Spy thrillers are a beloved movie genre, with some of the most popular films of all time falling under this classification. However, since it’s such a far-reaching niche of cinema, there are plenty of overlooked classics that deserve more recognition. When it comes to some of the darkest installments of the genre, these movies are sometimes underrated because they don’t instantly appeal to a wide array of audience members. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth watching or don’t have something interesting to say. Even if they aren’t mentioned in mainstream conversations, many of these works are considered classics.
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While some thriller movies use shocking twist endings or lots of violence to draw the audience in, these films are notable for their moody atmosphere and deliberate pacing. A thriller doesn’t have to have major chase scenes or mind-bending stunts to be memorable, even if those are undeniably fun parts of the genre. However, these films incorporate other techniques to build tension and capture the audience’s attention, balancing action-adventure moments with quieter scenes that communicate the stakes. These movies come from a variety of decades and touch upon many different topics, but they’re all equally gripping.
You are watching: 10 Dark Spy Thrillers That Need More Love
10
Demonlover (2002)
Directed by Olivier Assayas
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Demonlover
R
Drama
Mystery
Thriller
Release Date
September 19, 2002
Runtime
115 Minutes
Cast
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-
Connie Nielsen
-
Charles Berling
-
Chloe Sevigny
-
Gina Gershon
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One of Connie Nielsen’s best movies and an underrated addition to the Gladiator actress’ filmography, Demonlover boasts a stacked cast. Also starring Chloë Sevigny and Gina Gershon, Demonlover follows the competition for profit and licensing surrounding an animated pornography website and the way this competition slowly devolves into threats, violence, and amateur corporate espionage. While corporate warfare isn’t necessarily what comes to mind when discussing spy movies, Demonlover delivers on the intrigue.
Though the imagery seen onscreen in Demonlover might seem tame by today’s standards, at the beginning of the 21st century, when the internet was still emerging, it was seen as much more extreme. Demonlover is an interesting time capsule of the way the internet changed the way people engage with violent and disturbing imagery, quickly becoming desensitized to it. Demonlover has aged well, as its darkly ironic critiques of exploitation for profit have only become more timely as the digital age has come into its own.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Demonlover (2002) |
52% |
40% |
9
Red Sparrow (2018)
Directed by Francis Lawrence
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Red Sparrow
R
Thriller
6/10
7/10
Release Date
March 2, 2018
Runtime
140minutes
Cast
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-
Charlotte Rampling
-
Joel Edgerton
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Red Sparrow takes Jennifer Lawrence out of her comfort zone, giving the actress the tough role of Dominika Egorova, a graceful but deadly Russian spy. Full of style and flair, Red Sparrow leans into the genre’s roots, allowing Lawrence to play with the sensual and manipulative aspects of her character, who’s willing to go very far to get the information she wants. Red Sparrow follows Dominika through her entire evolution as an agent, from losing her career as a ballerina to graduating from training and being placed in the field.
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Her character is juxtaposed with the straight-edged CIA agent, Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton), whom Dominika eventually meets and attempts to seduce. Nate also inspires Dominika to question her loyalties to the Russian government and reflect on what she really wants out of her work as an agent. Though Red Sparrow elevates the importance of sex and seduction in espionage, it works for this thriller, and Lawrence’s performance helps ground the story.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Red Sparrow (2018) |
45% |
51% |
8
Body Of Lies (2008)
Directed by Ridley Scott
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Body of Lies
R
Action
Documentary
Drama
Thriller
9/10
8/10
Release Date
October 10, 2008
Runtime
128 minutes
Cast
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Leonardo DiCaprio
-
Russell Crowe
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Body of Lies is one of Ridley Scott’s lesser-known contributions to the action thriller genre, grappling with discussions of counter-intelligence and anti-terrorism that were particularly topical in the early 2000s. Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe lead the cast as two members of the CIA who are following the trail of a fictional terrorist in the Middle East. Tensions between the CIA and the Jordanian intelligence officials who team up with Ferris (DiCaprio) and Hoffman (Crowe) to bring down this major terrorist cell.
The performances from the central cast, especially DiCaprio and Crowe, were almost universally praised by critics, as both actors dropped into their roles and embodied the morally complex men at the heart of the story. Scott’s director isn’t at its best in Body of Lies, but there’s a clear love and respect for the spy genre in every frame of the movie. Of all the films that touched upon counter-terrorism during this period, Body of Lies remains one of the most overlooked.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Body of Lies (2008) |
55% |
62% |
7
Hanna (2011)
Directed by Joe Wright
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Hanna
PG-13
Action
Thriller
Adventure
8/10
Release Date
April 7, 2011
Runtime
111 Minutes
Cast
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-
Saoirse Ronan
-
Eric Bana
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A young Saoirse Ronan leads the cast as the titular Hanna, a young girl trained to be an assassin. Erik Heller plays her father, an ex-CIA operative, and Cate Blanchett rounds out the cast as the current agent who’s hot on Hanna’s trail. The audience meets Hanna while she’s training with her father, preparing to take down Marissa (Blanchett) before she can eliminate Hanna and her father. It’s a deadly game of cat and house, and it doesn’t take long for the audience and Hanna to realize that she doesn’t have all the pieces to this puzzle.
Though Hanna isn’t the film typically talked about when it comes to Ronan or Blanchett’s illustrious careers, it demonstrates what makes both of them such iconic actresses.
The reality of Hanna’s identity and birth in Hanna is a devastating secret that results in a chain of events overflowing with bloodshed and sacrifice. Though Hanna isn’t the film typically talked about when it comes to Ronan or Blanchett’s illustrious careers, it demonstrates what makes both of them such iconic actresses. Even in the midst of brutal fight scenes, the emotional weight of their actions and their core motivations come through, communicating the themes and tones of the film to the audience.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Hanna (2011) |
71% |
66% |
6
Atomic Blonde (2017)
Directed by David Leitch
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Atomic Blonde
R
Thriller
Action
Adventure
Mystery
6/10
8.3/10
Release Date
July 26, 2017
Runtime
115 minutes
Cast
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-
Charlize Theron
-
Eddie Marsan
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Like most female-led action movies, Atomic Blonde is a criminally underrated addition to the genre. Starring Charlize Theron as the MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton, Atomic Blonde was well-received for its well-choreographed fight scenes and memorable stunts, thanks to the director, David Leitch. With a background in stunt work and a love for the action genre, Leitch imbued these sensibilities into Atomic Blonde but wasn’t afraid to give it an edge.
Since The Old Guard is getting a sequel, it would only be right for Theron’s Atomic Blonde to get the same treatment. The Cold War-set drama tackles the classic tropes of double-agents and mercenary spies looking to make a profit, no matter the cost. Stylistically, Atomic Blonde is cohesive and engaging, never forgoing visuals and cinematography for the sake of grittiness or violence. Though it’s not the darkest spy thriller ever made, there are some complex emotional moments that Theron has to grapple with as Lorraine.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Atomic Blonde (2017) |
79% |
64% |
5
The Recruit (2003)
Directed by Roger Donaldson
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The Recruit
PG-13
Action
Thriller
Release Date
January 31, 2003
Runtime
115 minutes
Director
Roger Donaldson
Writers
Kurt Wimmer, Mitch Glazer
Producers
Gary Barber, Jeff Apple, Jonathan Glickman, Ric Kidney
Cast
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-
Al Pacino
Walter Burke
-
Colin Farrell
James Clayton
-
Bridget Moynahan
Layla Moore
-
Gabriel Macht
Zack
The Recruit follows a talented CIA trainee as he navigates the agency’s secretive training grounds known as the Farm. Facing a series of challenges, he must demonstrate his skills and remain vigilant as he learns to trust no one. Released in 2003, it stars Al Pacino and Colin Farrell.
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Al Pacino and Colin Farrell star in The Recruit as a veteran CIA agent and his newest recruit to a secret facet of the agency. The teaching of agents plays a large role in The Recruit, as Farrell’s James is brought to The Farm, a training ground for future assets of the agency. While The Recruit doesn’t tread new ground when it comes to the thriller genre, incorporating twists and betrayals in every act, it revels in every narrative turn, clearly having fun with the tropes and formulas of the genre.
Due to its mixed reviews, The Recruit has predominantly flown under the radar, which is surprising considering the star power within the cast.
Though The Recruit features plenty of violence and doesn’t shy away from hurting James, its protagonist, the film features plenty of moments that were crafted for the viewer’s enjoyment. Due to its mixed reviews, The Recruit has predominantly flown under the radar, which is surprising considering the star power within the cast. However, watching the film today demonstrates that while the story might be familiar, it’s still an interesting exploration of the future of technology’s influence on intelligence in the espionage genre.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Recruit (2003) |
44% |
58% |
4
Burn After Reading (2008)
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
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Burn After Reading
R
Comedy
Crime
Documentary
Drama
4/10
Release Date
September 5, 2008
Runtime
96 minutes
Cast
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-
George Clooney
-
Frances McDormand
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One of the Coen Brothers’ best movies but also one of their most underrated, Burn After Reading, is a darkly comic addition to the spy genre. Full of unwitting accomplices, unbelievable coincidences, and tonally unafraid to make the audience viscerally uncomfortable, Burn After Reading is a bit of an acquired taste. However, once the audience lets go and meets the movie on its own terms, it’s a thrilling ride and a searing take on the greed and systemic mistakes of everyday people and massive government agencies.
The juxtaposition between the uncaring violence doled out by certain characters and the simple-mindedness of others can be disconcerting in Burn After Reading, but this is what makes the project so unique. The central performances by George Clooney, Frances McDormand, and Brad Pitt seamlessly complement the off-kilter script and maintain the story’s propulsive pace. Well received in its initial run, Burn After Reading is still rarely mentioned when it comes to the Coen Brothers’ filmography and should be better remembered.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Burn After Reading (2008) |
78% |
65% |
3
Three Days Of The Condor (1975)
Directed by Sydney Pollack
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Three Days Of The Condor
R
Thriller
Mystery
Release Date
August 1, 1975
Runtime
117 Minutes
Cast
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-
Robert Redford
-
Faye Dunaway
-
Cliff Robertson
-
Max Von Sydow
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Robert Redford plays against type in Three Days of the Condor, a movie praised for its realism and tension by audiences and critics alike. Directed by Sydney Pollack, Three Days of the Condor is directly in conversation with the Watergate Scandal, which was still at the forefront of the public consciousness in the United States. It’s this context that gives Three Days of the Condor its edge, as well as the central performance from Redford, who plays a CIA analyst turned field agent, Joe, who investigates corruption in the agency.
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Faye Dunaway plays opposite Redford as Kathy Hale, the young woman who becomes his romantic interest and personal motivation throughout Three Days of the Condor. The film is particularly stressful because the organization that Joe is supposed to work for and trust is the seat of the corruption and violence that threatens his existence. Though Three Days of the Condor received decent praise from critics when it was released, modern audiences should be more aware of this film.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Three Days of the Condor (1975) |
87% |
83% |
2
Army Of Shadows (1969)
Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville
One of the most unique war moves of the genre, Army of Shadows explores the work and the violent struggle of the French Resistance during the Nazi occupation of France. Based on Joseph Kessel’s novel that touched upon his experiences as part of the resistance, Army of Shadows is largely considered one of Melville’s best works, alongside his earlier crime thriller, Le Samouraï. However, Army of Shadows is a much more bleak take on this violent period of history.
Army of Shadows immediately distinguishes itself from other movies that explore the fight of the French Resistance, as it presents a grim and matter-of-fact tone. The characters are well aware that their fates are most likely torture and death, but they keep fighting anyway. This is a side of espionage that cinema rarely grapples with, as it lacks the mystique and heroism that audiences have come to associate with the genre. However, this is exactly why it’s so gripping to watch Army of Shadows.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Army of Shadows (1969) |
97% |
94% |
1
A Most Wanted Man (2014)
Directed by Anton Corbijn
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A Most Wanted Man
Release Date
August 1, 2014
Runtime
2h 2m
Director
Anton Corbijn
Cast
See All
-
Phillip Seymour Hoffman
-
Rachel McAdams
-
Daniel Brühl
-
Robin Wright
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It’s unsurprising that Philip Seymour Hoffman is the highlight of A Most Wanted Man, as the late actor was a master of his craft and was equally believable in his most lovable and villainous roles. A Most Wanted Man features many familiar faces, with Rachel McAdams and Willem Dafoe as prominent players in the cast. There’s a good deal of political and international nuance at the heart of A Most Wanted Man, as the film is based on the novel by John le Carré, a famous author within the thriller genre.
A Most Wanted Man does a good job of making the viewer sympathize with Bachmann and support his quest, even in his most self-righteous moments.
Hoffman’s character, Günther Bachmann, is a German anti-terrorism agent who consistently attempts to help those entangled in the larger schemes and mechanisms of terrorist organizations. A Most Wanted Man does a good job of making the viewer sympathize with Bachmann and support his quest, even in his most self-righteous moments. However, the movie is most memorable because of its twist ending, which forces the audience to grapple with questions of corruption at the highest levels of government.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
A Most Wanted Man (2014) |
85% |
65% |
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Category: Entertainment