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The '''spy film''', also known as the '''spy thriller''', is a [[film genre|genre of film]] that deals with the subject of fictional [[espionage]], either in a realistic way (such as the adaptations of [[John le Carré]]) or as a basis for fantasy (such as many [[James Bond in film|James Bond]] films). Many novels in the [[spy fiction]] genre have been adapted as films, including works by [[John Buchan]], le Carré, [[Ian Fleming]] (Bond) and [[Len Deighton]]. It is a significant aspect of [[Cinema of the United Kingdom|British cinema]],<ref>"The Spying Game: British Cinema and the Secret State", 2009 [[Cambridge Film Festival]], pp. 54–57 of the [http://issuu.com/camfilmtrust/docs/cff09_brochure festival brochure.]</ref> with leading British directors such as [[Alfred Hitchcock]] and [[Carol Reed]] making notable contributions and many films set in the [[Secret Intelligence Service|British Secret Service]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/spy-movies-the-guys-who-came-in-from-the-cold-1796078.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/spy-movies-the-guys-who-came-in-from-the-cold-1796078.html |archive-date=2022-05-24 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Spy movies - The guys who came in from the cold|date=October 2, 2009|website=The Independent}}</ref>
The '''spy film''', also known as the '''spy thriller''', is a [[film genre|genre of film]] that deals with the subject of fictional [[espionage]], either in a realistic way (such as the adaptations of [[John le Carré]]) or as a basis for fantasy (such as many [[James Bond in film|James Bond]] films). Many novels in the [[spy fiction]] genre have been adapted as films, including works by [[John Buchan]], le Carré, [[Ian Fleming]] (Bond) and [[Len Deighton]]. It is a significant aspect of [[Cinema of the United Kingdom|British cinema]],<ref>"The Spying Game: British Cinema and the Secret State", 2009 [[Cambridge Film Festival]], pp. 54–57 of the [http://issuu.com/camfilmtrust/docs/cff09_brochure festival brochure.]</ref> with leading British directors such as [[Alfred Hitchcock]] and [[Carol Reed]] making notable contributions and many films set in the [[Secret Intelligence Service|British Secret Service]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/spy-movies-the-guys-who-came-in-from-the-cold-1796078.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/spy-movies-the-guys-who-came-in-from-the-cold-1796078.html |archive-date=2022-05-24 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Spy movies - The guys who came in from the cold|date=October 2, 2009|website=The Independent}}</ref>


Spy films show the espionage activities of [[government]] agents and their risk of being discovered by their enemies. From the [[Nazi]] espionage thrillers of the 1940s to the [[James Bond films]] of the 1960s and to the high-tech blockbusters of today, the spy film has always been popular with audiences worldwide. Offering a combination of exciting [[escapism]], technological thrills, and [[Wikt:exotic#Adjective|exotic]] locales, many spy films combine the [[action film|action]] and [[science fiction film|science fiction]] genres, presenting clearly delineated heroes for audiences to root for and [[villain]]s for them to hate. They may also involve elements of [[political thrillers]]. However, there are many that are comedic (mostly [[action comedy films]] if they fall under that genre).
Spy films show the espionage activities of [[government]] agents and their risk of being discovered by their enemies. From the [[Nazi]] espionage thrillers of the 1940s to the [[James Bond films]] of the 1960s and to the high-tech blockbusters of today, the spy film has always been popular with audiences worldwide. Offering a combination of exciting [[escapism]], technological thrills, and [[Wikt:exotic#Adjective|exotic]] locales, many spy films combine the [[action film|action]] and [[science fiction film|science fiction]] genres, presenting clearly delineated heroes for audiences to root for and [[villain]]s they want to see defeated. They may also involve elements of [[political thrillers]]. However, there are many that are comedic (mostly [[action comedy films]] if they fall under that genre).


James Bond is the most famous of film spies, but there were also more serious, probing works like le Carré's ''[[The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (film)|The Spy Who Came in from the Cold]]'' that also emerged from the [[Cold War]]. As the Cold War ended, the newest villain became [[terrorism]] and more often involved the [[Middle East]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allrovi.com/movies/genre/spy-film-d515 |title=Spy Film Movies and Films - Find Spy Film Movie Recommendations, Casts, Reviews, and Summaries - AllRovi |access-date=2012-01-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117090541/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/genre/spy-film-d515 |archive-date=2012-01-17 }}</ref>
James Bond is the most famous of film spies, but there were also more serious, probing works like le Carré's ''[[The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (film)|The Spy Who Came in from the Cold]]'' that also emerged from the [[Cold War]]. As the Cold War ended, the newest villain became [[terrorism]] and more often involved the [[Middle East]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allrovi.com/movies/genre/spy-film-d515 |title=Spy Film Movies and Films - Find Spy Film Movie Recommendations, Casts, Reviews, and Summaries - AllRovi |access-date=2012-01-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117090541/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/genre/spy-film-d515 |archive-date=2012-01-17 }}</ref>
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In 1928, [[Fritz Lang]] made the film ''[[Spione|Spies]]'' which contained many tropes that became popular in later spy dramas, including secret headquarters, an agent known by a number, and the beautiful foreign agent who comes to love the hero. Lang's [[Dr. Mabuse the Gambler|Dr. Mabuse]] films from the period also contain elements of spy thrillers, though the central character is a criminal mastermind only interested in espionage for profit. Additionally, several of Lang's American films, such as ''[[Hangmen Also Die]]'', deal with spies during World War II.
In 1928, [[Fritz Lang]] made the film ''[[Spione|Spies]]'' which contained many tropes that became popular in later spy dramas, including secret headquarters, an agent known by a number, and the beautiful foreign agent who comes to love the hero. Lang's [[Dr. Mabuse the Gambler|Dr. Mabuse]] films from the period also contain elements of spy thrillers, though the central character is a criminal mastermind only interested in espionage for profit. Additionally, several of Lang's American films, such as ''[[Hangmen Also Die]]'', deal with spies during World War II.


[[Alfred Hitchcock]] did much to popularize the spy film in the 1930s with his influential thrillers ''[[The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934 film)|The Man Who Knew Too Much]]'' (1934), ''[[The 39 Steps (1935 film)|The 39 Steps]]'' (1935), ''[[Sabotage (1936 film)|Sabotage]]'' (1937) and ''[[The Lady Vanishes (1938 film)|The Lady Vanishes]]'' (1938). These often involved innocent civilians being caught up in international conspiracies or webs of saboteurs on the home front, as in ''[[Saboteur (film)|Saboteur]]'' (1942). Some, however, dealt with professional spies as in Hitchcock's ''[[Secret Agent (1936 film)|Secret Agent]]'' (1936), based on [[W. Somerset Maugham]]'s ''[[Ashenden: Or the British Agent|Ashenden]]'' stories, or the [[Mr. Moto]] series, based on the books of [[John P. Marquand]].
[[Alfred Hitchcock]] did much to popularize the spy film in the 1930s with his influential thrillers ''[[The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934 film)|The Man Who Knew Too Much]]'' (1934), ''[[The 39 Steps (1935 film)|The 39 Steps]]'' (1935), ''[[Sabotage (1936 film)|Sabotage]]'' (1937) and ''[[The Lady Vanishes (1938 film)|The Lady Vanishes]]'' (1938). These often involved innocent civilians being caught up in international conspiracies or webs of saboteurs on the home front, as in ''[[Saboteur (film)|Saboteur]]'' (1942). Some, however, dealt with professional spies, as in Hitchcock's ''[[Secret Agent (1936 film)|Secret Agent]]'' (1936), based on [[W. Somerset Maugham]]'s ''[[Ashenden: Or the British Agent|Ashenden]]'' stories, or the [[Mr. Moto]] series, based on the books of [[John P. Marquand]].


In the 1940s and early 1950s, there were several films made about the exploits of Allied agents in occupied Europe, which could probably be considered as a subgenre. ''[[13 Rue Madeleine]]'' and ''[[Office of Strategic Services|O.S.S.]]'' were fictional stories about American agents in German-occupied France, and there were a number of films based on the stories of real-life [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Special Operations Executive|S.O.E.]] agents, including ''[[Odette (1950 film)|Odette]]'' and ''[[Carve Her Name With Pride]]''. A more recent fictional example is ''[[Charlotte Gray (film)|Charlotte Gray]]'', based on the novel by [[Sebastian Faulks]].
In the 1940s and early 1950s, several films were made about the exploits of Allied agents in occupied Europe, which could be considered a subgenre. ''[[13 Rue Madeleine]]'' and ''[[O.S.S. (film)|O.S.S.]]'' were fictional stories about American agents in German-occupied France. There were several films based on the stories of real-life [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Special Operations Executive|S.O.E.]] agents, including ''[[Odette (1950 film)|Odette]]'' and ''[[Carve Her Name With Pride]]''. A more recent fictional example is ''[[Charlotte Gray (film)|Charlotte Gray]]'', based on the novel by [[Sebastian Faulks]].


Also during the period, there were many detective films (''[[The Thin Man Goes Home]]'' and ''[[Charlie Chan in the Secret Service]]'' for example) in which the mystery involved who stole the secret blue-prints, or who kidnapped the famous scientist.
Also during the period, there were many detective films (''[[The Thin Man Goes Home]]'' and ''[[Charlie Chan in the Secret Service]]'' for example) in which the mystery involved who stole the secret blue-prints, or who kidnapped the famous scientist.


In the mid-1950s, Alfred Hitchcock returned to the spy genre with ''[[The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956 film)]]'', a remake of his [[The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934 film)|1934 film of the same name]]. He followed this up in 1959 with ''[[North by Northwest]]'' (1959), widely considered one of the most influential works within the spy genre.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Foreman |first1=Alison |title=The 20 Best Spy Movies, from 'Enemy of the State' to 'North by Northwest' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/feature/best-spy-movies-espionage-films-260852/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CNorth%20By%20Northwest%E2%80%9D%20(1959)&text=In%20the%20upper%20echelon%20of,the%20definitive%20best%20spy%20movie. |website=IndieWire |access-date=28 January 2024 |date=24 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Allison |first1=Mark |title=How North by Northwest Invented the Modern Action Movie |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/north-by-northwest-modern-action-movie/ |website=Den of Geek |access-date=28 January 2024 |date=11 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Patterson |first1=John |title=Hitching a ride with the Master of Suspense |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jun/13/alfred-hitchcock-north-by-northwest |website=The Guardian |access-date=28 January 2024 |date=12 June 2009}}</ref>
⚫
The peak of popularity of the spy film is often considered to be the 1960s when [[Cold War]] fears meshed with a desire by audiences to see exciting and suspenseful films. The espionage film developed in two directions at this time. On the one hand, the realistic spy novels of [[Len Deighton]] and [[John le Carré]] were adapted into relatively serious [[Cold War]] thrillers which dealt with some of the realities of the espionage world. Some of these films included ''[[The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (film)|The Spy Who Came in from the Cold]]'' (1965), ''[[The Deadly Affair]]'' (1966), ''[[Torn Curtain]]'' (1966), and the ''[[Harry Palmer]]'' series, based on the novels of [[Len Deighton]].


⚫
The peak of popularity of spy films is often considered to be the 1960s when [[Cold War]] fears meshed with a desire by audiences to see exciting and suspenseful films. The espionage film developed in two directions at this time. On the one hand, the realistic spy novels of [[Len Deighton]] and [[John le Carré]] were adapted into relatively serious [[Cold War]] thrillers that dealt with some of the realities of the espionage world. Some of these films included ''[[The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (film)|The Spy Who Came in from the Cold]]'' (1965), ''[[The Deadly Affair]]'' (1966), ''[[Torn Curtain]]'' (1966), and the ''[[Harry Palmer]]'' series, based on the novels of [[Len Deighton]].
⚫
In another direction, the ''[[James Bond (literary character)|James Bond]]'' novels by [[Ian Fleming]] were adapted into an increasingly fantastical series of tongue-in-cheek adventure films by producers [[Harry Saltzman]] and [[Albert R. Broccoli]], with [[Sean Connery]] as the star. They featured secretive and flamboyant super-villains, an archetype which would later become a staple of the explosion of spy movies in the mid-to-late 1960s.
⚫
The phenomenal success of the ''Bond'' series lead to a deluge of imitators, such as the [[eurospy]] genre and several from America. Notable examples include the two ''[[Derek Flint]]'' films starring [[James Coburn]], ''[[The Quiller Memorandum]]'' (1966) with [[George Segal]], and the ''[[Matt Helm]]'' series with [[Dean Martin]]. [[Television]] also got into the act with series like ''[[The Man from U.N.C.L.E]]'' and ''[[I Spy (1965 TV series)|I Spy]]'' in the U.S., and ''[[Danger Man]]'' and ''[[The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers]]'' in Britain. Spies have remained popular on TV to the present day with series such as ''[[Callan (TV series)|Callan]]'', ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'' and ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]''.


⚫
In another direction, the ''[[James Bond (literary character)|James Bond]]'' novels by [[Ian Fleming]] were adapted into an increasingly fantastical series of tongue-in-cheek adventure films by producers [[Harry Saltzman]] and [[Albert R. Broccoli]], with [[Sean Connery]] as the star. They featured secretive and flamboyant supervillains, an archetype that would later become a staple of the explosion of spy movies in the mid-to-late 1960s.
⚫
Spy films also enjoyed something of a revival in the late 1990s, although these were often action films with espionage elements, or comedies like ''[[Austin Powers (film series)|Austin Powers]]''. Some critics identify a trend away from fantasy in favor of realism, as observed in ''[[Syriana]]'', the [[Bourne (film series)|''Bourne'' film series]] and the ''James Bond'' films starring [[Daniel Craig]] since ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (2006).
⚫
The phenomenal success of the ''Bond'' series leads to a deluge of imitators, such as the [[eurospy]] genre and several from America. Notable examples include the two ''[[Derek Flint]]'' films starring [[James Coburn]], ''[[The Quiller Memorandum]]'' (1966) with [[George Segal]], and the ''[[Matt Helm]]'' series with [[Dean Martin]]. [[Television]] also got into the act with series like ''[[The Man from U.N.C.L.E]]'' and ''[[I Spy (1965 TV series)|I Spy]]'' in the U.S., and ''[[Danger Man]]'' and ''[[The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers]]'' in Britain. Spies have remained popular on TV to the present day with series such as ''[[Callan (TV series)|Callan]]'', ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'' and ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]''.

⚫
Spy films also enjoyed something of a revival in the late 1990s, although these were often action films with espionage elements or comedies like ''[[Austin Powers (film series)|Austin Powers]]''. Some critics identify a trend away from fantasy in favor of realism, as observed in ''[[Syriana]]'', the [[Bourne (film series)|''Bourne'' film series]] and the ''James Bond'' films starring [[Daniel Craig]] since ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (2006).


==Films==
==Films==
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* ''[[The Saint (film series)|The Saint]]'' series (1938–1943) – 8 films
* ''[[The Saint (film series)|The Saint]]'' series (1938–1943) – 8 films
* ''[[OSS 117]]'' series (1956–2021) – 10 films
* ''[[OSS 117]]'' series (1956–2021) – 10 films
* [[James Bond in film|''James Bond'']] (1962–2021) – 25 films
* [[James Bond in film|''James Bond'']] (1962–present) – 25 films
* ''[[Harry Palmer]]'' (1965–1996) – 5 films
* ''[[Harry Palmer]]'' (1965–1996) – 5 films
* ''[[Matt Helm]]'' series (1966–1969) – 4 films
* ''[[Matt Helm]]'' series (1966–1969) – 4 films
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* ''[[Carl Hamilton novels|Carl Hamilton]]'' (1989–present) – 10 films
* ''[[Carl Hamilton novels|Carl Hamilton]]'' (1989–present) – 10 films
* [[Jack Ryan (film series)|''Jack Ryan'']] (1990–2014) – 5 films
* [[Jack Ryan (film series)|''Jack Ryan'']] (1990–2014) – 5 films
* [[Mission: Impossible (film series)|''Mission: Impossible'' series]] (1996–2024) – 8 films
* [[Mission: Impossible (film series)|''Mission: Impossible'' series]] (1996–2025) – 8 films
* ''[[Austin Powers (film series)|Austin Powers]]'' (1997–2002) – 3 films
* ''[[Austin Powers (film series)|Austin Powers]]'' (1997–2002) – 3 films
* ''[[Charlie's Angels (franchise)|Charlie's Angels]]'' (2000–2019) – 3 films
* ''[[Charlie's Angels (franchise)|Charlie's Angels]]'' (2000–2019) – 3 films
* [[Spy Kids (franchise)|''Spy Kids'' series]] (2001–2011) – 4 films
* [[Spy Kids (franchise)|''Spy Kids'' series]] (2001–2023) – 5 films
* [[Bourne (film series)|''The'' ''Bourne'' series]] (2002–2016) – 5 films
* [[Bourne (film series)|''The'' ''Bourne'' series]] (2002–2016) – 5 films
* ''[[XXX (film series)|XXX]]'' (2002–present) – 3 films
* ''[[XXX (film series)|XXX]]'' (2002–present) – 3 films
* ''[[Infernal Affairs (film series)|Infernal Affairs]]'' (2002-2003) – 3 films
* ''[[Infernal Affairs (film series)|Infernal Affairs]]'' (2002–2003) – 3 films
* ''[[Johnny English (film series)|Johnny English]]'' (2003–2018) – 3 films
* ''[[Johnny English (film series)|Johnny English]]'' (2003–2018) – 3 films
* ''[[Fast & Furious]]'' (2011–present) – 5 spy films<ref>The first four focused on illegal street racing and thus they were not spy films </ref>
* ''[[Fast & Furious]]'' (2011–present) – 5 spy films<ref>The first four focused on illegal street racing and thus they were not spy films </ref>
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* ''[[Night People (1954 film)|Night People]]'' (1954)
* ''[[Night People (1954 film)|Night People]]'' (1954)
* ''[[The Man Who Never Was]]'' (1956)
* ''[[The Man Who Never Was]]'' (1956)
* ''[[Foreign Intrigue (film)|Foreign Intrigue]]'' (1956)
* ''[[Carve Her Name with Pride]]'' (1958)
* ''[[Carve Her Name with Pride]]'' (1958)
* ''[[The Silent Enemy (1958 film)|The Silent Enemy]]'' (1958)
* ''[[The Silent Enemy (1958 film)|The Silent Enemy]]'' (1958)
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** ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]'' (2004)
** ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Charade (1963 film)|Charade]]'' (1963)
* ''[[Charade (1963 film)|Charade]]'' (1963)
* ''[[36 Hours (1965 film)|36 Hours]]'' (1965)
* ''[[36 Hours (1964 film)|36 Hours]]'' (1965)
* ''[[The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (film)|The Spy Who Came in from the Cold]]'' (1965)
* ''[[The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (film)|The Spy Who Came in from the Cold]]'' (1965)
* ''[[Arabesque (1966 film)|Arabesque]]'' (1966)
* ''[[Arabesque (1966 film)|Arabesque]]'' (1966)
Line 145: Line 148:
* ''[[Undercover Brother]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Undercover Brother]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (film)|Confessions of a Dangerous Mind]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (film)|Confessions of a Dangerous Mind]]'' (2002)
* '' [[I Spy (2002 film) |I, Spy]]'' (2002)
* ''[[The Recruit (film)|The Recruit]]'' (2003)
* ''[[The Recruit (film)|The Recruit]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Agent Cody Banks]]'' (2003)
* ''Agent Cody Banks'' series
** ''[[Agent Cody Banks]]'' (2003)
** ''[[Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Spartan (film)|Spartan]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Spartan (film)|Spartan]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Walk on Water (film)|Walk on Water]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Walk on Water (film)|Walk on Water]]'' (2004)
Line 189: Line 195:
* ''[[The Catcher Was a Spy (film)|The Catcher Was a Spy]]'' (2018)
* ''[[The Catcher Was a Spy (film)|The Catcher Was a Spy]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Red Joan]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Red Joan]]'' (2018)
⚫
* ''[[Goodachari]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Raazi]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Raazi]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Vishwaroopam 2]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Vishwaroopam 2]]'' (2018)
Line 211: Line 216:
* ''[[Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre]]'' (2023)
* ''[[Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre]]'' (2023)
* ''[[Heart of Stone (2023 film)|Heart of Stone]]'' (2023)
* ''[[Heart of Stone (2023 film)|Heart of Stone]]'' (2023)
⚫
* ''[[Argylle]]'' (2024)
* ''[[The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare]]'' (2024)
* ''[[The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare]]'' (2024)
⚫
* ''[[Borrder]]'' (2024)
{{Div col end}}
{{Div col end}}


Line 252: Line 257:
* ''[[Chuck (TV series)|Chuck]]'' (2007–2012)
* ''[[Chuck (TV series)|Chuck]]'' (2007–2012)
* ''[[The Company (miniseries)|The Company]]'' (2007)
* ''[[The Company (miniseries)|The Company]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Archer (2009 TV series)|Archer]]'' (2009–present)
* ''[[Archer (2009 TV series)|Archer]]'' (2009–2023)
* ''[[Human Target (2010 TV series)|Human Target]]'' (2010–2011)
* ''[[Human Target (2010 TV series)|Human Target]]'' (2010–2011)
* ''[[Rubicon (TV series)|Rubicon]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Rubicon (TV series)|Rubicon]]'' (2010)
Line 264: Line 269:
* ''[[Madam Secretary (TV series)|Madam Secretary]]'' (2014–2019)
* ''[[Madam Secretary (TV series)|Madam Secretary]]'' (2014–2019)
* ''[[The Bureau (TV series)|The Bureau]]'' (2015–present)
* ''[[The Bureau (TV series)|The Bureau]]'' (2015–present)
* ''[[Deutschland 83]]'' (2015)
* ''Deutschland'' trilogy (2015–2020)
** ''[[Deutschland 83]]'' (2015)
⚫
** ''[[Deutschland 86]]'' (2018)
** ''[[Deutschland 89]]'' (2020)
* ''[[London Spy]]'' (2015)
* ''[[London Spy]]'' (2015)
* ''[[Fauda]]'' (2015–present)
* ''[[Fauda]]'' (2015–present)
Line 271: Line 279:
* ''[[Killing Eve]]'' (2018–present)
* ''[[Killing Eve]]'' (2018–present)
* ''[[The Looming Tower (miniseries)|The Looming Tower]]'' (2018)
* ''[[The Looming Tower (miniseries)|The Looming Tower]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (TV series)|Jack Ryan]]'' (2018–present)
* ''[[Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (TV series)|Jack Ryan]]'' (2018–2023)
* ''[[The Family Man (Indian TV series)|The Family Man]]'' (2019–present)
* ''[[The Family Man (Indian TV series)|The Family Man]]'' (2019–present)
* ''[[The Spy (TV series)|The Spy]]'' (2019)
* ''[[The Spy (TV series)|The Spy]]'' (2019)
Line 280: Line 288:
* ''[[Andor (TV series)|Andor]]'' (2022)
* ''[[Andor (TV series)|Andor]]'' (2022)
{{Div col end}}
{{Div col end}}




==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 23:28, 21 November 2024

Not to be confused with spy camera.

The spy film, also known as the spy thriller, is a genre of film that deals with the subject of fictional espionage, either in a realistic way (such as the adaptations of John le Carré) or as a basis for fantasy (such as many James Bond films). Many novels in the spy fiction genre have been adapted as films, including works by John Buchan, le Carré, Ian Fleming (Bond) and Len Deighton. It is a significant aspect of British cinema,[1] with leading British directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Carol Reed making notable contributions and many films set in the British Secret Service.[2]

Spy films show the espionage activities of government agents and their risk of being discovered by their enemies. From the Nazi espionage thrillers of the 1940s to the James Bond films of the 1960s and to the high-tech blockbusters of today, the spy film has always been popular with audiences worldwide. Offering a combination of exciting escapism, technological thrills, and exotic locales, many spy films combine the action and science fiction genres, presenting clearly delineated heroes for audiences to root for and villains they want to see defeated. They may also involve elements of political thrillers. However, there are many that are comedic (mostly action comedy films if they fall under that genre).

James Bond is the most famous of film spies, but there were also more serious, probing works like le Carré's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold that also emerged from the Cold War. As the Cold War ended, the newest villain became terrorism and more often involved the Middle East.[3]

History

[edit]

The spy film genre began in the silent era, with the paranoia of invasion literature and the onset of the Great War. These fears produced the British 1914 The German Spy Peril, centered on a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, and 1913's O.H.M.S.,[4] standing for "Our Helpless Millions Saved" as well as On His Majesty's Service (and introducing for the first time a strong female character who helps the hero).

In 1928, Fritz Lang made the film Spies which contained many tropes that became popular in later spy dramas, including secret headquarters, an agent known by a number, and the beautiful foreign agent who comes to love the hero. Lang's Dr. Mabuse films from the period also contain elements of spy thrillers, though the central character is a criminal mastermind only interested in espionage for profit. Additionally, several of Lang's American films, such as Hangmen Also Die, deal with spies during World War II.

Alfred Hitchcock did much to popularize the spy film in the 1930s with his influential thrillers The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), The 39 Steps (1935), Sabotage (1937) and The Lady Vanishes (1938). These often involved innocent civilians being caught up in international conspiracies or webs of saboteurs on the home front, as in Saboteur (1942). Some, however, dealt with professional spies, as in Hitchcock's Secret Agent (1936), based on W. Somerset Maugham's Ashenden stories, or the Mr. Moto series, based on the books of John P. Marquand.

In the 1940s and early 1950s, several films were made about the exploits of Allied agents in occupied Europe, which could be considered a subgenre. 13 Rue Madeleine and O.S.S. were fictional stories about American agents in German-occupied France. There were several films based on the stories of real-life British S.O.E. agents, including Odette and Carve Her Name With Pride. A more recent fictional example is Charlotte Gray, based on the novel by Sebastian Faulks.

Also during the period, there were many detective films (The Thin Man Goes Home and Charlie Chan in the Secret Service for example) in which the mystery involved who stole the secret blue-prints, or who kidnapped the famous scientist.

In the mid-1950s, Alfred Hitchcock returned to the spy genre with The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956 film), a remake of his 1934 film of the same name. He followed this up in 1959 with North by Northwest (1959), widely considered one of the most influential works within the spy genre.[5][6][7]

The peak of popularity of spy films is often considered to be the 1960s when Cold War fears meshed with a desire by audiences to see exciting and suspenseful films. The espionage film developed in two directions at this time. On the one hand, the realistic spy novels of Len Deighton and John le Carré were adapted into relatively serious Cold War thrillers that dealt with some of the realities of the espionage world. Some of these films included The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), The Deadly Affair (1966), Torn Curtain (1966), and the Harry Palmer series, based on the novels of Len Deighton.

In another direction, the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming were adapted into an increasingly fantastical series of tongue-in-cheek adventure films by producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli, with Sean Connery as the star. They featured secretive and flamboyant supervillains, an archetype that would later become a staple of the explosion of spy movies in the mid-to-late 1960s. The phenomenal success of the Bond series leads to a deluge of imitators, such as the eurospy genre and several from America. Notable examples include the two Derek Flint films starring James Coburn, The Quiller Memorandum (1966) with George Segal, and the Matt Helm series with Dean Martin. Television also got into the act with series like The Man from U.N.C.L.E and I Spy in the U.S., and Danger Man and The Avengers in Britain. Spies have remained popular on TV to the present day with series such as Callan, Alias and Spooks.

Spy films also enjoyed something of a revival in the late 1990s, although these were often action films with espionage elements or comedies like Austin Powers. Some critics identify a trend away from fantasy in favor of realism, as observed in Syriana, the Bourne film series and the James Bond films starring Daniel Craig since Casino Royale (2006).

Films

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Some of the most popular films include:

Movie series (franchises)

One-shots, sequels and remakes

Television series

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Some of the most popular television series include:

Classic era

Modern era

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Spying Game: British Cinema and the Secret State", 2009 Cambridge Film Festival, pp. 54–57 of the festival brochure.
  2. ^ "Spy movies - The guys who came in from the cold". The Independent. October 2, 2009. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24.
  3. ^ "Spy Film Movies and Films - Find Spy Film Movie Recommendations, Casts, Reviews, and Summaries - AllRovi". Archived from the original on 2012-01-17. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  4. ^ O.H.M.S. at IMDb
  5. ^ Foreman, Alison (24 August 2023). "The 20 Best Spy Movies, from 'Enemy of the State' to 'North by Northwest'". IndieWire. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  6. ^ Allison, Mark (11 July 2019). "How North by Northwest Invented the Modern Action Movie". Den of Geek. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  7. ^ Patterson, John (12 June 2009). "Hitching a ride with the Master of Suspense". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  8. ^ The first four focused on illegal street racing and thus they were not spy films
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