Subgenre Sampler
Rental > Spy: 290 Films to Rent
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (Mission Impossible 7) (2023)
- Dir. Christopher McQuarrie
Feat. Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Rebecca Ferguson…
- The Impossible franchise jumps into the somewhat possible scenario of an A.I. singularity event. The heavy apocalyptic subject is balanced by…
Kompromat (2022)
- Dir. Jérôme Salle
Feat. Gilles Lellouche, Joanna Kulig
- Mathieu is a gregarious and dedicated diplomat who accepts a posting to Irkutsk as the head of Siberia’s Alliance Française. He hopes the change…
No Time to Die (2021)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Cary Joji Fukunaga
Feat. Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux…
- Another bombastic Bond film marking Daniel Craig's fifth and last outing as the British Secret Service agent, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (TRUE…
Courier, The (Ironbark) (2020)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Dominic Cooke
Feat. Benedict Cumberbatch, Jessie Buckley, Angus Wright…
- Gripping Cold War spy thriller with Cumberbatch playing real life British businessman Greville Wynne, who was recruited by the SIS to deliver covert…
Charlie's Angels (2019)
- Dir. Elizabeth Banks
Feat. Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska…
- Third installment in the glamorous action comedy film series, with three new private detective "Angels" who work for the Townsend Agency. A more…
Official Secrets (2019)
- Dir. Gavin Hood
Feat. Keira Knightley, Matt Smith, Matthew Goode…
- Engrossing drama based on the life of whistleblower Katharine Gun (Keira Knightley), the GCHQ emplyee who leaked a secret memo about an illegal NSA…
Spies in Disguise (2019)
- Dir. Nick Bruno, Troy Quane
- Entertaining animated adventure with Will Smith voicing a secret agent who is accidentally turned into a pigeon, leaving his nerdy tech officer (Tom…
Traitors (TV Series) (2019)
- Feat. Emma Appleton, Luke Treadaway, Michael Stuhlbarg…
- 6–part TV series set in London in 1945, where a young women is recruited by the American Office of Strategic Services to spy on her own…
Beirut (The Negotiator) (2018)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Brad Anderson
Feat. Jon Hamm, Rosamund Pike, Dean Norris…
- Meaty old–school espionage thriller with John Hamm perfectly cast as a fixer turned business consultant in war torn Beirut, negotiating the…
Informer (TV Series) (2018)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Jonny Campbell
Feat. Nabhaan Rizwan, Paddy Considine, Bel Powley
- A complex, character–driven thriller that follows a young East Londoner who is coerced into going undercover for a counter–terrorism…
Johnny English Strikes Again (2018)
- Dir. David Kerr
Feat. Rowan Atkinson, Ben Miller, Olga Kurylenko…
- Rowan Atkinson spoofs Bond again in this third installment of the Johnny English franchise, which sees the accidental secret agent going up against a…
Mission: Impossible - Fallout (Mission Impossible 6) (2018)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Christopher McQuarrie
Feat. Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames…
- Tom Cruise reprises his role as Ethan Hunt in this highly regarded sixth installment of the film franchise. The stakes are higher than ever with…
Red Joan (2018)
- Dir. Trevor Nunn
Feat. Sophie Cookson, Stephen Campbell Moore, Tom Hughes…
- The story of Joan Stanley, who was exposed as the KGB's longest–serving British spy. Arrested in retirement by the MI5, the extraordinary…
Red Sparrow (2018)
- Dir. Francis Lawrence
Feat. Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts…
- Ultra–stylish spy thriller with Jennifer Lawrence as a Russian ballerina whose attempts to support her ailing mother lead her to train as a…
Age of Shadows, The (2016)
- Dir. Ji-woon Kim
Feat. Kang-ho Song, Gong Yoo, Han Ji-min
- Elegantly crafted spy thriller set in Japanese occupied Seoul in the 1920's, in which a Korean–born police captain in the Japanese police force…
Berlin Station (TV Series) (2016)
- Feat. Richard Armitage, Rhys Ifans, Leland Orser…
- TV thriller following the clandestine activities of a CIA team in Berlin, with Richard Armitage playing an ex–Langley analyst who moves to…
Grimsby (2016)
- Dir. Louis Leterrier
Feat. Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Strong, Rebel Wilson…
- Sacha Baron Cohen brings his gift for mimicry to the action genre, playing a dim–witted football hooligan reuniting with his estranged brother…
Keeping Up With the Joneses (2016)
- Dir. Greg Mottola
Feat. Zach Galifianakis, Isla Fisher, Jon Hamm…
- Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher play a suburban couple who becomes embroiled in an international espionage plot when they discover their seemingly…
Night Manager, The (TV Mini-Series) (2016)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Dir. Susanne Bier
Feat. Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman…
- Stellar John Le Carré adaptation with Tom Hiddleston as a former British soldier recruited to infiltrate an international arm dealer's network.
Snowden (2016)
- Dir. Oliver Stone
Feat. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Zachary Quinto…
- The ever–polemical Oliver Stone dramatises the remarakble story of whistleblower Edward Snowden, the polarizing figure who was forced into…
Man from U.N.C.L.E., The (The Man From Uncle) (2015)
- Dir. Guy Ritchie
Feat. Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander…
- Guy Ritchie's remake of the cult TV series is a stylish tale of Cold War espionage with a CIA agent and a KGB operative participating in a joint…
Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (Mission Impossible 5) (2015)
- Dir. Christopher McQuarrie
Feat. Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner…
- Tom Cruise and team return to take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate – a rogue organization as highly skilled as…
Spooks: The Greater Good (MI-5) (2015)
- Dir. Bharat Nalluri
Feat. Kit Harington, Peter Firth, Jennifer Ehle…
- Serviceable follow–up to the hit TV series has Kit Karington as a former MI5 agent investigating the disappearance of Harry Pearce when the…
Spy (2015)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Dir. Paul Feig
Feat. Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jude Law…
- Melissa McCarthy's third outing for the dir. of BRIDESMAIDS comes up roses in this frequently side–splitting James Bond spoof that doubles as a…
A Most Wanted Man (2014)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Anton Corbijn
Feat. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe…
- Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a German spy in this taut John le Carré thriller about a mysterious Chechen immigrant with possible terrorist ties.
Citizenfour (2014)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Laura Poitras
- Oscar–winning documentary that chronicles the first meetings between whistleblower Edward Snowden and journalist Glenn Greenwald, the explosive…
Dying of the Light (2014)
- Dir. Paul Schrader
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Anton Yelchin, Alexander Karim…
- Curious thriller with Nicolas Cage as a CIA agent in the earl stages of dementia going rogue to hunt down a terrorist who tortured him during a…
Game, The (TV Mini-Series) (2014)
- Feat. Brian Cox, Tom Hughes, Jonathan Aris…
- Brian Cox leads the cast in this Cold War spy thriller set in the world of 1970's espionage. It tells the story of the invisible war fought by MI5…
Green Prince, The (2014)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Nadav Schirman
- Absorbing account of how a son of a founding leader in the Palestinian organization, Hamas, became a spy for the Israelis.
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Matthew Vaughn
Feat. Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson…
- Good–natured, violent spoof in which gentleman spy Colin Firth recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the ultra–competitive…
November Man, The (2014)
- Dir. Roger Donaldson
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Olga Kurylenko, Luke Bracey…
- An ex–CIA operative inds himself pitted against his former pupil in a deadly game involving both high level CIA officials and the Russian…
Americans, The (TV Series) (2013)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Feat. Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Noah Emmerich
- A smart, atmosphere rich spy thriller shot with impeccable period detail, centred on a pair of Soviet KGB officers posing as a married couple in the…
Berlin File, The (2013)
- Dir. Ryoo Seung-Wan
Feat. Jung-woo Ha, Gianna Jun
- After an illegal arms deal in Berlin is disrupted by unknown assailants, a South Korean intelligence agent finds himself embroiled in a vast…
Blacklist, The (TV Series) (2013)
- Feat. James Spader, Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff
- This addictive, labyrinthine thriller stars James Spader as a former government agent who engages in a game of cat and mouse with a young profiler…
Suspect, The (Yong-eui-ja) (2013)
- Dir. Won Shin-yun
Feat. Gong Yoo, Park Hee-soon
- Explosive action film following a betrayed North Korean special agent who defects to the South to seek revenge on his family's killer.
Bourne Legacy, The (2012)
- Dir. Tony Gilroy
Feat. Jeremy Renner, Edward Norton, Rachel Weisz…
- Jeremy Renner plays a fellow estranged assassin to Matt Damon's unstoppable rogue agent in this brisk addition to the Bourne franchise, directed by…
Danger 5 (TV Series) (2012)
- Feat. David Ashby, Aldo Mignone, Sean James Murphy
- Spot–on Australian spy parody follows a team of groovy international agents whose mission is to take down Hitler in an alternate 1960s…
Hamilton: In the Interests of the Nation (2012)
- Dir. Kathrine Windfeld
Feat. Mikael Persbrandt, Pernilla August, Jason Flemyng…
- Scandi–crime goes gung–ho in this Swedish espionage thriller centred on a special agent who infiltrates the Russian mafia to bust a…
Hamilton: Not if it Concerns Your Daughter (2012)
- Dir. Tobias Falk
Feat. Mikael Persbrandt
- Scandi super agent Carl Hamilton returns for a second mission of international intrigue and deep espionage. Here, he must go rogue to track down the…
Hunted (TV Series) (2012)
- Feat. Melissa George, Morven Christie, Stephen Dillane…
- Melissa George plays a private espionage operative who goes in hiding when after surviving an assassination attempt orchestrated by her allies. A…
Missing (TV Series) (2012)
- Feat. Ashley Judd, Sean Bean, Cliff Curtis…
- Ashley Judd brings it as an ex–CIA operative turned homemaker who takes on an international conspiracy when her son goes missing in Rome.…
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (Mission Impossible 4) (2012)
- Dir. Brad Bird
Feat. Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg…
- Back–to–basics third sequel sees an evergreen Tom Cruise go rogue to clear IMF's name while in pursuit of a fugitive terrorist with…
Restless (TV Mini-Series) (2012)
- Dir. Edward Hall
Feat. Hayley Atwell, Rufus Sewell, Michelle Dockery…
- A fine small screen adaptation of William Boyd's espionage novel, about a young woman who learns that her mother was recruited as a spy during World…
Safe House (2012)
- Dir. Daniel Espinosa
Feat. Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga…
- Efficient thriller with CIA rookie Reynolds in charge of keeping rogue agent Washington alive after their safe house is attacked by mercenaries.…
Shadow Dancer (2012)
- Dir. James Marsh
Feat. Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson…
- Andrea Riseborough plays a staunch IRA revolutionary who is apprehended by British intelligence and forced to become a double agent in this…
Silent War, The (2012)
- Dir. Felix Chong, Alan Mak
Feat. Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Xun Zhou, Mavis Fan…
- Engaging espionage thriller with Tony Leung as a blind piano tuner for a spy mission because of his exceptional hearing.
Skyfall (2012)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Dir. Sam Mendes
Feat. Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench…
- Bond’s 50th anniversary outing is his most spectacular and serious yet, with 007 drawn back to London, and eventually his Scottish homeland, in…
Two Lives (2012)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Georg Maas, Judith Kaufmann
Feat. Juliane Kohler, Liv Ullmann, Rainer Bock
- A "war child" of the Nazi regime – the name given to children conceived by German officers and Norwegian women, who were subsequently taken…
Haywire (2011)
- Dir. Steven Soderbergh
Feat. Gina Carano, Michael Angarano, Channing Tatum…
- Steven Soderbergh directs this classy action vehicle for mixed martial arts star Gina Carano, here playing a black ops spy who is double crossed on…
Johnny English Reborn (2011)
- Dir. Oliver Parker
Feat. Rowan Atkinson, Rosamund Pike, Dominic West…
- The blundering Bond returns in this agreeably silly sequel. This time round a series of international assassins are hunting the Chinese premier, and…
Manipulation (2011)
- Dir. Pascal Verdosci
Feat. Klaus Maria Brandauer, Sebastian Koch
- Sweaty Cold War thriller centred on the cat–and–mouse game between a special agent investigating possible spy moves by a top PR advisor.
Spy Kids 4 (All the Time in the World ) (2011)
- Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Jessica Alba, Joel McHale, Rowan Blanchard…
- Rebooted fourth edition of the cartoonish espionage fantasy sees original spy kids Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara hand over the reins to a new duo…
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Tomas Alfredson
Feat. Gary Oldman, Mark Strong, John Hurt…
- An enthralling, impeccably cast screen adaptation of John Le Carre’s quintessential cold war spy novel, centred on a retired George Smiley (Oldman)…
American, The (2010)
- Dir. Anton Corbijn
Feat. George Clooney, Paolo Bonacelli, Violante Placido…
- George Clooney stars a weary hit–man forced to lay low in the Italian countryside after a job goes wrong in this attractive though lugubrious…
Covert Affairs (TV Series) (2010)
- Feat. Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham, Anne Dudek…
- Compulsive spy caper with Piper Perabo vamping it up as a CIA trainee inexplicably thrust into the front line and order to hunt down her…
Debt, The (2010)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. John Madden
Feat. Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Ciaran Hinds…
- Gripping spy thriller, with Helen Mirren as a retired Mossad agent whose exploits in capturing a Nazi war criminal come back to haunt her three…
Fair Game (2010)
- Dir. Doug Liman
Feat. Naomi Watts, Sean Penn, Tom McCarthy…
- A smart, ground level conspiracy thriller based on the true story of an undercover CIA operative (Watts) whose identity was suspiciously leaked after…
Knight and Day (2010)
- Dir. James Mangold
Feat. Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard…
- Brassy secret agent vehicle finds Tom Cruise on the lam from hired killers with Cameron Diaz in tow.
Nikita (TV Series) (2010)
- Feat. Maggie Q, Shane West, Lyndsy Fonseca…
- Luc Besson's original female assassin lives on in this slick, aggressive TV spin–off fronted by leggy Canto star Maggie Q as a deadly escapee…
Salt (2010)
- Dir. Phillip Noyce
Feat. Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor…
- Outlandish thriller with Jolie as a C.I.A. agent accused of being a Russian spy, and with the C.I.A. in pursuit she must fight to clear her name.…
Spy Next Door, The (2010)
- Dir. Brian Levant
Feat. Jackie Chan, Amber Valletta, Madeline Carroll…
- Cheesy chop–socky for the kids with Jackie Chan as an international spy who gets more than he bargained for while looking after three…
Archer (TV Series) (2009)
- Dir. Adam Reed
- Saucy animated spy–sitcom billed as "James Bond meets Arrested Development", with a host of hilariously unlikable characters centered around…
Duplicity (2009)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Tony Gilroy
Feat. Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson…
- Power–dressed by Clive Owen and Julia Roberts, this is a smart, playful conundrum of a spy thriller that proves great fun to unravel, as…
Farewell (2009)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Christian Carion
Feat. Guillaume Canet, Emir Kusturica, Gary Lewis…
- This riveting Cold War yarn from the dir. of JOYEUX NOEL brings to light the little–known true story of a disillusioned KGB colonel (played by…
International, The (2009)
- Dir. Tom Tykwer
Feat. Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl…
- Sleek cosmopolitan thriller finds Owen and Watts, as disheveled Interpol agent and bland district attorney respectively, exposing a sinister arms…
Message, The (2009)
- Dir. Kuo-fu Chen, Qunshu Gao
Feat. Bingbing Li, Xun Zhou, Zhiwen Wang…
- Sino–Japanese tensions are foregrounded in this enthralling cat and mouse thriller, set in a clifftop mansion during the height of World War…
OSS 117: Lost in Rio (2009)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Michel Hazanavicius
Feat. Jean Dujardin
- Bumbling intelligence officer and shameless chauvinist, Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, returns for Brazilian adventures in this bright and breezy spy…
Totally Spies! (2009)
- Dir. Pascal Jardin
- The winning animated adventures of three high school girls who also happen to be spies. Based on the popular Cartoon Network series, this…
Get Smart (2008)
- Dir. Peter Segal
Feat. Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson…
- The iconic 60's TV show gets a surprisingly belated big screen update as a familiar Hollywood action–comedy – heavier on the action than…
My Spy (My Mom's New Boyfriend) (2008)
- Dir. George Gallo
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Meg Ryan, Colin Hanks…
- Featherweight comedy–caper concerns an undercover FBI agent (Hanks) whose surveillance of an international art thief (Banderas) is undermined…
Quantum Of Solace (2008)
- Dir. Marc Forster
Feat. Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko…
- Number 22 in the enduring Bond series is an action–heavy adventure with Daniel Craig returning as the man with the gun on a revenge mission to…
Spooks - Season 7 (TV Series) (2008)
- Feat. Peter Firth, Gemma Jones, Richard Armitage
- Further episodes from the British MI5 spy suspense series, in which agents try to resolve a variety of 21st century threats.
Series Seven: 8…
Bionic Woman, The (TV Series) (2007)
- Feat. Michelle Ryan, Miguel Ferrer, Molly Price…
- Updated version of the 70's TV series about a female athlete who is gifted with bionic strength after a serious accident.
Bourne Ultimatum, The (2007)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Paul Greengrass
Feat. Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Édgar Ramírez…
- Quality white–knuckle thrills–and–spills flick concludes the Bourne trilogy – and our super–spook hero’s (Damon)…
Breach (2007)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Billy Ray
Feat. Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney
- A first–rate dramatic thriller that pits spy against spy on the American homefront, based on the true story of the FBI's internal investigation…
Burn Notice (TV Series) (2007)
- Feat. Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell…
- Polished spy series following the fate of a "burned" spy let go by the USA government who returns to his hometown of Miama to freelance and uncover…
Chuck (TV Series) (2007-2008)
- Feat. Zachary Levi, Adam Baldwin
- Affable action series centred on a computer geek recruited into the CIA after inadvertently downloading top–secret government secrets onto his…
Debt, The (Ha Hov) (2007)
- Dir. Assaf Bernstein
Feat. Gila Almagor, Yuriy Chepurnov, Oleg Drach
- Unsettling thriller with a retired Mossad agent, whose Nazi–hunting past comes back to haunt her and her fellow agents.
Joy Division (2007)
- Dir. Reg Traviss
Feat. Ed Stoppard, Tom Schilling, Bernadette Heerwagen…
- Ed Stoppard, son of Sir Tom, stars as a young German boy who becomes a KGB agent in this ambitious wartime saga that sweeps from WWII to swinging,…
Spooks - Season 6 (TV Series) (2007)
- Feat. Rupert Penry-Jones, Peter Firth, Hermione Norris…
- Further episodes from the British MI5 spy suspense series, in which agents try to resolve a variety of 21st century threats.
Series Six: 10…
T3I: Three Investigators, The (The Secret of Skeleton Island, The Secret of Terror Castle) (2007)
- Feat. Chancellor Miller, Nick Price, Cameron Monaghan
- A pair of good–looking family flicks based on a popular US book franchise sees 'Jupiter Jones' and his fellow Californian teenagers investigate…
Casino Royale (2006)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Eva Green…
- The James Bond franchise finds a new face, goes back to the very beginning, and rediscovers its mojo, with new Bond Daniel Craig and Kiwi dir. Martin…
Few Days in September, A (Quelques jours en septembre) (2006)
- Dir. Santiago Amigorena
Feat. Juliette Binoche, John Turturro, Nick Nolte…
- Pre–September 11 spy–thriller dramatising events leading up to the fatal terrorist attack, with former spy (Binoche) being stalked…
Good Shepherd, The (2006)
- Dir. Robert De Niro
Feat. Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Robert De Niro…
- Robert De Niro directs this dramatization of the CIA’s clandestine origins, with Matt Damon in the central role of a colourless career…
Mission: Impossible 3 (2006)
- Dir. J.J. Abrams
Feat. Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Keri Russell…
- Propulsive and hyper–violent third outing for Tom Cruise as US superagent Ethan Hunt, here on a globe–jetting mission to foil a vile…
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006)
- Dir. Michel Hazanavicius
Feat. Jean Dujardin
- Dusting off a little–known French spy spoof from the 1960's, this remake upgrades rather than updates the franchise, combining the Bond school…
Spooks - Season 4 (TV Series) (2006)
- Feat. David Oyelowo, Anna Chancellor
- Further episodes from the British MI5 spy suspense series, in which agents try to resolve a variety of 21st century threats.
Series Four: 10…
Spooks - Season 5 (TV Series) (2006)
- Feat. Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, Peter Firth…
- Further episodes from the British MI5 spy suspense series, in which agents try to resolve a variety of 21st century threats.
Season 5: 10 episodes…
Stormbreaker (2006)
- Dir. Geoffrey Sax
Feat. Alex Pettyfer, Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy…
- A British–oriented spin on the kid super–agent premise, with gadgets and evil masterminds galore, based on the popular Alex Rider series…
Archangel (TV Mini-Series) (2005)
- Dir. Jon Jones
Feat. Daniel Craig, Yekaterina Rednikova
- Biting thriller based on the Robert Harris novel, with Daniel Craig taking on the role of an academic thrust into darkest post–war Russia to…
Seoul Raiders (2005)
- Dir. Jingle Ma
Feat. Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Shu Qi, Richie Ren
- Hokey but fun pseudo–sequel to 'Tokyo Raiders' that finds Hong Kong special agent Lam (Tony Leung) on the hunt for counterfeiters in Seoul,…
Agent Cody Banks 2 (Destination London) (2004)
- Dir. Kevin Allen
Feat. Frankie Muniz, Anna Chancellor, Keith Allen…
- Fairly average sequel to Cody Banks' first James Bond Jr. adventure, here travelling to London as a disguised clarinet player to thwart an evil…
Spooks - Season 3 (TV Series) (2004)
- Feat. Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, Peter Firth…
- Further episodes from the British MI5 spy suspense series, in which agents try to resolve a variety of 21st century threats.
Season Three: 10…
Accidental Spy, The (2003)
- Dir. Teddy Chen
Feat. Jackie Chan
- One of Jackie Chan's 'Off–Hollywood' productions, an international action adventure filmed on the cheap in Hong Kong. Contains lashings of…
Agent Cody Banks (2003)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Harald Zwart
Feat. Frankie Muniz, Cynthia Stevenson, Hilary Duff…
- Teen heart–throb Frankie Munz plays a junior CIA agent in this lightweight but savvy James Bond–parody.
Skateboarding his way into a…
Ballistic: Ecks Vs Sever (2003)
- Dir. Wych Kaosayananda
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Lucy Liu
- Panned on release, this over–geared action slambam has its own sense of chaotic fun that may be enjoyable for some out there.
Antonio…
Cambridge Spies (TV Series) (2003)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Tim Fywell
Feat. Tom Hollander, Toby Stephens
- A BBC mini–series which recounts one of the great spy stories of the 20th century, concerning the Cambridge–educated foursome of Philby,…
Johnny English (2003)
- Dir. Peter Howitt
Feat. Rowan Atkinson, John Malkovich, Tim Pigott-Smith
- A British spy spoof that through the expertise of Rowan Atkinson holds its own against the more sophisticated AUSTIN POWERS.
When the entire…
Recruit, The (2003)
- Dir. Roger Donaldson
Feat. Al Pacino, Colin Farrell
- CIA–trainer Al Pacino puts computer hacker Colin Farrell through the hoops to prepare him for the world of intelligence gathering and secret…
Spooks - Season 2 (TV Series) (2003)
- Feat. Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, Peter Firth…
- Further episodes from the British MI5 spy suspense series, in which agents try to resolve a variety of 21st century threats.
Season Two: 6…
Spy Kids 3-D (Game Over) (2003)
- Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Ricardo Montalban…
- Another installment in the successful SPY KIDS franchise, adding the gimmick of '3–D' to the family action format.
This time round, the…
Triple Agent (2003)
- Dir. Eric Rohmer
- A measured and discrete exercise in espionage cinema from octagenrian dir. Rohmer (AN AUTUMN TALE), eschewing his usual air of cordial romance for an…
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
- Dir. Jay Roach
Feat. Mike Myers, Robert Wagner, Michael York…
- The third and probably final instalment of the wildly successful spy spoof series sets itself in the garish 1970s, but having run clean out of…
Bourne Identity, The (2002)
- Dir. Doug Liman
Feat. Matt Damon, Franke Potente, Chris Cooper…
- A stylish transcription of the Robert Ludlum thriller, with amnesiac CIA super–agent Matt Damon scrambling to survive as he’s hunted…
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
- Dir. George Clooney
Feat. Sam Rockwell, George Clooney, Julia Roberts…
- The life and neuroses of TV–producer Chuck Barris are the subject of this 'confession', a freewheeling comic fantasy in which the worlds of…
Crocodile Hunter, The (Collision Course) (2002)
- Dir. John Stainton
Feat. Steve Irwin, David Wenham
- Surprisingly winning fictional bigscreen outing for its instantly recognisable titular ‘character’ Steve Irwin.
When a valuable piece…
Die Another Day (2002)
- Dir. Lee Tamahori
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Judi Dench…
- High on octane, low on sustenance, Pierce Brosnan beefs up the machismo (and arrogance?) for his fourth outing as Bond – indignant after a long…
Extreme Ops (2002)
- Dir. Christian Duguay
Feat. Devon Sawa, Rupert Graves, Rufus Sewell…
- An appealing tale of snow–boarders turned 'special agents' that quickly skis off into the realms of complete fantasy.
While on assignment…
I-Spy (2002)
- Dir. Betty Thomas
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Owen Wilson, Famke Janssen
- The 60s TV–series of the same name fashioned as a slick but silly buddy comedy and a shameless star vehicle for two tried–and–true…
In-Laws, The (2002)
- Dir. Andrew Fleming
Feat. Michael Douglas, Albert Brooks
- Jokily enacted remake of the 1979 film, proffers the same blend of family comedy and spy antics, only with far more hi–tech action and less…
Spooks - Season 1 (TV Series) (2002)
- Feat. Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, Peter Firth…
- Watchable and fast–paced teledrama set around the activites of Britain's official spy agency, MI5.
Based around half a dozen characters in…
Spy Kids 2 - The Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
- Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Steve Buscemi…
- The diminutive spies of the hit family thriller return for another colourful, goofy round of saving the day for the grownups.
In team with a rival…
Truth About Charlie, The (2002)
- Dir. Jonathan Demme
Feat. Mark Wahlberg, Thandiwe Newton, Tim Robbins…
- A remake of the 1963 classic CHARADE, in which a widow realises after her husband's death that he was involved in espionage.
Interesting revival…
Tuxedo, The (2002)
- Dir. Kevin Donovan
Feat. Jackie Chan, Jennifer Love Hewitt
- Novelty Hollywood vehicle for Jackie Chan outfits the star as a chauffeur–turned–secret agent with an Inspector Gadget–type tuxedo…
xXx (2002)
- Dir. Rob Cohen
Feat. Vin Diesel, Marton Csokas, Asia Argento
- James Bond made–over for Playstation fans as a triple–strength dose of hi–tech thrills, macho posturing and general…
Alias (TV Series) (2001)
- Feat. Jennifer Garner, Ron Rifkin, Michael Vartan…
- Depicts the adventures of a college student (Garner) who moonlights as a special agent – fulfilling dangerous covert operations for the CIA and…
Spy Game (2001)
- Dir. Tony Scott
Feat. Brad Pitt, Robert Redford, Catherine McCormack
- King–of–flash, dir. Scott (TOP GUN) contrives a drama around super–spy Robert Redford’s last day on the job, having to rescue…
Spy Kids (2001)
- Dir. Robert Rodriguez
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Cheech Marin…
- Smashing kidult adventure, in which action dir. Rodriguez lends his action talents to a James Bond–type tale with a twist: Antonio Banderas and…
Art of War, The (2000)
- Dir. Christian Duguay
Feat. Wesley Snipes, Donald Sutherland, Michael Biehn…
- Wesley Snipes dishes up his well–practiced Art of Action, as a UN Special–Agent who becomes the prime–suspect patsy in the…
Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
- Dir. John Woo
Feat. Tom Cruise, Dougray Scott, Thandiwe Newton…
- Submerging all traces of the original series, Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, whose mission it is to keep a deadly synthetic virus out of the hands…
Tailor of Panama, The (2000)
- Dir. John Boorman
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, Jamie Lee Curtis…
- Sly, cynical little spy–thriller, unfolds with a morally–dubious UK spy Pierce Brosnan stitching together a big–score in Panama by…
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Jay Roach
Feat. Mike Myers, Heather Graham
- Slightly hand–me–down it may be, but gag–for–gag, this extravagant sequel arguably tops the original and seals Austin Powers…
World Is Not Enough, The (1999)
- Dir. Michael Apted
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Robert Carlyle, Sophie Marceau…
- Pierce Brosnan is back for a third time in the most cartoonish entry in many a season, with in–jokes, sexual allusions and fire–power…
Assignment, The (1998)
- Dir. Christian Duguay
Feat. Aidan Quinn, Donald Sutherland, Ben Kingsley
- International espionage flick that revels in the skillful, old–fashioned flourishes of an elaborate terrorist caper. Tourist Aidan Quinn gets…
Jackal, The (1998)
- Dir. Michael Caton-Jones
Feat. Bruce Willis, Sidney Poitier, Richard Gere
- When shadowy assassin and master–of–disguises Bruce Willis lines up a top US government official in his sights, FBI director Sidney…
Red Corner (1998)
- Dir. Jon Avnet
Feat. Richard Gere, Ling Bai, Bradley Whitford
- Corporate globetrotter Richard Gere becomes a murder–suspect during a trade visit to China, then lands further afoul when he escapes while on…
X-Files Movie, The (1998)
- Dir. Rob Bowman
Feat. David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson
- Following the STAR TREK model, the '90s TV phenomenon, featuring terminally–perturbed FBI agents Mulder and Scully, beams up onto the big…
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Jay Roach
Feat. Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York…
- American cat Mike Myers draws on his predilection for British comedy for this spot–on spy movie satire.
He plays both the swinging '60s spy…
Man Who Knew Too Little, The (1997)
- Dir. Jon Amiel
Feat. Bill Murray, Peter Gallagher, Joanne Whalley…
- Contrived spy comedy, in which a bumbling Bill Murray accidently inducts himself into various high level intrigues. Though nothing special, this…
Saint, The (1997)
- Dir. Phillip Noyce
Feat. Val Kilmer, Elisabeth Shue, Rade Serbedzija…
- Val Kilmer's reincarnation of 'The Saint' only vaguely resembles the original character played by Roger Moore and Iain Ogilvy. There is considerable…
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
- Dir. Roger Spottiswoode
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh…
- Pierce Brosnan is back for a second round as 007, this time embroiled in the war–waging activities of an unscrupulous media baron (Jonathan…
Betrayal, The (1996)
- Dir. John Anderson
Feat. Allen O'Leary
- A dynamic mix of documentary, rare achive footage, and vivid dramatic recreations tells the extraordinary adventures of Kiwi Ron Jeffrey in wartime…
Forbidden City Cop (1996)
- Dir. Vincent Tak-Chiu
Feat. Stephen Chow (Chiao)
- Hysterical and kinda crazy semi–sequel to the smash hit comedy FROM BEIJING WITH LOVE, splices James Bond with A CHINESE GHOST STORY, following…
Goldeneye (1996)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Isabella Scorupco…
- Brosnan cuts the mustard as the new 007, aided by shrewd modifications that thoroughly re–invigorate the franchise – playful,…
Midnight in St. Petersburg (1996)
- Dir. Douglas Jackson
Feat. Michael Caine, Jason Connery, Michael Sarrazin…
- Formulaic final outing for Harry Palmer as a consignment of plutonium falls into the hands of the Russian Mafia.
Mission: Impossible (1996)
- Dir. Brian De Palma
Feat. Tom Cruise
- Hollywood refit of the '60s cult TV show with classic stylings and theme–tune thankfully intact. Precisely executed action sequences redeem a…
Mother Night (1996)
- Dir. Keith Gordon
Feat. Nick Nolte, Sheryl Lee, Alan Arkin…
- Ambitious adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's meaty novel recounts the memoirs of an unheralded American spy – from German 'hero' to destitute…
Secret Agent, The (1996)
- Dir. Christopher Hampton
Feat. Bob Hoskins, Gerard Depardieu, Patricia Arquette…
- Faithful period adaptation of Joseph Conrad's 1907 novel concerning political intrigues in Edwardian London. Russian spy Bob Hoskins is ordered out…
Spy Hard (1996)
- Dir. Rick Friedberg
Feat. Leslie Nielsen, Nicollette Sheridan, Charles Durning
- Leslie Nielsen is back for another round of movie send–ups in what increasingly seems like an exhausted genre. A barrage of hits and misses…
Bullet to Beijing (1995)
- Dir. George Mihalka
Feat. Michael Caine, Jason Connery, Mia Sara…
- Fourth outing for Michael Caine as the dog–eared spy Harry Palmer, sent to Moscow, this time to recover a stolen 'Doomsday'–style…
Patriotes, Les (1995)
- Dir. Eric Rochant
Feat. Yvan Attal, Richard Masur, Allen Garfield…
- Disillusionment erodes the ideals of a young Frenchman who emigrates to Israel to train for a career in their intelligence division. Its astute focus…
Bad Company (1994)
- Dir. Damian Harris
Feat. Laurence Fishburne, Ellen Barkin
- Disgraced CIA agent Larry Fishburne defects to a rebel intelligence bureau who service high–priced clients with no questions asked. Slick…
From Beijing with Love (1994)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Dir. Stephen Chow (Chiao)
Feat. Stephen Chow (Chiao), Anita Yuen
- Exceedingly funny James Bond spoof, perhaps the finest Hong Kong export since Jackie Chan.
Assigned to retrieve a national treasure from corrupt…
Innocent, The (1994)
- Dir. John Schlesinger
Feat. Anthony Hopkins, Campbell Scott, Isabella Rossellini
- Anthony Hopkins toplines WW2 espionage thriller about a British engineer (Campbell Scott) who becomes caught in the crossfire of suspicion during his…
Terminal Velocity (1994)
- Dir. Deran Sarafian
Feat. Charlie Sheen, Nastassja Kinski, James Gandolfini…
- Sheen plays a skydiving expert roped into international espionage by way of the mysterious Kinski. It's sexist, crass and juvenile, but never dull,…
True Lies (1994)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. James Cameron
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold
- Action set pieces just don't come any bigger or better than under monster–budget maestro, James Cameron. Reteaming with Schwarzenegger, it's…
Patriot Games (1992)
- Dir. Phillip Noyce
Feat. Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, Patrick Bergin…
- Ford is maverick FBI agent Jack Ryan (James Bond sans sense of humour) who blows away an IRA terrorist, and finds himself the target of a zealous…
Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, The (1992)
- Dir. Michael Tuchner
Feat. Sam Neill, Jon Voight, Tony Barry…
- Telemovie enactment of the French–sponsored bombing of the Greenpeace vessel ' Rainbow Warrior' in 1984. Solidly dramatised with Neill and…
Sneakers (1992)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Dir. Phil Alden Robinson
Feat. Robert Redford, Ben Kingsley, Sidney Poitier…
- This reworks the spy–caper genre to dazzling effect as an endearing team of security crackpots attempt to outwit bad egg Ben Kingsley whose…
A Murder of Quality (1991)
- Dir. Gavin Millar
Feat. Denholm Elliott, Glenda Jackson, Joss Ackland…
- Tele–movie based on the novel by John le Carré, who also served here as screenwriter, following the fictional character George Smiley…
Company Business (1991)
- Dir. Nicholas Meyer
Feat. Gene Hackman, Mikhail Baryshnikov
- Cold–war era spy thriller where ex–CIA agent Hackman teams up with Soviet spy Baryshnikov after being double–crossed by their own…
Sleepers (TV Series) (1991)
- Feat. Nigel Havers, Warren Clarke
- Absurdist BBC spy comedy set in the post–Glasnost era, where it is discovered that two KGB agents assigned to infiltrate British society in the…
Licence to Kill (License to Kill) (1990)
- Dir. John Glen
Feat. Timothy Dalton, Carey Lowell
- Dalton continues as a tougher and more cynical Bond, as he attempts to avenge the murder by ruthless drug lord Franz Sanchezz, of his best friend.…
Russia House, The (1990)
- Dir. Fred Schepisi
Feat. Sean Connery, Michelle Pfeiffer
- Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer star in this cat–and–mouse drama involving Western intelligence's use of a publisher to liaise with an…
Get Smart Again (1989)
- Dir. Gary Nelson
Feat. Don Adams, Barbara Feldon
- A latterday followup to the great Mel Brooks–produced TV Series, with Don Adams returning as the bumbling spy Maxwell Smart, here trying to…
Piglet Files, The (TV Series) (1989)
- Feat. Nicholas Lyndhurst, Serena Evans
- Quirky, much–loved British sitcom, with Nicholas Lyndhurst as an electronics whiz who inadvertently ends up working for the British…
Betrayed (1988)
- Dir. Costa-Gavras
Feat. Debra Winger, Tom Berenger, John Heard…
- FBI agent Debra Winger must infiltrate a vicious white supremacist network, apparently run by the handsome, affable Tom Berenger. Murky plotting gets…
Pascali's Island (1988)
- Dir. James Dearden
Feat. Ben Kingsley, Charles Dance
- Polished thriller in which frustrated Turkish spy Ben Kingsley discovers little honour among thieves after he steals a Greek treasure with mysterious…
Windmills of the Gods (1988)
- Dir. Lee Phillips
Feat. Jaclyn Smith, Robert Wagner, Ian McKellen…
- As the Cold War rages, the president names Professor Mary Ashley as the new Ambassador to Romania. Mike Slade is appointed to be her assistant. As…
Fourth Protocol, The (1987)
- Dir. John Mackenzie
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Michael Caine, Ned Beatty…
- Based on the novel by famed thriller writer Frederick Forsyth (DAY OF THE JACKAL), this posits Brosnan as a Russian agent intent on infiltrating…
Living Daylights, The (1987)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. John Glen
Feat. Timothy Dalton, Maryam d'Abo, Jeroen Krabbe
- Timothy Dalton in his debut as Bond delivers up an impressively slick performance as he struggles to disenable an evil Russian general from igniting…
Perfect Spy, A (1987)
- Dir. Peter Smith
Feat. Peter Egan, Ray McAnally, Peggy Ashcroft…
- Peter Egan is Magnus Pyum, a spy so perfect he has come to betray everyone he knows, including himself. A superbly realised Beeb version of John Le…
Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986)
- Dir. Penny Marshall
Feat. Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Collins, Carol Kane…
- Amiable escapade with trouble aplenty for Goldberg after she starts receiving S.O.S messages from a British spy trapped in Soviet Russia. When she…
View to a Kill, A (1986)
- Dir. John Glen
Feat. Roger Moore, Christopher Walken, Tanya Roberts…
- Roger Moore's final outing as agent 007. Evil billionaire industrialist Max Zorin (Walken) and his lethal associate May Day (Jones) plan to take over…
Whistle Blower, The (1986)
- Dir. Simon Langton
Feat. Michael Caine, James Fox, Nigel Havers…
- Michael Caine gives one of his best performances in a reasonably realistic spy drama, as the father of a GCHQ officer bumped off during a Cold War…
Falcon and the Snowman (1985)
- Dir. John Schlesinger
Feat. Sean Penn, Timothy Hutton
- A composed intellectual convinces his wayward friend to sell federal secrets to the Russians. Stunning political drama featuring a stand–out…
Airwolf (TV Series) (1984-1987)
- Feat. Jan-Michael Vincent, Ernest Borgnine, Alex Cord
- Eighties television series centered on a high–tech military helicopter and its crew as they undertake various missions of espionage, often with…
Cloak and Dagger (1984)
- Dir. Richard Franklin
Feat. Henry Thomas, Dabney Coleman, Michael Murphy
- A boy with a reputation for "crying wolf" is convinced he's just witnessed an espionage plot by Russian spies in America, only no one believes his…
Jigsaw Man, The (1984)
- Dir. Terence Young
Feat. Michael Caine, Laurence Olivier, Susan George…
- Squandered reteaming of SLEUTH adversaries Olivier and Caine finds the latter, playing a double agent, evading the manhunt of British and Russian spy…
Little Drummer Girl (1984)
- Dir. George Roy Hill
Feat. Diane Keaton, Klaus Kinski
- Diane Keaton excels in this politically even handed labyrinthine terrorist thriller. The screenplay was adapted with the assistance of John Le Carre…
Top Secret! (1984)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Feat. Val Kilmer, Omar Sharif, Jeremy Kemp…
- No secret this is one of the best of the Abrahams/Zucker Bros comedies (FLYING HIGH) with Val Kilmer as a rather dim, Elvis–type singer who, in…
Gorky Park (1983)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Michael Apted
Feat. William Hurt, Lee Marvin, Brian Dennehy…
- William Hurt plays a brooding Russian detective investigating horrific murders in Moscow. Meaty, convincing thriller.
Never Say Never Again (1983)
- Dir. Irvin Kershner
Feat. Sean Connery, Barbara Carrera
- Connery returns to role he made famous after a twelve year absence. He's lost none of his earlier style and charm or gorgeous women for that matter.…
Octopussy (1983)
- Dir. John Glen
Feat. Roger Moore, Maud Adams
- Moore plays 007 in this, the thirteenth Bond film. Travelling to India and Germany, Bond investigates a jewellery smuggling operation, encountering…
Osterman Weekend, The (1983)
- Dir. Sam Peckinpah
Feat. Rutger Hauer, John Hurt, Dennis Hopper
- An adaption of Robert Ludlum's well–known novel about cold–war espionage and paranoia.
Reilly Ace Of Spies (TV Mini-series) (1983)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Martin Campbell, Jim Goddard
Feat. Sam Neill, Peter Egan, Ian Charleson…
- Quintessential 1980s mini–series follows the adventures of a real life British superspy Sidney Reilly in the turbulent Russia, Europe and Asia…
Impossible Kid, The (1982)
- Dir. Eddie Nicart
Feat. Weng Weng, Romy Diaz, Nina Sara
- Chop–socky sequel with world's smallest spy again coming up another baddie intent to destroy the world. Comical dialogue, and more ball busting…
Smiley's People (1982)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Simon Langton
Feat. Alec Guinness, Bernard Hepton, Barry Foster…
- Alec Guinness is John Le Carre's Smiley, a retired agent called back to investigate a collegue's assasination which leads him on a treacherous…
Eye of the Needle (1981)
- Dir. Richard Marquand
Feat. Donald Sutherland, Kate Nelligan, Christopher Cazenove
- Donald Sutherland plays a German agent with a deadly secret in this above–average WW2 suspense yarn that builds to an impressive,…
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
- Dir. John Glen
Feat. Roger Moore, Carole Bouquet
- Roger Moore as Bond in the film which attempted a return to the minimalist roots of Fleming's writing.
Gone, for now, are the mountains of gadgets…
For Your Height Only (1981)
- Dir. Eddie Nicart
Feat. Weng Weng, Yehlen Catral, Carmi Martin…
- Schlocky riff on the 007 franchise with pint sized ass–kicker Weng Weng as the world's smallest super spy, Agent 00, doing battle with mad…
Castle of Cagliostro (1980)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
- Ground–breaking animated feature from the director of PRINCESS MONONOKE holds its own in today's high–tech animation environment. Based…
Hopscotch (1980)
- Dir. Ronald Neame
Feat. Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, Sam Waterston…
- Walter Matthau carries this cat–and–mouse comedy as a demoted CIA operative who enjoys being a target after publishing a spiteful memoir…
La Cage Aux Folles 2 (1980)
- Dir. Edouard Molinaro
Feat. Michel Serrault, Ugo Tognazzi, Michel Galabru
- Cast and crew reunite for this enjoyable sequel to one of the most successful French comedies of all time. This time our two heroes find themselves…
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1980)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. John Irvin
Feat. Alec Guinness, Ian Richardson, Michael Jayston
- Alec Guinness returns as John Le Carre's retired agent George Smiley, this time lured back to trace an infiltrator at his old stomping ground.
Human Factor, The (1979)
- Dir. Otto Preminger
Feat. Richard Attenborough, John Gielgud, Derek Jacobi…
- Otto Preminger last film is a mild espionage affair, concerning a low–level British informant suspected of being a double agent. A hefty cast…
In-Laws, The (1979)
- Dir. Arthur Hiller
Feat. Peter Falk, Alan Arkin, Richard Libertini…
- Alan Arkin and Peter Falk deliver some effortless comedy in this straightforward buddy–comedy, as a dentist and CIA–agent embroiled in a…
Jaguar Lives! (1979)
- Dir. Ernest Pintoff
Feat. Joe Lewis, Christopher Lee, Donald Pleasence…
- A Spanish–American actioner featuring "three Bond villains" and "one Bond beauty" in the cast but who, in true exploitation fashion, barely…
Moonraker (1979)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Lewis Gilbert
Feat. Roger Moore, Richard Kiel, Lois Chiles…
- Roger Moore as Bond pursues a megalomaniac billionaire into outer space in one of the more outlandish entries of the series.
Memorable scenes…
Rhinemann Exchange, The (TV Mini-Series) (1977)
- Dir. Burt Kennedy
Feat. Stephen Collins, Larry Hagman, Roddy McDowall…
- Vintage spy thriller follows a US intelligence agent (Collins) on a mission to oversee the exchange of high–altitude gyroscope plans. A little…
Spy Who Loved Me, The (1977)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Dir. Lewis Gilbert
Feat. Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Richard Kiel
- Moore's Bond teams up with seductive Soviet Agent Anya Amasova (Bach) to track down missing Allied and Soviet atomic submarines. The trail leads to…
Telefon (1977)
- Dir. Don Siegel
Feat. Charles Bronson
- Espionage thriller with Bronson as Russian agent sent to stop a crazy defector from triggering hypnotised saboteurs in the US.
Bionic Woman, The (TV Series) (1976-1978)
- Feat. Lindsay Wagner, Richard Anderson, Lee Majors
- The respectable female spinoff to THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, has Wagner play the tennis pro fiance of 'Steve Austin' who after a skydiving accident…
Deathcheaters (1976)
- Dir. Brian Trenchard-Smith
Feat. Grant Page, John Hargreaves, Chris Haywood
- Stunt–packed Aussie adventure involving a couple of spies attempting to infiltrate the stronghold of a criminal genius.
It's all just a…
Marathon Man (1976)
- Dir. John Schlesinger
Feat. Laurence Olivier, Dustin Hoffman, Roy Scheider…
- Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman display their thespian prowess in this dark tale of a marathon runner entangled in international espionage. One…
New Avengers, The (TV Series) (1976-1977)
- Dir. James Hill
Feat. Patrick Macnee, Joanna Lumley, Gareth Hunt
- The 1970s revision of the 60s show is simultaneously grittier and sillier than the original. Patrick Macnee returns, but Joanna Lumley and Gareth…
3 Days of the Condor (Three Days of the Condor) (1975)
- Dir. Sydney Pollack
Feat. Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson…
- A polished thriller from the heyday of the 70s conspiracy genre, with Robert Redford as the hunted CIA operative who knows 'too much'.
Going on…
Eiger Sanction, The (1975)
- Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood, George Kennedy, Vonetta McGee
- Star/director Eastwood plays a mountaineering, art–loving version of James Bond in this bumbling thriller.
Lame dialogue and cool threads…
Black Windmill, The (1974)
- Dir. Don Siegel
Feat. Michael Caine, Delphine Seyrig, Donald Pleasence…
- Michael Caine is in second–hand Harry Palmer–mode as a lone British espionage agent whose son is kidnapped and ransomed for diamonds by a…
Double Agent 73 (1974)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Doris Wishman
Feat. Chesty Morgan
- Outrageous detective spoof custom–built for its stars, Chesty Morgan and her 73" upper torso. The genius here is that Chesty works undercover…
Man with the Golden Gun, The (1974)
- Dir. Guy Hamilton
Feat. Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland
- Moore's second film as Bond finds him in Southeast Asia battling for possession of a deadly weapon. There's a price on his head and the world's…
Odessa File, The (1974)
- Dir. Ronald Neame
Feat. Jon Voight, Maximilian Schell, Maria Schell…
- Jon Voight plays a German journalist on the trail of Nazi war criminals. From Frederic Forsyth's bestseller.
Tamarind Seed, The (1974)
- Dir. Blake Edwards
Feat. Julie Andrews, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quayle…
- Languid romantic thriller plays out against the backdrop of the Cold War looming. Andrews plays a British civil servant on holiday in the Caribbean…
Zoo Gang, The (TV Series) (1974)
- Feat. Brian Keith, John Mills, Barry Morse…
- Old fashioned but fun espionage series centered around five aged resistance fighters scamming scamming the scammers and gifting the money to the…
Le Magnifique (1973)
- Dir. Philippe de Broca
Feat. Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jacqueline Bisset, Vittorio Caprioli
- Jean–Paul Belmondo stars in this slapstick spoof of B–movie espionage films and novels, playing a frustrated writer working in this genre…
Live and Let Die (1973)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Guy Hamilton
Feat. Roger Moore, Jane Seymour, Yaphet Kotto
- Roger Moore succeeds Sean Connery in the role of 007, with exotic elements "borrowed" from the blaxploitation craze of the time.
The superagent…
Mackintosh Man, The (1973)
- Dir. John Huston
Feat. Paul Newman, Dominique Sanda, James Mason
- Old–fashioned cold war thriller with Paul Newman playing a British intelligence agent who goes undercover to infiltrate a spy organisation. A…
Scorpio (1973)
- Dir. Michael Winner
Feat. Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, Paul Scofield…
- Burt Lancaster plays the CIA agent in this solid suspense yarn set at the height of the Cold War. Plotwise this is a little overcomplicated, but…
Six Million Dollar Man, The (TV Series) (1973-1978)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Feat. Lee Majors
- As the quintessential TV action figure of 70s, Steve Austin, Lee Majors was the coolest guy on the planet. The show ran for eight years until…
Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe / Return of the Tall Blond Man (1973)
- Dir. Yves Robert
Feat. Pierre Richard, Bernard Blier, Jean Rochefort
- A secret service chief arranges for his assistant to investigate an innocent person chosen at random in order to prove him inept.
A little dated…
That Man Bolt (1973)
- Dir. David Lowell Rich, Henry Levin
Feat. Fred Williamson, Byron Webster, Miko Mayama…
- Colourful action film blending blaxploitation, martial arts, and spy influences, with Fred Williamson (HELL UP IN HARLEM) starring as a karate sex…
Salzburg Connection, The (Top Secret) (1972)
- Dir. Lee H. Katzin
Feat. Barry Newman, Anna Karina, Klaus Maria Brandauer…
- Entertaining espionage tale has Newman tangling with neo–Nazis and spies both in pursuit of the identity of German war criminals. Densely…
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
- Dir. Guy Hamilton
Feat. Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Charles Gray
- A slightly jaded Sean Connery returns as Agent 007, on the trail of a powerful diamond smuggling syndicate. Bond is joined by Tiffany Case as he…
Jason King (TV Series) (1971-1972)
- Dir. Roy Ward Baker
Feat. Peter Wyngarde
- Spinoff series from DEPARTMENT S, following the flamboyant titular writer (Wyngarde) on further secret agent–international playboy adventures.…
Persuaders, The (TV Series) (Persuaders!, The) (1971)
- Dir. Basil Dearden
Feat. Roger Moore, Tony Curtis
- Roger Moore and Tony Curtis play a debonair duo who lend their status and charm to dissuade the criminal fraternity. Wonderfully corny.
DVD 'Box…
Callan (TV Series) (1970)
- Dir. James Goddard, Voytek
Feat. Edward Woodward
- The bold British TV spy series with Edward Woodward as the cold–blooded but very human secret agent.
Lancelot Link Secret Chimp (TV Series) (1970)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- A still amusing TV cult from the early 1970s, which put a hairy satirical twist on the spy series that were popular at the time, by populating its…
Chairman, The (1969)
- Dir. J. Lee Thompson
Feat. Gregory Peck, Anne Heywood, Arthur Hill…
- Engrossing and utterly preposterous spy flick with Peck as a scientist who must sneak into communist China to steal a secret formula, and to…
Department S (TV Series) (1969)
- Feat. Peter Wyngarde
- Perhaps the last elaborate flourish in its genre, this AVENGERS–style TV series was set around three 'special agents' who solve the unsolvable…
Mister Jerico (1969)
- Dir. Sidney Hayers
Feat. Patrick Macnee, Herbert Lom, Connie Stevens
- Cheesy 60s crime caper stars AVENGERS actor Patrick Macnee as a conman set out to rob a diamond from a millionaire, only to have his plans disrupted…
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Peter R. Hunt
Feat. George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas
- Unique among Bonds not only for the one–off casting of George Lazenby but also the greater sensitivity given to his character (007 falls in…
Topaz (1969)
- Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. John Forsythe, Frederick Stafford, Dany Robin…
- Intelligence spooks John Forsythe and Frederick Stafford run through the gamut of spy moves in the 60s Cold War world. Needless to say, Hitch ain't…
Wrecking Crew, The (1969)
- Dir. Phil Karlson
Feat. Dean Martin, Elke Sommer, Sharon Tate…
- Daft final outing for Martin as erotic photographer/super–spy Matt Helm with bonkers plot centering on a villain stealing a billion dollars…
Billion Dollar Brain (1968)
- Dir. Ken Russell
Feat. Michael Caine, Karl Malden, Ed Begley…
- The third 'Harry Palmer' spy caper taken from Len Deighton's series, with the bespectacled Caine this time chasing a meglomaniac Texas…
Dandy in Aspic, A (1968)
- Dir. Anthony Mann
Feat. Laurence Harvey, Tom Courtenay, Mia Farrow
- A curious failure, Anthony Mann’s final film, completed by star Laurence Harvey after the director died during filming, muddles the deception of a…
Danger Diabolik (1968)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Dir. Mario Bava
Feat. John Phillip Law, Marisa Mell, Michel Piccoli…
- Cat–burgling cool from the pop–art 1960's, outfitted in futuristic chic and the effortless glamour of John Phillip Law and blonde…
It Takes a Thief (TV Series) (1968)
- Feat. Robert Wagner
- A super–cool product of sixties spy style, with Robert Wagner globe–trotting as a world–class cat burglar recruited by the U.S…
Ambushers, The (1967)
- Dir. Henry Levin
Feat. Dean Martin, Senta Berger, Janice Rule…
- Ridiculous third entry in the Matt Helm series is considered the weakest with Deano sent to Acapulco to recover a hijacked space craft. Having said…
Caprice (1967)
- Dir. Frank Tashlin
Feat. Doris Day, Richard Harris, Michael J. Pollard
- Madcap comedy features Day as a spy for a cosmetics company who stumbles upon a drug smuggling ring. Richard Harris plays a fellow agent who may or…
Casino Royale (1967)
- Dir. John Huston, others
Feat. David Niven, Peter Sellers, Woody Allen…
- Black–sheep of the Bond movies, this is in fact an elaborate send–up, whose chaotic production–history is obvious in the…
In Like Flint (1967)
- Dir. Gordon Douglas
Feat. James Coburn, Lee J. Cobb, Andrew Duggan…
- Before AUSTIN POWERS, there was this James Bond spoof series (of which this is the second film) where James Coburn grins his way through proceedings.…
Saint, The - Fiction Makers (1967)
- Dir. Roy Ward Baker
Feat. Roger Moore, Sylvia Syms
- Roger Moore's successful TV portrayal provides the basis of this feature–length version of 'The Saint'. A gang of jewel–thieves plans a…
You Only Live Twice (1967)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Lewis Gilbert
Feat. Sean Connery, Donald Pleasence, Tetsuro Tamba
- The fifth Bond film starring Sean Connery as the agent supreme. A space flight is hijacked by sinister crime organisation Spectre, bringing the world…
Arabesque (1966)
- Dir. Stanley Donen
Feat. Sophia Loren, Gregory Peck
- Whimsical spy shenanigans in London, with Anglo–Arab relations straining over the custody of a hieroglyphic code. Sophia Loren's extraordinary…
Danger Man (TV Series) (1966)
- Dir. Peter Yates, Don Chaffey
Feat. Patrick McGoohan
- Before THE PRISONER, Patrick McGoohan played a prototype of the same character as the cool and calculated John Drake, a special agent who keeps up…
Funeral in Berlin (1966)
- Dir. Guy Hamilton
Feat. Michael Caine, Oscar Homolka
- Sequel to THE IPCRESS FILE again features Michael Caine as the Harry Palmer, hero of Len Deighton's novel series. This time the espionage functionary…
Mission: Impossible (TV Series) (1966- 1973)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Bernard L. Kowalski
Feat. Peter Graves, Steven Hill, Barbara Bain…
- Forget Tom Cruise, this is the real McCoy – '60s fashion, gadgets, and plots worth talking about the day after.
On DVD rental: Season 1 (28…
Modesty Blaise (1966)
- Dir. Joseph Losey
Feat. Monica Vitti, Dirk Bogarde, Terence Stamp…
- Comic–strip style adventures of a sexy female spy, filmed at the height of the pop–art craze.
Murderer's Row (1966)
- Dir. Henry Levin
Feat. Dean Martin, Ann-Margret, Karl Malden…
- Far out second Matt Helm film sees our swinging spy battling a villian and his plans to harness the power of the sun to destroy earth. Austin Powers…
Our Man Flint (1966)
- Dir. Daniel Mann
Feat. James Coburn, Lee J. Cobb, Gila Golan…
- Zestful James Bond spoof with James Coburn providing the regulation braun with an equal measure of tongue–in–cheek.
Quiller Memorandum, The (1966)
- Dir. Michael Anderson
Feat. George Segal, Max von Sydow, Alec Guinness
- Cold War thriller given an edge through the expert scripting of Harold Pinter, mapping out a game of psychological cat–and–mouse between…
Silencers, The (1966)
- Dir. Phil Karlson
Feat. Dean Martin, Stella Stevens, Daliah Lavi…
- Dean Martin stars as secret agent Matt Helm, the archetypal gun–toting womanizer, straight out of the kitsch 60's. Spawned 3 sequels, but this…
Torn Curtain (1966)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. Paul Newman, Julie Andrews
- Atom–bomb boffin Paul Newman defects across the Iron Curtain of the title to East Germany, testing the boundaries of trust for true–blue…
Triple Cross (1966)
- Dir. Terence Young
Feat. Christopher Plummer, Romy Schneider, Trevor Howard…
- Minor curio concerns the real–life adventures of English safe–cracker Eddie Chapman (Plummer) who was in prison on Jersey when the Nazis…
Blindfold (1965)
- Dir. Philip Dunne
Feat. Rock Hudson, Claudia Cardinale, Jack Warden…
- Rock Hudson stars in this wry thriller as a psycho–analyst caught up in an international spy plot after one of his patients knows more than…
Get Smart (TV Series) (1965-1968)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Feat. Don Adams, Barbara Feldon, Edward Platt
- Iconic 60's spy spoof series following the enduringly hilarious adventures of an enthusiastic but incompetent secret agent and his loyal, glamorous…
I Spy (TV Series) (1965-1968)
- Feat. Bill Cosby, Robert Culp
- Bill Cosby and Robert Culp star as international espionage agents Alexander Scott and Kelly Robinson in this snazzy cult '60s TV series.
A blend…
Ipcress File, The (1965)
- Dir. Sidney J. Furie
Feat. Michael Caine, Nigel Green, Guy Doleman…
- An academic James Bond–style thriller involving kidnapping, espionage, mysterious tapes and corrupt authorities. Stylised photography and an…
Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)
- Dir. Martin Ritt
Feat. Richard Burton, Oskar Werner, Claire Bloom…
- Stark yet gripping adaptation of John Le Carre's espionage novel. Richard Burton plays the dispossessed spy reluctantly engaged in the most dangerous…
Thunderball (1965)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Terence Young
Feat. Sean Connery, Adolfo Celi, Claudine Auger
- Connery's Bond goes below the call of duty to the shark–infested depths of the ocean to battle crime organisation Spectre headed by a…
Goldfinger (1964)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Dir. Guy Hamilton
Feat. Sean Connery, Gert Frobe, Honor Blackman
- The third Bond film, and the first to really fire the public's imagination.
Connery develops his charismatic appeal as he fights the evil genius…
High Bright Sun, The (McGuire, Go Home!) (1964)
- Dir. Ralph Thomas
Feat. Dirk Bogarde, George Chakiris, Susan Strasberg…
- Convoluted espionage tale with Bogarde on the trail of a Cypriot freedom fighter with an American Archaeology student holding the key to his…
Hot Enough For June (1964)
- Dir. Ralph Thomas
Feat. Dirk Bogarde, Sylva Koscina, Robert Morley…
- A struggling young writer is plunged into a terrifying world of international espionage while on a seemingly innocent commercial assignment to Prague.
Man from U.N.C.L.E., The (TV Series) (The Man from Uncle) (1964)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Feat. Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, George Sanders…
- Robert Vaughan and David McCallum starred in this cool, tongue–in–cheek spy series, which exemplifies the genre at the peak of Cold War…
From Russia with Love (1963)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Terence Young
Feat. Sean Connery, Pedro Armendariz, Lotte Lenya…
- Connery deals to the Russians in a race to seize the Soviet Lektor decoding machine. Featuring one of the longest chase scenes of the series, as well…
Prize, The (1963)
- Dir. Mark Robson
Feat. Paul Newman, Edward G. Robinson, Elke Sommer
- Paul Newman plays an alcoholic writer in Stockholm to collect his Nobel Prize who drunkenly stumbles upon an overly complicated spy plot.
Dr. No (1962)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Terence Young
Feat. Sean Connery, Joseph Wiseman, Ursula Andress…
- First James Bond film has a wet behind the ears but dashing Sean Connery investigating strange occurrences in Jamaica, where he encounters…
Ivan's Childhood (1962)
- Dir. Andrei Tarkovsky
Feat. Nikolai Burlyayev, Valentin Zubkov, Yevgeni Zharikov
- A teenage spy works behind enemy lines in WW2 Germany. The Russian master's first feature is his least self–conscious and most efficient…
Saint, The (TV Series) (1962)
- Feat. Roger Moore
- The role of Simon Templar enabled a young Roger Moore to perfect the savvy quips that would mark him as a natural choice for James Bond.
Also…
Avengers, The (TV Series) (1961-1969)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Feat. Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Linda Thorson
- The impossibly hip secret agent show is a high–camp classic and a nostalgic pleasure. Well–devised scripts, quirky dialogue and playful…
Our Man in Havana (1960)
- Dir. Carol Reed
Feat. Alec Guinness, Burl Ives, Maureen O'Hara…
- Witty, forgotten spy satire from dir. Reed (THE THIRD MAN) has Alex Guinness run riot as an undercover vacuum cleaner salesman spooking for the…
39 Steps, The (1959)
- Dir. Ralph Thomas
Feat. Kenneth More, Taina Elg
- Colour copy of Hitchcock's spy thriller, this time with Kenneth More and Taina Elg as the innocents entangled in Scottish intrigue.
North by Northwest (1959)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason…
- Cary Grant becomes a victim of mistaken identity and is chased across America by enemy agents, in one stylish set piece after another. One of Hitch's…
Stopover Tokyo (1957)
- Dir. Richard L Breen
Feat. Joan Collins, Robert Wagner
- Familiar spy story uses exotic locales to best advantage.
Man Who Knew Too Much, The (1956)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. James Stewart, Doris Day
- Hitchcock remakes his 1934 film and generally comes up trumps with James Stewart and Doris Day as the innocent victims of international espionage.…
Night People (1954)
- Dir. Nunnally Johnson
Feat. Gregory Peck, Broderick Crawford, Anita Bjork…
- Talky thriller with Gregory Peck as a Colonel trying to negotiate the release of a young G.I. held in East Germany. Plenty of political chicanery and…
Who Done It? (1954)
- Dir. Basil Dearden
Feat. Benny Hill
- A young Benny Hill nudges and winks his way through his only feature film, as a novice private eye who gets involved with foreign spies.
Pickup On South Street (1953)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Samuel Fuller
Feat. Richard Widmark
- Pick–pocket Richard Widmark inadvertently steals a micro–film and becomes a fugitive from both police and spies. Vivid espionage thriller…
Five Fingers (5 Fingers) (1952)
- Dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Feat. James Mason, Danielle Darrieux, Michael Rennie…
- Witty espionage thriller set during the Second World War with Mason as a status–hungry valet who hawks important documents to the Germans in…
Dick Barton Trilogy, The (Dick Barton Special Agent, Dick Barton Strikes Back, Dick Barton at Bay) (1948-1950)
- Dir. Godfrey Grayson, Alfred J. Goulding
Feat. Don Stannard, Sebastian Cabot, George Ford…
- A collection of three campy spy thrillers from Hammer Studios during their successful post–war period, with Don Stannard playing the special…
Golden Earrings (1947)
- Dir. Mitchell Leisen
Feat. Marlene Dietrich, Ray Milland, Murvyn Vye
- Romantic spy film set the eve of World War II in which Ray Milland plays an English officer on an espionage mission in Nazi Germany to recover a…
Cloak and Dagger (1946)
- Dir. Fritz Lang
Feat. Gary Cooper
- Fritz Lang spruces up this WWII spy thriller in which Gaz Cooper takes on the the Nazis.
I See a Dark Stranger (The Adventuress) (1946)
- Dir. Frank Launder
Feat. Deborah Kerr, Trevor Howard, Raymond Huntley…
- Absorbing thriller with Deborah Kerr outstanding as a young Irish woman who despises England so much she becomes a Nazi spy.
Notorious (1946)![Aro Favourite Aro Favourite](/img/arofavsm.gif)
- Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant
- Sexy, suspenseful romantic thriller with Ingrid Bergman at her most radiant as an American spy who unwittingly falls in love with her contact, Cary…
Five Graves to Cairo (1943)
- Dir. Billy Wilder
Feat. Franchot Tone, Anne Baxter, Erich von Stroheim…
- Rousing early outing for Billy Wilder; a nimble, well–executed piece of WWII propaganda exaggerating the exploits of a British corporal officer…
Across the Pacific (1942)
- Dir. John Huston
Feat. Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor
- Bogie and director Huston reunite with other MALTESE FALCON leads for a similarly toned WW2 spy adventure set on the eve of Pearl Harbour. Huston was…
Journey into Fear (1942)
- Dir. Norman Foster
Feat. Joseph Cotten, Dolores Del Rio, Orson Welles…
- Hitchcockian suspenser set around an American engineer's adventures in WW2 Turkey.
Loaded down with a maze–like plot (written by star Joseph…
Spy Smasher (1942)
- Dir. William Whitney
Feat. Kane Richmond, Sam Flint, Marguerite Chapman
- Wartime serial adapted from the comic strip has twin brothers protecting democracy from the needle–nosed Nazi spys. 12 instalments on one…
Cottage to Let (1941)
- Dir. Anthony Asquith
Feat. Leslie Banks, Alastair Sim, John Mills…
- Brit thriller focusing on an inventor in the business of bomb testing for the Air Ministry, whose supposedly innocent domestic staff is riddled with…
Man Hunt (1941)
- Dir. Fritz Lang
Feat. Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett, George Sanders…
- A Fritz Lang–directed thriller set in Europe just prior to World War II – the first of the German exile's four anti–Nazi films, and…
Foreign Correspondent (1940)
- Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. Joel McCrea, Laraine Day
- On the eve of WWII, journalist Joel McCrea gets involved in European espionage, some classic Hitchcock set–pieces (esp. the Dutch windmill…
Ninotchka (1939)
- Dir. Ernst Lubitsch
Feat. Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas, Ina Claire…
- “Garbo laughs!” proclaimed the ads for this sparkling romantic comedy, a first for its legendary star, Greta Garbo. She plays a Soviet agent who…
Q Planes (Clouds Over Europe) (1939)
- Dir. Tim Whelan
Feat. Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier, Valerie Hobson
- Delightfully preposterous comedy–thriller about superspys attempting to steal British aircraft secrets. Amid the secret rays and droll…
Spy In Black, The (U-Boat 29) (1939)
- Dir. Michael Powell
Feat. Conrad Veidt, Valerie Hobson, June Duprez
- The brilliant debut collaboration between Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (COLONEL BLIMP, THE RED SHOES), twists an already exciting spy yarn…
Dark Journey (1937)
- Dir. Victor Saville
Feat. Conrad Veidt, Vivien Leigh, Ursula Jeans…
- British spy caper with Leigh as a French spy falling for a German double–agent.
Secret Agent, The (1936)
- Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. Peter Lorre, Madeleine Carroll, John Gielgud
- Peter Lorre plays a reluctant officer assigned to kill a WW2 spy. Good Hitchcock fare from his early career.
39 Steps, The (1935)![Recommended Recommended](/img/arorecsm.gif)
- Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. Madeleine Carroll, Robert Donat, Peggy Ashcroft
- A ripping yarn about a innocent man embroiled in a spy conspiracy and is chased across Scotland. Set a sophisticated precedent for the spy/thriller…
Man Who Knew Too Much, The (1934)
- Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. Leslie Banks, Peter Lorre
- Peter Lorre stars in this original version as the villain who kidnaps an innocent man's child to ensure his silence. Budget limitations are overcome…
Mata Hari (1931)
- Dir. George Fitzmaurice
Feat. Greta Garbo, Ramon Novarro, Lionel Barrymore…
- Heavily fictionalized account of the life of Mata Hari, the exotic dancer who was accused of spying for Germany during World War I. Garbo is magnetic…
Spies (Spione) (1928)
- Dir. Fritz Lang
Feat. Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Willy Fritsch
- Post WWI Europe provides a volatile backdrop for this silent spy–saga, whose brilliant visual flourishes and 'house–of–mirrors'…