This decade saw the highest of highs in the spy genre. It saw the James Bond franchise celebrate its 50th anniversary. It kicked off a franchise that poked fun of the James Bond lore. It contained the 5th Jason Bourne movie, and it released the 6th Ethan Hunt movie. While there were certainly upsets, there were more spy movies to look back and celebrate the genre’s prestige. Here are the ten best spy (or espionage) movies of the last decade.
For this list, some spy franchises will appear; thus, only one installment from a franchise shall appear on this list.
Haywire
This Steven Soderbergh-directed thriller is a minimal yet effective portrait of inter-agency double-crossing that makes the best use of mixed martial artist Gina Carano to do her own stunts. As a starter in the business, Carano works, despite her dialogue. Yet, in every fight scene, she gives out white-knuckle energy that lines her up for future projects including Fast & Furious 6 and The Mandalorian.
For 90 minutes, Haywire brings out the action thrill-ride goods for late-night viewing.
Spy
For a movie with a title as generic as Spy, one would think this would be generic. Yet, director Paul Feig and Melissa McCarthy make it work with effortless finesse and wit that continues that streak from 2013’s The Heat. Rather than settle for a bumbling persona, McCarthy proves to be a competent CIA undercover agent that rises to the ranks. Everyone is on the top of their game, including a sly Rose Byrne and an incredibly hilarious Jason Statham.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Gary Oldman heads a talented ensemble cast as the perceptive George Smiley in this adaptation of the John le Carré novel. Set under Cold War pressure, Smiley is forced back from retirement to capture a Russian mole that has been hiding in the British Intelligence. Let the Right One In director Tomas Alfredson places every figure, including Smiley, in constant tension as every truth is exposed. Along with Oldman, the cast of British heavyweights makes every scene and detail count.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Speaking of British heavyweights, here is one that parodies the genre yet establishes its own identity. Loosely based on the Marvel imprint series The Secret Service, Matthew Vaughn reignites the spy genre with over-the-top action, meta-humor, and homages to James Bond. While Colin Firth plays well against type and Samuel L. Jackson lisps his way as the Blofeld-like villain, Taron Egerton makes a great first impression as the underdog Eggsy.
Hanna
Children raised by hostile parents or older subordinates to be effective assassins are reliable tropes in action movies (and, for Black Widow’s case, superhero movies). Yet, 2011’s Hanna is a standout to the spy genre for using the template of a fairytale and placing it on a high-stakes thriller. Saoirse Ronan plays against type as a girl enhanced with super-soldier strength and trained by her ex-CIA father (played by Eric Bana), and the movie’s strengths came from her alacrity.
A Most Wanted Man
One of the last films to involve the great Philip Seymour Hoffman, this spy thriller, based again on a John le Carré novel, is the most minimalist of the films mentioned in this list since its espionage elements come from its deductive reasoning, subtle political stances and intellectual discussions of combating post-9/11 terrorism.
As the disgraced Günther Bachmann, Hoffman gave his all, displaying internal struggle amid a tense-ridden era where national security is a priority. The minimalism leaves room for thought-provoking reflection, an element that is incorporated in many contemporary spy movies.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
It is refreshing to experience a superhero movie that has more brains from its brawns. This was the direction that the Star-Spangled superhero took to evolve his character and transforms him as the leader he was in the Avengers. Taking in elements from the Bourne movies and national security hysteria, The Winter Soldier brings Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff on a race against time to uncover the truth behind S.H.I.E.L.D.
For their first involvement in the MCU, the Russo brothers effectively balance out gripping action with a clever script.
Bridge of Spies
Steven Spielberg returned to his Munich roots with this espionage thriller that highlights one element rarely integrated into spy movies: diplomacy. In this case, he brought to life the exploits of James B. Donovan (played by Tom Hanks) to negotiate the release of two captured Americans in exchange for Rudolf Abel (played by Mark Rylance that won him an Oscar), a former KGB agent that Donovan represented.
This espionage thriller is filled with intricate details of political intrigue and power play thanks to Hanks’ everyman persona and Rylance’s nuanced performance.
Skyfall
The 23rd Bond film happens to coincide with the 007’s 50th anniversary, and it turns out to be the best entry in years. While the scenario is typical Bond, what works in this entry is the honoring of its rich legacy with the establishment of a modern-day identity that follows on Spectre and eventually No Time to Die.
While Daniel Craig’s performance as Bond, Javier Bardem as the villain Raoul Silva, Sam Mendes’ direction, Roger Deakins’ cinematography, and Adele’s theme song is worth noting, it is Judi Dench’s sendoff as M is what elevates this as one of the best.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Tom Cruise truly succeeds the impossible by making his sixth time as Ethan Hunt to not only be the best of the Mission: Impossible series but also one of the best action movies of the decade (if not all time). Cruise is a presence that is hard to top, and everyone in this lightning-in-a-bottle entry is on top of their game, with Christopher McQuarrie’s direction in constant energy and sleekness and the cast placed in equal footing with Cruise, the prominent being Henry Cavill as an intimidating presence.
On its spy elements, Falloutreally puts Hunt’s competence and ethics to test and pressure. Because of that, Mission: Impossible – Fallout is the best spy movie of the 2010s.
