30 Spy/Espionage films from Hollywood and Beyond

Fritz lang's silent master piece was the genesis of formula that formed staple of numerous later spy films. For example a secret agent known by a number, and a beautiful foreign female agent who comes to love the hero.

Early Hitchcock classic

Features perhaps the single most recognizable image of American cinema, carry grant running from a crop duster biplane.

A James Bond film focused more on traditional spy craft.

Adaptation of novel by John le Carré. Portraying the moral uncertainty of espionage world. Grim and realistic.

Michael Caine is excellent as Harry Palmer a somewhat slippery British operative. Cold war classic.

A worthy sequel to Ipcress File, more of a comedy in large parts, but with a clever story. Follow on films are utter crap.

Based on a book by Leon Uris. One of better Hitchcock spy films, minus the usual Hollywood starpower.

Anthony Mann's unfinished project. Depicts the story from an opposite viewpoint.

Underrated cold war spy thriller with elements of film noir.

Intriguing European spy flick.

A disturbing Psychological thriller set in the murky world of espionage.

Sydney Pollacks's instant and enduring classic.

Charles Bronson's action oriented cold war spy thriller.

An unglamorous look at the banality of espionage world and the ordinary nature of people who enter it. Based on true story of Christopher John Boyce.

A slick and tight film by Roger Donaldson, who made some other interesting espionage films like The Recruit (2003).

Another John le Carré story. Filmed on location in Soviet Union, beautiful visuals and underrated style.

Portrays from a revisionist point of view, the ambiguous ways of spy craft for a Mossad agent, where loyalties and ideologies are never constant.

Another John le Carré story.

Tony Scott's slick presentation of classic spy world. One of the definitive spy films, has a grandiose feel to it.

Graham Greene's classic and moving story, set in the backdrop of the growing American involvement in Vietnam in the initial years. Michael Caine shines as always, and some really good piece of acting from Brendan Fraser.

An adrenalin rush from start to finish. It is actually an action film, the sequels more so. The first one however, still has elements of the traditional skulduggery of the spy game.

A Korean spy thriller, with a plausible plot concerning a North Korean defector. Like most Korean cinema, it is is good.

Based on real life story of Mikel Lejarza a Spanish intelligence operative who was a long term infiltrator in ETA. Story of a real life legend.

A sensible film with sensible storyline. Spying in the times of war on terror, where enemies are less well defined. Don Cheadle given a powerhouse performance.

Excellent French cold war film. Set during the last days of the cold war.

A retro cold war spy film based on John le Carré famous book. Captures the essence of the times and lives gone forever.

A look in to the contemporary espionage scene and its political dynamics. A world devoid of agendas, morality and heroes. Bill Nighy is brilliant.

Slow burning, some time melodramatic but always interesting spy story, Jean Dujardin shines as always!