While spy movies are often seen as big James Bond-like adventures, Steve Spielberg's Bridge of Spies told a much more grounded yet equally intense tale set in the Cold War. Tom Hanks plays an American attorney who is tasked with negotiating a prisoner transfer with the Soviet Union.
Though the movie is not quite as action-packed as some other movies in the genre, there are plenty of great spy action movies that take the same approach to their stories. From the period setting to the real-world implications to the gripping tension, these action movies will satisfy fans of Bridge of Spies.
Allied (2016)
Despite the star power behind this project, Allied is a somewhat forgotten entry in the genre. Brad Pitt stars as a Canadian intelligence officer who teams with a French Resistance fighter (Marion Cotillard) who find themselves falling in love while on mission together during World War II.
The movie clearly takes a lot of inspiration from Casablanca, and while it might not reach the heights of that great classic, it is a worthwhile ride.
Spy Game (2001)
Brad Pitt stepped into another adult-oriented spy thriller with another famous co-star in Spy Game. Robert Redford plays a seasoned spy who recruits and trains Pitt's young soldier to be a successful intelligence officer.
Like Bridge of Spies, this movie plays against the usual clichés of the genre to deliver a spy story that is realistic yet still thrilling. Pitt and Redford make for a great team, and it is interesting to see this practical approach to the spy world.
Mission: Impossible (1996)
The Mission: Impossible series is getting into more of the blockbuster action that many fans have come to expect with spy movies. However, before the franchise turned to insane stunts and action sequences, the first movie was a small-scale spy story.
With legendary director Brian De Palma at the helm, 1996's Mission: Impossible is a fun and riveting adventure in which Ethan Hunt seeks out a mole in order to clear his own name. It is a smart thriller and still features some iconic sequences.
The Hunt For Red October (1990)
No list of spy movies would be complete without at least one adaptation of a Tom Clancy novel. The Hunt for Red October is another intense and cool Cold War story that stars Alec Baldwin as Clancy's famous hero, Jack Ryan.
When a Soviet nuclear submarine goes missing along with its veteran captain (Sean Connery), the world hunts for the possible rogue vessel while Ryan comes up with another theory. The all-star cast brings a lot of talent to the project while John McTiernan continues to prove himself a great action movie filmmaker.
Hanna (2011)
Not only does Hanna give the spy genre one of its few female leads, but it also makes a young girl look like a total badass. Saoirse Ronan stars in one of her earlier roles as the daughter of a former CIA officer raised outside of society and trained to be a survivor.
When it is time to leave their secluded life behind, young Hanna sets out on a mission of revenge while experiencing the real world for the first time. Ronan delivers a brilliant performance that showcases her action hero talents as well as her amazing dramatic skills.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
Though many fans are picturing Henry Cavill as the next James Bond, he already played a suave and badass spy in the underrated remake, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Based on the television show from the 1960s, Cavill plays a CIA agent who teams with a KGB agent to stop the launch of nuclear weapons.
Director Guy Ritchie uses the period setting to tell a fun throwback adventure. The action sequences are a lot of fun and Cavill really fits his role nicely. It is an overlooked gem worth seeking out.
Red Sparrow (2018)
Bridge of Spies was hardly the first movie to explore the notion of Russian spies operating in America, and Red Sparrow continues to prove that idea is still popular in Hollywood movies. Jennifer Lawrence takes on one of her darker roles as a ballerina recruited to a Russian intelligence organization where she is assigned to seduce a CIA agent.
This is the kind of spy movie that mixes sexiness with the deadly thrills in a pretty effective way. Lawrence gives a nice twist on the femme fatale role so often seen in these types of movies.
Salt (2010)
Angelina Jolie was yet another Hollywood star who delivered a badass female spy. Salt is the complex action-thriller that stars Jolie as a CIA agent who goes on the run when a Russian defector accuses her of being a double agent.
Jolie can obviously handle herself quite well in action roles, but she also brings another level to her performance that makes this protagonist all the more compelling. It is a twisting and surprising story that keeps the audience guessing.
Munich (2005)
Before Spielberg took on Bride of Spies, he delivered another spy thriller based on real-world events. Munich tells the story of a covert operation in which a team of Israeli agents set out to assassinate those responsible for the 1972 Olympic massacre.
This is a much darker movie than Spielberg is usually known for, and a much more brutal spy movie as well. The violence is shocking and disturbing, while it also explores the psychological toll the agents had to endure.
Behind Enemy Lines (2001)
While Owen Wilson might not seem like the typical action hero, he fit the role quite well in the underrated thriller Behind Enemy Lines. Set during peace times, Wilson plays a fighter pilot flying over restricted airspace who is unexpectedly shot down and needs to make his way out of the hostile territory.
The movie doesn't break any new ground for the genre, but it does make for a hugely entertaining popcorn movie with a fun starring role for Wilson.