20 Underrated Spy Movies You Really Need To See

Who doesn't love spy movies? Between James Bond, Ethan Hunt, Jason Bourne, and Jack Ryan, there is no shortage of great film franchises centered on the world of espionage. It's always exciting to see what new gadgets these beloved secret agents have at their disposal. All of these franchises have cast many different actors in the central roles. Each actor has managed to interpret their characters in new and exciting ways.

Take James Bond, for example. The dark, brooding nature of Daniel Craig couldn't be more different from Roger Moore's comedic interpretation. The 007 franchise has certainly had its highs and lows. For every genuine classic like "Casino Royale" or "Goldfinger," you get a complete disaster, like "Diamonds Are Forever" or "Die Another Day."

Even if we all love Bond films, they are not the only espionage thrillers that are worth celebrating. You really need to see these 20 underrated spy movies.

Robert Redford has starred in some of the best spy thrillers ever made, including "Three Days of the Condor" and "All the President's Men." Although Redford is a great actor, he's an even better director. Redford returned to the espionage genre with his 2013 thriller "The Company You Keep." The film shares many qualities with his older classics. It focuses on the aftermath of the anti-Vietnam War riots and how a group of protestors has been forced to live with their actions for many decades. It is powerful to see Redford reflecting upon the events that he was involved with.

Redford stars as the former activist Nick Sloan, who goes by the fake name "Jim Grant." Grant helped create an anti-war organization known as the Weather Underground in the 1970s. Grant has a relatively normal life and raises his young daughter, Isabel (Jackie Evancho). Grant has not seen any of his old allies in years. The Weather Underground was accused of killing a guard during a bank robbery. Grant is forced to reckon with the past when his former ally, Sharon Solarz (Susan Sarandon), is captured by the FBI.

Enthusiastic reporter Ben Shepard (Shia LaBeouf) begins investigating Grant. He convinces his editor, Ray Fuller (Stanley Tucci), to let him interview Solarz. Ben discovers that Grant has been living under an assumed name for decades. After gaining information from FBI agent Diana (Anna Kendrick), his former lover, Ben manages to track down Grant.

There are 25 films in the official EON Productions James Bond franchise. However, two other Bond films produced by other studios also exist. The 1967 version of "Casino Royale" is not worth watching. "Casino Royale" is a parody of the series and features Peter Sellers (among others) as 007. It is nothing more than a series of unfunny sketch gags.

However, the 1983 non-EON film "Never Say Never Again" deserves more appreciation from Bond fans. The film emerged as the result of a lawsuit, in which Ian Fleming's collaborator Kevin McClory was allowed to adapt the Bond novel "Thunderball." "Thunderball" was previously adapted into the 1965 film of the same name. Warner Brothers developed a new version of the original story and convinced Sean Connery to return to his iconic role. Connery had previously retired from the series after 1971's "Diamonds Are Forever." Ironically, "Never Say Never Again" was released during the same summer as the Roger Moore Bond film "Octopussy."

"Never Say Never Again" acknowledges Bond's age. 007 has to cope with his failing health. He feels out of place among the younger MI6 agents. Connery shows a more vulnerable side of the character. He's just as committed to his duty as ever, but finds that he can't take the same risks that he was able to when he was younger. The film was directed by "The Empire Strikes Back" filmmaker Irvin Kershner. Kershner creates several terrific action sequences, including the film's climactic underwater battle.

Espionage films are effective if they can respond to the current political climate. In a world dominated by stories of surveillance and conspiracies, films about spies are more relevant than ever. Legendary arthouse filmmaker Abel Ferrara created a controversial film about modern terrorism. "Zeros and Ones" is one of the most divisive films in Ferrara's filmography. The parallels between its story and recent tragedies are disturbing.

"Zeros and Ones" is worthy of an in-depth examination. Whether you love it or hate it, you have to acknowledge Ferrara's bravery in dealing with such sensitive subject matter. Unfortunately, few film fans were able to see "Zeros and Ones" in its intended format. It was simultaneously released in select theaters and through video-on-demand platforms.

"Zeros and Ones" follows J.J. (Ethan Hawke), an American soldier who is assigned to stop a terrorist bombing at the Vatican. J.J. searches for the enigmatic bomber, Justin, who just so happens to be his identical twin brother. Hawke gives a dynamic performance. Sharing the screen with yourself is no easy task, but Hawke creates two completely different characters. While J.J. is calm and reserved, Justin is a complete wildcard. He delivers extended monologues about the collapse of the world's political and economic infrastructure. Despite his eccentricities, Justin believes that he has good intentions.

A remake is rarely better than the original. For a remake to be effective, it must tell a different story but explore why the original themes are still relevant. The 1962 espionage thriller, "The Manchurian Candidate," was already a classic. However, Jonathan Demme's 2004 remake manages to surpass the original. Instead of replicating the same narrative, Demme's film updates the story for modern times.

The original film takes place during the Cold War. It follows a secret brainwashing tactic that communist spies use to infiltrate the United States intelligence infrastructure. The 2004 film moves the story forward to the 1991 Gulf War. It explores a plot by a powerful corporation to influence a presidential election, and Demme's vision of a borderline dystopian future is disturbing. The United States is overrun by corruption, xenophobia, and fascism. 

Sgt. Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber) is awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. Raymond's mother, Eleanor (Meryl Streep), is a prominent senator. A decade after Raymond is hailed as a hero, Eleanor supports his campaign for the vice presidency. However, Raymond was secretly brainwashed during his time in the service. Raymond's former commanding officer, Major Bennett Marco (Denzel Washington), has a vision of a cover-up operation during the war. It's a different type of performance from Washington. He usually plays calm, collected characters, but Marco is anxious and lacks confidence.

Tony Scott was renowned for his frantic, flashy directorial style. His exciting action films such as "Top Gun," "The Last Boy Scout," and "Man on Fire," feature sharp humor and over-the-top action. While Scott's talent isn't up for debate, he didn't immediately seem like the right choice to helm a suspense thriller. Scott wasn't exactly known for his subtlety. However, his 1998 spy film, "Enemy of the State," was the perfect combination of crowd-pleasing action and relevant political themes. While there are many elaborate chase sequences, Scott uses "Enemy of the State" to reflect on the rising sense of paranoia within the surveillance state.

In "Enemy of the State," successful attorney Bobby Dean (Will Smith) is in the middle of an investigation into the Mafia. He is close to finding evidence that will convict the drug kingpin Paulie Pintero (Tom Sizemore). Bobby receives documents convicting Pintero from his ex-lover, Rachel Banks (Lisa Bonet). Banks is secretly working for an enigmatic surveillance expert known only as "Brill" (Gene Hackman). Brill is on the verge of uncovering an attempted assassination plot on a U.S. Congressman. He is pursued by the NSA.

Brill and Bobby are forced to join forces. Hackman is perfect for the role of a lifelong espionage agent who has grown paranoid. In many ways, it is very similar to his character Henry Caul in Francis Ford Coppola's 1974 classic "The Conversation." Smith is perfectly cast as a confident, charismatic lawyer.

Val Kilmer was never given enough credit during the height of his career. The 2021 documentary "Val" lends some insight into the personal struggles that Kilmer endured during the 1990s. Kilmer wanted to pursue more ambitious roles, but he was often typecast as a generic action movie lead. Even if he wasn't a fan of the material, Kilmer did his best to elevate every film he participated in.

Kilmer stars as secret agent Simon Templar in the 1997 film, "The Saint." The action-thriller is based on the classic British television series of the same name, which starred Roger Moore. Templar was raised as "John Rossi" in the Saint Ignatius Orphanage. After enduring abuse at the hands of the Catholic priests, Rossi escapes from the orphanage and proclaims himself "Simon Templar." It is the first of many false identities. Templar travels the world in elaborate disguises to perform heists.

It's the perfect role for Kilmer. Templar isn't a standard action hero. He enjoys creating new characters and deceiving the rich and powerful. The con is just as important to him as the reward. However, Simon's great acting abilities also present some challenges. Simon becomes so lost in the personas he adopts that he struggles to determine his own identity. "The Saint" could have easily been just another silly popcorn movie, but Kilmer adds emotional depth. Unfortunately, the film was poorly received.

The Coen Brothers are among the greatest directors of all time. Most filmmakers hope to direct just one great classic in their lifetime, but the Coens have helmed many masterpieces. Picking a favorite film from the Coens is no easy task. However, not many fans would cite the 2008 spy thriller "Burn After Reading" as their favorite. It is a dark yet wildly weird exploration of the modern intelligence infrastructure.

The film follows disgruntled CIA agent Osborne Cox (John Malkovich), who decides to quit his job. Cox records details of his career and prepares to write a memoir. However, Cox does not realize that his wife, Katie (Tilda Swinton), is having an affair with U.S. Marshall Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney). Katie begins sending her financial records to Harry to finalize her divorce. She accidentally includes her husband's memoir. Harry is forced to search for the disk after he leaves it at the gym. The gym's employees, Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), discover the records.

Although it may not be as beloved as the Coens' other films, "Burn After Reading" is brilliantly subversive. It shows how clueless those with power really are. When asked by his employee, Palmer DeBakey Smith (David Rasche), what the intelligence committee has learned, the CIA supervisor (J.K. Simmons) says "I guess we learned not to do it again." The cycle of idiocy is bound to be repeated.

Legendary filmmaker Sydney Pollack helped define the modern espionage genre. Pollack's final feature film, 2005's "The Interpreter," is a fitting conclusion to his amazing career. The film allowed Pollack to offer his commentary on the political unrest in Africa, and how it has been affected by the action of the United Nations. It's just as sharp and timely as anything else Pollack ever did.

Nicole Kidman stars as Silvia Broome, a U.N. interpreter stationed in New York. Silvia's brother, Simon (Hugo Speer), assists a rebel movement in the African country Matobo. Agents of President Edmond Zuwanie's (Earl Cameron) secret police execute Simon and his accomplices. Unaware of her brother's secret involvement in the overseas conflict, Silvia is assigned to assist in the International Criminal Court's debate over the Matobo situation. When she stays in the office late into the night, Silvia overhears plans for a potential assassination

The Secret Service assigns Dignitary Protection Division agent Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) to question Silvia. Keller realizes that Zuwanie has been orchestrating a false flag operation to gain political power. As Silvia tries to clear her name, Keller must prevent her from killing Zuwaine herself.

John Boorman's 1967 arthouse action classic, "Point Blank," was incredibly influential on an entire generation of filmmakers. Steven Soderbergh was inspired by "Point Blank" to create his own subversive spy thriller, 1999's "The Limey." Both films emphasize stylistic flourishes, which make them feel unique. Opening with a disorienting sequence set to The Who's classic song "The Seeker," "The Limey" does its best to both overwhelm and enthrall the viewer.

Terrence Stamp stars as Wilson, a grieving father. Wilson travels from his home in England to Los Angeles after learning that his daughter, Jenny (Melissa George), has been killed in a car accident. However, Wilson suspects that she was murdered. He learns that Jenny's boyfriend, Terry Valentine (Peter Fonda), is involved in a drug-smuggling syndicate. Wilson sets out on a violent quest for revenge.

Stamp's performance is subtle. While he maintains his steely demeanor throughout, he shows Wilson's anguish. He is so determined to get vengeance that he doesn't give himself time to process Jenny's death.

Every great spy film requires a few twists and turns, but the 1987 espionage film, "No Way Out," features one of the greatest plot twists in film history. The last few minutes completely change the context of the film. It's one thing to surprise the viewer with a shocking development, but "No Way Out" was already an effective thriller to begin with. The climactic revelation feels earned. Eagle-eyed viewers may pick up on the clues that are sprinkled throughout.

Based on Kenneth Fearing's 1946 novel, "The Big Clock," the film follows U.S Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tom Farrell (Kevin Costner). Farrell falls in love with a woman named Susan Atwell (Sean Young) but discovers that she is having an affair with Secretary of Defense David Brice (Gene Hackman). After discovering her disloyalty, Brice accidentally kills Atwell during an argument. To cover his tracks, he plants a story that Atwell's other lover is a covert KGB agent. He plans to find the man Atwell was in love with and murder him.