Espionage cinema has evolved far beyond trench coats and Cold War paranoia. Today’s spy movies blend intelligence agencies with blockbuster action, tech-driven conspiracies, and morally compromised operatives. With CIA agents, rogue operatives, and shadowy power structures at the center, the genre has never felt more relevant — or more varied. From large-scale action spectacles to quieter, tension-driven thrillers, some of the most rewatched and discussed spy films of the past decade are thriving on streaming across Netflix, Prime Video, and other major platforms.
Below is a curated guide to the best spy movies and espionage thrillers streaming in the US right now, ranging from cerebral mind-benders to high-octane CIA action, from new releases to enduring classics.
The must-watch spy thrillers on major streaming platforms
Inception — Netflix
Christopher Nolan’s genre-defying blockbuster is, at its core, a sophisticated espionage film built around corporate infiltration, covert teams, and layered deception. Leonardo DiCaprio leads a crew of specialists navigating rival interests across global locations, as the film blends spy mechanics with high-concept science fiction. Its precision, scale, and ambition have made it one of the most influential thrillers of the modern era.
► WATCH ON NETFLIX
The Gray Man — Netflix
When the CIA’s most elusive mercenary uncovers damning agency secrets, he becomes the target of a global manhunt led by a ruthless former colleague. Ryan Gosling stars as the covert operative forced on the run, while Chris Evans steals scenes as a sadistic ex-agent determined to eliminate him. Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, The Gray Man delivers relentless, globe-trotting action and stands as Netflix’s most unapologetically blockbuster spy thriller, earning a 90% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes.
► WATCH ON NETFLIX
Back in Action — Netflix
Marking Cameron Diaz’s return to acting, this Netflix original pairs her with Jamie Foxx as former CIA operatives forced back into the field. Designed as a mainstream spy-action comedy, the film prioritizes pace, humor, and accessible thrills—positioning itself as a crowd-pleasing counterpoint to darker espionage stories.
► WATCH ON NETFLIX
Heart of Stone — Netflix
Gal Gadot headlines this globe-spanning thriller centered on a covert peacekeeping organization operating beyond government oversight. Drawing clear inspiration from Bond-style spectacle, the film leans into high-tech action, international intrigue, and franchise ambitions—reflecting Netflix’s push into large-scale espionage storytelling.
► WATCH ON NETFLIX
Charlie’s Angels — Netflix
Elizabeth Banks’ reboot introduces a new generation of Angels operating within an expanded, global version of the Townsend Agency. When a revolutionary piece of software falls into the wrong hands, two experienced operatives are paired with a brilliant new recruit, sending the team on a fast-moving international mission that blends espionage, disguises, and high-tech intrigue.
Led by Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska, the film leans into style, humor, and playful reinvention rather than strict realism. Banks’ direction favors energy and spectacle, while Stewart’s offbeat, scene-stealing performance gives the reboot much of its personality. Light, glossy, and deliberately fun, Charlie’s Angels sits at the breezier end of the spy spectrum — a modern, pop-inflected take on undercover action.
► WATCH ON NETFLIX
Yaksha: Ruthless Operations — Netflix
Set in the Chinese city of Shenyang, this South Korean spy thriller follows an upright prosecutor demoted after a political misstep and sent to inspect a covert intelligence unit that has gone dangerously off the radar. What begins as a routine oversight mission quickly spirals into a brutal shadow war, as the prosecutor finds himself embedded with a rogue black-ops team led by a commander whose methods make even James Bond look restrained.
As rival intelligence agencies from South Korea, North Korea, and Japan clash over a high-value defector, the film erupts into relentless shootouts, hand-to-hand combat, car chases, and high-tech surveillance. Violent, fast-moving, and unapologetically ruthless, Yaksha leans into excess and escalation, pairing pulpy espionage thrills with corruption, betrayal, and late-game twists that keep the stakes rising until the end.
► WATCH ON NETFLIX
Dhurandhar – Netflix
Set in the early 2000s and unfolding across the criminal underworld of Karachi, Dhurandhar follows an Indian undercover operative sent deep behind enemy lines to dismantle a violent nexus of gangsters, intelligence networks, and political power. Moving under a carefully constructed identity, he rises through the ranks with calculated precision, navigating shifting alliances where loyalty is fragile and exposure is fatal.
The film leans into brute-force realism rather than slick fantasy, staging prolonged shootouts, close-quarters violence, interrogations, and torture scenes in cramped, suffocating spaces. Grim, relentless, and unapologetically intense, Dhurandhar blends espionage with political thriller elements, pairing large-scale action with moral erosion and escalating retaliation. It’s a sprawling, high-stakes spy saga that has quickly pushed its way into Netflix’s Global Top 10. Read more: This controversial Indian spy thriller is surging in Netflix’s Global Top 10
► WATCH ON NETFLIX
Without Remorse — Prime Video
Michael B. Jordan headlines this muscular Tom Clancy adaptation as a Navy SEAL pulled into a covert conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of US intelligence. Blending black-ops missions with espionage intrigue and geopolitical fallout, the film delivers modern spy action rooted in vengeance, secrecy, and institutional betrayal.
► WATCH ON PRIME VIDEO
Mr. & Mrs. Smith — Prime Video
Doug Liman’s stylish action-comedy pairs Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as a seemingly ordinary married couple hiding a dangerous secret: both are elite assassins working for rival agencies. When their true identities collide, domestic life turns into a high-energy espionage battleground.
Balancing spy action with romantic sparring, the film leans into slick set pieces, globe-trotting intrigue, and star-driven charisma rather than realism. Light, explosive, and endlessly watchable, Mr. & Mrs. Smith sits firmly on the fun, pop-spy end of the spectrum — a perfect counterweight to darker intelligence thrillers.
Included with Prime Video (US) — availability may change
Burn After Reading — Prime Video
The Coen Brothers’ razor-sharp spy satire turns intelligence work into farce, exposing the vanity, paranoia, and institutional absurdity of the CIA. When a pair of gym employees stumble upon what they believe are classified files, a chain of misunderstandings spirals into blackmail, betrayal, and sudden violence — all played with deadpan precision.
Led by an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Brad Pitt, and Tilda Swinton, the film skewers espionage culture by stripping it of heroism and competence. Darkly funny and unpredictably brutal, Burn After Reading sits at the cerebral end of the spy spectrum, proving that intelligence failures can be just as dangerous — and absurd — as grand conspiracies.
► WATCH ON PRIME VIDEO
Tenet – Netflix
At its core, Tenet is a spy thriller reimagined as a temporal puzzle. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film follows a CIA operative known only as the Protagonist, played by John David Washington, who is recruited into a covert international mission that transcends conventional time. Espionage here is not just about secrecy and deception, but about mastering a technology capable of reversing entropy, turning past and future into active battlefields.
Set across multiple global locations, Tenet blends classic spy elements — clandestine briefings, shadowy alliances, and morally opaque objectives — with Nolan’s trademark high-concept ambition. The film replaces emotional exposition with momentum, trusting spectacle, precision, and repetition to convey meaning. Dense, demanding, and designed to be revisited, Tenet stands as one of the boldest modern attempts to fuse blockbuster action with cerebral espionage, rewarding viewers willing to surrender to its logic and let the mission unfold.
► WATCH ON NETFLIX
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy — Peacock
Based on John le Carré’s landmark novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a masterclass in restrained, cerebral espionage. Set at the height of the Cold War, the film follows a retired intelligence officer tasked with uncovering a Soviet mole buried deep within British intelligence. Dialogue, glances, and silence replace spectacle, creating an atmosphere of suspicion where trust is a liability.
Anchored by a quietly devastating performance from Gary Oldman, the film embraces moral ambiguity and institutional decay rather than action-driven thrills. Elegant, demanding, and deeply immersive, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy represents the opposite end of the spy spectrum — intelligence work as patience, paranoia, and psychological warfare.
Included with Peacock (US) — availability may change
Why these spy films work on streaming
Together, these titles represent the full spectrum of contemporary espionage cinema. Prestige blockbusters like Inception and Tenet reward repeat viewing with layered storytelling, while globally oriented action thrillers such as Heart of Stone and Yaksha: Ruthless Operations reflect streaming platforms’ push toward large-scale, internationally scalable spy narratives. From sharp satire to muscular black-ops action, the genre’s adaptability makes it especially well suited to on-demand viewing.
What to watch based on your mood
- For smart, layered storytelling: Inception, Tenet, Yaksha: Ruthless Operations, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,
- For mainstream action and star power: The Gray Man, Without Remorse, Heart of Stone
- For lighter, escapist spy fun: Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Charlie’s Angels, Back in Action, Burn After Reading
Where to stream in the US
- Netflix: Inception, Tenet, Heart of Stone, Charlie’s Angels, Yaksha: Ruthless Operations, Back in Action
- Prime Video: Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Without Remorse, Burn After Reading
- Peacock: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Availability can change by region and over time based on licensing.
This article is part of Streamingmania’s ongoing coverage of spy TV series and movies, from intelligence thrillers to undercover dramas.
