released in 1975 with an average rating of 7.3 by 1,385 people. The movie made an estimated total of $41,509,797 in the box office.

Intricate layers of deception form the backbone of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Its nuanced approach to trust, betrayal, and quiet suspense makes it a standout in the world of espionage dramas.

George Smiley, the aging master spy of the Cold War and once heir apparent to Control, is brought back out of retirement to flush out a top level mole within the Circus. Smiley must travel back through his life and murky workings of the Circus to unravel the net spun by his nemesis Karla 'The Sandman' of the KGB and reveal the identity of the mole before he disappears. 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 2,968 people. The movie made an estimated total of $81,515,369 in the box office.

An ordinary individual swept into a larger conspiracy aligns Enemy of the State with the genre. This film delivers adrenaline-pumping suspense and high-stakes chases, building a gripping sense of technological paranoia.

When the videotape of the murder of a congressman unknowingly ends up in the hands of labor lawyer and dedicated family man Robert Clayton Dean, he is framed for the murder. With the help of the mysterious Brill, Dean attempts to throw the NSA off his trail and prove his innocence. Enemy of the State is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 12m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 7.1 by 4,349 people. The movie made an estimated total of $250,649,836 in the box office.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit finds its place for thrusting a skilled agent into international intrigue. With brisk pacing and modern-day stakes, it offers a sharp and engaging contemporary spy adventure.

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 3,141 people. The movie made an estimated total of $135,500,000 in the box office.

Undercover operations and identity confusion drive Infernal Affairs. Its masterful storytelling, focused on psychological tension and shifting loyalties, creates a riveting experience within crime and espionage storytelling.

Chan Wing Yan, a young police officer, has been sent undercover as a mole in the local mafia. Lau Kin Ming, a young mafia member, infiltrates the police force. Years later, their older counterparts, Chen Wing Yan and Inspector Lau Kin Ming, respectively, race against time to expose the mole within their midst. Infernal Affairs is a movie from Hong Kong in Cantonese, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 7.8 by 1,893 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,836,958 in the box office.

Salt is included for its narrative of a CIA agent accused of treason, reminiscent of Ethan Hunt's predicament. Its relentless action sequences and twists establish it as an exciting spy film in its own right.

As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor, and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a Russian defector accuses her of being a Russian sleeper spy. She goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture, protect her husband, and stay one step ahead of her colleagues at the CIA. Her efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who is Salt?" Salt is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 6.4 by 6,005 people. The movie made an estimated total of $293,329,073 in the box office.

Body of Lies introduces global intelligence operations contrasted by personal risk. Its ever-changing alliances and moral complexity provide a compelling viewing experience rooted in modern espionage.

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 3,384 people. The movie made an estimated total of $113,280,098 in the box office.

Questioning manipulation at the highest levels, The Manchurian Candidate unfolds through political intrigue and suspense. Its enduring resonance comes from the unsettling world of conspiracies and hidden agendas.

Years after his squad was ambushed during the Gulf War, Major Ben Marco finds himself having terrible nightmares. He begins to doubt that his fellow squad-mate Sergeant Raymond Shaw, now a vice-presidential candidate, is the hero he remembers him being. As Marco's doubts deepen, Shaw's political power grows, and, when Marco finds a mysterious implant embedded in his back, the memory of what really happened begins to return. The Manchurian Candidate is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 10m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 6.5 by 1,772 people. The movie made an estimated total of $96,105,964 in the box office.

The International enters the list for exporting the thriller genre to a globe-trotting financial conspiracy. With visually striking set pieces and sustained suspense, it earns its audience through polished storytelling.

An interpol agent and an attorney are determined to bring one of the world's most powerful banks to justice. Uncovering money laundering, arms trading, and conspiracy to destabilize world governments, their investigation takes them from Berlin, Milan, New York and Istanbul. Finding themselves in a chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk. The International is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 6.3 by 1,453 people. The movie made an estimated total of $60,161,391 in the box office.

Exposing institutional corruption and secretive power structures, The Parallax View investigates paranoia within society. Its chilling mood and narrative ambiguity make it an evocative entry in the political thriller canon.

An ambitious reporter gets in trouble while investigating a senator's assassination which leads to a vast conspiracy involving a multinational corporation behind every event in the world's headlines. The Parallax View is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 1974 with an average rating of 6.8 by 375 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,940,000 in the box office.

The Recruit gains inclusion through its exploration of recruitment, training, and trust inside covert agencies. Intense psychological games and suspicion keep viewers on edge throughout its unpredictable plot.

A brilliant CIA trainee must prove his worth at the Farm, the agency's secret training grounds, where he learns to watch his back and trust no one. The Recruit is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 6.4 by 1,954 people. The movie made an estimated total of $101,200,000 in the box office.

With a Cold War backdrop and a solo operative’s mission, Atomic Blonde brings stylized action and striking visuals to the spy genre. Its electric energy and distinct choreography create a memorably bold entry.

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 6,703 people. The movie made an estimated total of $100,014,025 in the box office.

Bridge of Spies contributes Cold War tension and high-level negotiations. Quiet intensity and moral dilemmas drive an absorbing tale of diplomacy and human stakes in the world of espionage.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union captures U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers after shooting down his U-2 spy plane. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, Powers' only hope is New York lawyer James Donovan, recruited by a CIA operative to negotiate his release. Donovan boards a plane to Berlin, hoping to win the young man's freedom through a prisoner exchange. If all goes well, the Russians would get Rudolf Abel, the convicted spy who Donovan defended in court. Bridge of Spies is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 21m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.2 by 7,351 people. The movie made an estimated total of $165,478,348 in the box office.

Munich warrants inclusion for tackling clandestine missions with life-or-death consequences. It invests deeply in psychological tension and the emotional weight of violence, resulting in a complex, thought-provoking thriller.

During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, eleven Israeli athletes are taken hostage and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group known as Black September. In retaliation, the Israeli government recruits a group of Mossad agents to track down and execute those responsible for the attack. Munich is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 44m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.1 by 3,048 people. The movie made an estimated total of $130,982,129 in the box office.

Charade belongs here for its blend of suspense and intrigue set among shifting identities and motives. Its witty script and charismatic performances deliver a unique balance of lightness and menace.

After Regina Lampert falls for the dashing Peter Joshua on a skiing holiday in the French Alps, she discovers upon her return to Paris that her husband has been murdered. Soon, she and Peter are giving chase to three of her late husband's World War II cronies, Tex, Scobie and Gideon, who are after a quarter of a million dollars the quartet stole while behind enemy lines. Charade is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 1963 with an average rating of 7.7 by 1,569 people. The movie made an estimated total of $13,475,000 in the box office.

Exploring surveillance and privacy, The Conversation creates an atmosphere thick with tension and unease. Its meticulous character study and subtle suspense make it a landmark work in the genre.

A paranoid, secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that the couple he is spying on will be murdered. The Conversation is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 1974 with an average rating of 7.5 by 2,065 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,794,457 in the box office.

The Lives of Others examines surveillance within a repressive regime, offering gripping emotional depth and ethical quandaries. Its sustained tension and human complexity build a powerful impact.

In 1984 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler begins spying on a famous playwright and his actress-lover Christa-Maria. Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, and faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria. The Lives of Others is a movie from Germany in German, with a total 2h 17m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 8.0 by 4,187 people. The movie made an estimated total of $77,672,685 in the box office.

Investigating murder against a backdrop of international conspiracy, The Constant Gardener joins the list for its blend of emotional journey and political intrigue. The film’s layered narrative rewards patient viewers.

Justin Quayle is a low-level British diplomat who has always gone about his work very quietly, not causing any problems. But after his radical wife Tessa is killed he becomes determined to find out why, thrusting himself into the middle of a very dangerous conspiracy. The Constant Gardener is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 2h 9m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.0 by 1,749 people. The movie made an estimated total of $82,468,097 in the box office.

Inside Man qualifies thanks to its carefully plotted heist and mind games between criminals and authorities. Twists and controlled tension fuel a suspenseful narrative that is consistently engaging.

When an armed, masked gang enter a Manhattan bank, lock the doors and take hostages, the detective assigned to effect their release enters negotiations preoccupied with corruption charges he is facing. Inside Man is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 9m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 7.4 by 6,463 people. The movie made an estimated total of $186,003,591 in the box office.

Mission: Impossible II continues Ethan Hunt’s high-stakes adventures, delivering more action and gadgetry. Its explosive set-pieces and evolving character dynamics further expand the franchise’s signature excitement.

With computer genius Luther Stickell at his side and a beautiful thief on his mind, agent Ethan Hunt races across Australia and Spain to stop a former IMF agent from unleashing a genetically engineered biological weapon called Chimera. This mission, should Hunt choose to accept it, plunges him into the center of an international crisis of terrifying magnitude. Mission: Impossible II is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 3m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 6.1 by 7,692 people. The movie made an estimated total of $546,388,108 in the box office.

Unknown earns its place with a protagonist grappling with lost identity amid peril. The movie’s twisty plot and ever-present uncertainty generate a compelling atmosphere of suspicion and danger.

A man awakens from a coma, only to discover that someone has taken on his identity and that no one, (not even his wife), believes him. With the help of a young woman, he sets out to prove who he is. Unknown is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.7 by 4,232 people. The movie made an estimated total of $130,786,397 in the box office.

Safe House is included for its backdrop of rogue agents and shifting allegiances. Rapid pacing and intense confrontations unite for a crowd-pleasing action-thriller.

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 3,979 people. The movie made an estimated total of $208,076,205 in the box office.

Burn After Reading uses the espionage setting for darkly comedic effect. Unpredictable storytelling and a satirical tone make it a distinctive take on the secret agent world.

When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst falls into the hands of gym employees, Linda and Chad, they see a chance to make enough money for Linda to have life-changing cosmetic surgery. Predictably, events whirl out of control for the duo, and those in their orbit. Burn After Reading is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 36m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.7 by 5,326 people. The movie made an estimated total of $163,700,000 in the box office.

The Debt warrants recommendation thanks to its handling of a secret mission whose meaning reverberates through the future. Themes of truth and accountability lend the film lasting dramatic resonance.

Rachel Singer is a former Mossad agent who tried to capture a notorious Nazi war criminal – the Surgeon of Birkenau – in a secret Israeli mission that ended with his death on the streets of East Berlin. Now, 30 years later, a man claiming to be the doctor has surfaced, and Rachel must return to Eastern Europe to uncover the truth. Overwhelmed by haunting memories of her younger self and her two fellow agents, the still-celebrated heroine must relive the trauma of those events and confront the debt she has incurred. The Debt is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 6.6 by 980 people. The movie made an estimated total of $45,636,368 in the box office.

Haywire offers hard-hitting action through the lens of betrayal within spy circles. Its focus on physical combat and stylized sequences sets it apart within the genre.

A black ops soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and left for dead. Haywire is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 5.7 by 1,503 people. The movie made an estimated total of $33,372,606 in the box office.

Eye of the Needle makes the list for its attention to suspenseful, isolated spy scenarios. The film’s taut storytelling and psychological tension hold the audience in thrall.

Great Britain, 1944, during World War II. Relentlessly pursued by several MI5 agents, Henry Faber the Needle, a ruthless German spy in possession of vital information about D-Day, takes refuge on Storm Island, an inhospitable, sparsely inhabited island off the coast of northern Scotland. Eye of the Needle is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 1981 with an average rating of 6.7 by 256 people. The movie made an estimated total of $18,000,000 in the box office.

A ghostwriter entangled in political secrets gives The Ghost Writer a place here. Its slow-building tension and atmospheric dread maintain a consistently unsettling mood.

A writer stumbles upon a long-hidden secret when he agrees to help former British Prime Minister Adam Lang complete his memoirs on a remote island after the politician's assistant drowns in a mysterious accident. The Ghost Writer is a movie from France in English, with a total 2h 8m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 6.8 by 2,483 people. The movie made an estimated total of $60,300,000 in the box office.

Scorpio joins the list as it delves into espionage involving dueling secret agents. Its classic approach to spy rivalry and intrigue continues to engage genre enthusiasts.

Cross is an old hand at the CIA who often teams up with Frenchman Jean “Scorpio” Laurier, a gifted freelance operative. After their last mission together, the CIA orders Scorpio to eliminate Cross, leaving him no choice but to obey. Scorpio is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 1973 with an average rating of 6.2 by 121 people.

Clear and Present Danger is included for its arm’s-length look at political machinations and covert operations. The methodical unraveling of its premise makes for satisfyingly complex storytelling.

Agent Jack Ryan becomes acting Deputy Director of Intelligence for the CIA when Admiral Greer is diagnosed with cancer. When an American businessman, and friend of the president, is murdered on his yacht, Ryan starts discovering links between the man and drug dealers. As former CIA agent John Clark is sent to Colombia to kill drug cartel kingpins in retaliation, Ryan must fight through multiple cover-ups to figure out what happened and who's responsible. Clear and Present Danger is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 21m runtime, released in 1994 with an average rating of 6.7 by 1,715 people. The movie made an estimated total of $215,887,717 in the box office.

A relentless protagonist trying to clear his name aligns The Fugitive with the likes of Ethan Hunt’s journey. Tight pacing and suspenseful chases ensure an impactful thriller experience.

Wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to death, Richard Kimble escapes from the law in an attempt to find the real killer and clear his name. The Fugitive is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 11m runtime, released in 1993 with an average rating of 7.5 by 4,875 people. The movie made an estimated total of $353,808,222 in the box office.

Our Man in Havana fits thanks to its playful treatment of intelligence gathering in an exotic setting. Humorous undertones and an unconventional plot offer a lighter take on the spy narrative.

Jim Wormold is an expatriate Englishman living in pre-revolutionary Havana with his teenage daughter Milly. He owns a vacuum cleaner shop but isn’t very successful so he accepts an offer from Hawthorne of the British Secret Service to recruit a network of agents in Cuba. Our Man in Havana is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 51m runtime, released in 1960 with an average rating of 6.7 by 126 people.

Corporate subterfuge and elaborate confidence games make Duplicity a suitable recommendation. It combines romantic tension and clever plotting for a smart, entertaining twist on espionage.

Two romantically involved government operatives Claire Stenwick and Ray Koval team up to manipulate a race between opposing corporations to corner the market on a medical innovation that will reap huge profits and allow them to lead an extravagant lifestyle together. They find themselves on opposing sides as corporate spies; however, as they each try to outdo the other, neither one can decide how far to trust the other in this high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse. Duplicity is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 5.9 by 882 people. The movie made an estimated total of $78,176,181 in the box office.