Time and time again, spy movies have drawn audiences to the theaters, with the thrilling, action-packed stories being the most popular. Compelling villains, grand action set pieces, and clever espionage narratives are just a few simple elements needed for an engaging spy action film that'll result in monumental box office numbers. Most of the spy action films with the biggest box office numbers come from massive film series like Mission: Impossible and Daniel Craig's James Bond movies.
The refreshing iteration of 007 by Craig and the movies, the fact that they broke through among larger, ongoing series is worth recognizing.
10 True Lies (1994)
Worldwide Total: $378,882,411
True Lies
- Release Date
- July 15, 1994
- Runtime
- 141 minutes
- Director
- James Cameron
Cast
Tom Arnold
WHERE TO WATCH
In James Cameron's 1994 action comedy True Lies, the spy Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) lives a double life as a mellow computer salesman and keeps his real job secret from his wife Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis). However, she s him when he discovers a terrorist plot to destroy America.
James Cameron's True Lies is notable for being a departure from the director's sci-fi movies in the years prior and for being the first movie with a $100 million budget. The film stars action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger as a man living a double life. Schwarzenegger's Harry Tasker lives half of his life as an unsuspecting family man and the other half as a secret agent for a U.S. counterterrorism agency.
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True Lies blends action and comedy, which its stars handle with ease, making for an entertaining watch. Schwarzenegger is ed by actors like Bill Paxton, Tia Carrere, and Jamie Lee Curtis, the latter playing his wife. Though the film has dated elements, flaws, and isn't Cameron's highest-grossing film, True Lies still earned a positive critical response and was the highest-grossing film in 1994, behind heavy hitters like Forrest Gump and The Lion King.
9 Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Worldwide Total: $414,351,546
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Kingsman: The Secret Service
- Release Date
- February 13, 2015
- Runtime
- 2h 10m
- Director
- Matthew Vaughn
Cast
Taron Egerton
WHERE TO WATCH
Based on the comic book series of the same name, Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of rebellious teen Eggsy (Taron Egerton) as he's inducted into a top-secret spy agency by a man codenamed Galahad (Colin Firth). After learning that billionaire Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) plans to destroy the world, Eggsy and Galahad set out to avert international disaster and uncover widespread corruption that threatens to consume the Kingsman agency itself.
While many of the top performing action spy films are Mission: Impossible and James Bond titles, a few movies outside these series have managed to make their way to the top. One of these films, Kingsman: The Secret Service, comes from a relatively newer spy franchise. As the first entry in the Kingsman film series, the Matthew Vaughn movie sees Gary "Eggsy" Unwin (Taron Egerton) recruited by a secret spy organization.
Even though several of the other films mentioned insert bits of humor into their otherwise gritty, high-stakes narratives, The Secret Service's main intent is to have fun. The film is based on a comic book series of the same name and has an entertaining blend of action and comedy. Not so concerned with realism, The Secret Service features silly gadgets and self-aware nods to spy movie tropes made familiar by James Bond films.
8 The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Worldwide Total: $442,824,138
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The Bourne Ultimatum
- Release Date
- August 3, 2007
- Runtime
- 115 minutes
- Director
- Paul Greengrass
Cast
Scott Glenn
David Strathairn
WHERE TO WATCH
The Bourne Ultimatum is the third Jason Bourne film starring Matt Damon. This time, Bourne is tracing the origin of his career as an assassin while dodging the CIA. Despite being the third film in the series, The Bourne Ultimatum is often considered the best film in the franchise, even winning three Oscars in 2008.
Wrapping up the original Bourne trilogy is The Bourne Ultimatum. Taking place shortly after the events of The Bourne Supremacy, the third installment continues the quest of Matt Damon's title character as he seeks information about his past and his real identity. The final Bourne film led by Damon until 2016 ties up his character's story neatly in a way that is organic and satisfies audiences.
The clever storytelling, non-stop action, and memorable performance from Damon combine to make an impressive spy action movie.
Like the previous movies, The Bourne Ultimatum aims to be practical, and it provides audiences with a realistic look at the life of a spy on the run. The Bourne Ultimatum heightens the thrills and provides a range of stirring action sequences to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. The film is the highest-grossing of the franchise, and there's no doubt as to why. The clever storytelling, non-stop action, and memorable performance from Damon combine to make an impressive spy action movie.
7 Mission: Impossible II
Worldwide Total: $546,388,108
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Mission: Impossible 2
- Release Date
- May 24, 2000
- Runtime
- 123 Minutes
- Director
- John Woo
Cast
Ethan Hunt
Sean Ambrose
WHERE TO WATCH
Mission: Impossible 2 is the second installment in the franchise, featuring Tom Cruise as IMF agent Ethan Hunt. Directed by John Woo, the film follows Hunt as he attempts to recover a dangerous bioweapon known as Chimera. Alongside his team, Hunt navigates treachery and high-stakes espionage while facing off against a rogue agent. The film is known for its choreographed action sequences and complex storytelling.
Director John Woo is a notable figure in the action film genre, making him the ideal person to lead the sequel to Brian De Palma's 1996 film. The second installment, aptly titled Mission: Impossible II, follows Cruise's Ethan Hunt on a mission to get a virus known as Chimera out of the hands of a rogue IMF agent. While bringing back the espionage aspects seen in the original film, the sequel amps up the action, introducing a key element of the Mission: Impossible films that would get bolder as the series continued.
However, where other Mission: Impossible films found the ideal balance between a compelling narrative, strong character development, and flashy action scenes, Woo's film was too concerned with the latter. Though such scenes are what audiences have grown to appreciate about Mission: Impossible movies, it does make the film less impressive and the weaker of the bunch. Still, Mission: Impossible II was the highest-grossing film of 2000.
6 Quantum Of Solace (2008)
Worldwide Total: $589,593,688
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Quantum of Solace
- Release Date
- November 14, 2008
- Runtime
- 106 minutes
- Director
- Marc Forster
Cast
James Bond
Olga KurylenkoCamille
WHERE TO WATCH
Quantum of Solace, released in 2008, follows James Bond as he grapples with betrayal while pursuing a perilous mission to expose a shadowy organization. In collaboration with M, Bond endeavors to unravel the intricate conspiracy threatening global stability, hinted at by the captured criminal Mr. White.
Unlike other James Bond films, Quantum of Solace is a true sequel and picks up right where Casino Royale left off. As an action film, Quantum of Solace delivers in almost every regard. There are exhilarating action sequences and a strong performance by Craig after his brilliant debut a few years prior. For these reasons alone, it's easy to see why audiences showed up to see the action unfold on the big screen. However, as a James Bond film, it's difficult to label Quantum of Solace as a success.
Part of what makes most James Bond films work is their ability to be watched in any order, which also removes the pressure to establish an overarching narrative. The problem with Quantum of Solace is that the story rarely feels cohesive, and the performance by Mathieu Amalric as villainous Dominic Greene is underwhelming. Though it's the weaker Craig-led film, it's certainly not the worst in the spy genre and is still a thrilling action movie.
5 Casino Royale (2006)
Worldwide Total: $616,577,552
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Casino Royale
- Release Date
- November 17, 2006
- Runtime
- 144 minutes
- Director
- Martin Campbell
Cast
-
James Bond
Eva GreenVesper Lynd
WHERE TO WATCH
Casino Royale introduces Daniel Craig as James Bond in his first mission as a 00 Agent. Tasked with preventing the terrorist financier Le Chiffre from winning a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro, Bond teams up with Vesper Lynd and Felix Leiter, kicking off a pivotal chapter in the espionage saga.
The James Bond films have stayed fresh throughout the years as the titular character is frequently reinvented by various actors. Casino Royale's famous parkour chase is just one of the many worthwhile action scenes in the film. However, while such breathtaking sequences are a significant part of the movie, Martin Campbell's film, and the Craig-led entries that followed, sought to be more realistic.
Casino Royale has a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Like many of the spy action flicks at the time, Casino Royale provided audiences with a fun time and a protagonist full of depth. Bond is vulnerable, especially when it comes to his romantic connection to Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), and audiences see how that transforms into his signature emotional detachment. The gritty tale provides the ideal foundation for Craig's iteration of the famous secret agent.
4 Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
Worldwide Total: $694,713,380
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Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
- Release Date
- December 21, 2011
- Runtime
- 133 minutes
- Director
- Brad Bird
Cast
-
Ethan Hunt
Jane
WHERE TO WATCH
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol follows Ethan Hunt and his team as they are disavowed after being falsely accused of bombing the Kremlin. In a race against time, they pursue a terrorist named Hendricks, who threatens global security with stolen Russian nuclear launch codes, leading them on a global chase.
Tom Cruise is one of the most exciting action stars to watch, with his Mission: Impossible series being celebrated for its risky and inspiring stunts. One of the most famous stunts occurs in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, the fourth installment of the film series. Headed by Ghost Protocol sees Cruise scaling the Burj Khalifa as IMF agent Ethan Hunt. The previous Mission: Impossible films, while not outright terrible, have their flaws, making it easy for audiences to worry about the future of the series.
However, Bird's film squashed such doubts by establishing the sort of high-stakes action the series of films would become known for. While simultaneously putting forth a compelling and cohesive narrative, Ghost Protocol also presented intense stunts and striking set pieces that made the film one that audiences were eager to see on the big screen. Despite Mission: Impossible films continuing to draw audiences to the theater years later, Ghost Protocol remains one of the highest-grossing in the series.
3 Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Worldwide Total: $791,658,205
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Mission: Impossible - Fallout
- Release Date
- July 27, 2018
- Runtime
- 147 minutes
- Director
- Christopher McQuarrie
Cast
-
Ethan Hunt
August Walker
WHERE TO WATCH
Mission: Impossible - Fallout: Released in 2018, the film continues the saga of Ethan Hunt as he grapples with the fallout of a mission gone awry. With the IMF's integrity in question, Hunt and his team must navigate treachery within their ranks while facing a looming global threat.
One of the best action movies of the 2010s is Mission: Impossible – Fallout, the sixth installment in the spy film series. Fallout is seen as one of the best in the series, which is a title that isn't easily given to films released a little over two decades after the series began. Led by returning director Christopher McQuarrie, Fallout successfully builds on the action and character development established in the previous films. The stakes get raised higher than ever before, and the action is bigger but grounded in reality thanks to Cruise's stunt work.
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Fallout sees Ethan and his team working to stop a nuclear terrorist attack. Along with improving the action set pieces and stunt work the series of films is lauded for, Ethan, too, has improved a great deal. Following Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, McQuarrie set out to better shape both Ethan's physical abilities and morality as he prepares to save numerous innocent lives. The appreciated progression of the series’ beloved elements has led to Fallout being the highest-grossing Mission: Impossible movie.
2 Spectre (2015)
Worldwide Total: $880,707,597
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Spectre
- Release Date
- November 6, 2015
- Runtime
- 148 minutes
- Director
- Sam Mendes
Cast
-
James Bond
Blofeld
WHERE TO WATCH
Spectre, released in 2015, is the 24th installment in the James Bond series, starring Daniel Craig as the legendary MI6 agent. As Bond follows a cryptic lead from his past, he uncovers the shadowy organization SPECTRE, while M faces political challenges to protect the secret service's existence.
Following the impressive box office numbers and critical acclaim of Skyfall, audiences were eager to see what Sam Mendes would do next with Spectre. The film finally allowed Daniel Craig's James Bond to interact with the titular antagonistic organization following a long-running legal dispute behind the scenes. Unfortunately, the final product failed to impress critics or audiences as the convoluted narrative tied together the events of Craig's movies in a way that was both disappointing and frustrating.
The over-reliance on callbacks and the standard 007 formula is uninspired. Despite this, the movie did well at the box office, and there are some strong aspects of the film that save it from being a complete disaster. Spectre has some rewatch value thanks to its reliably entertaining action scenes and Christoph Waltz's chilling take on the famous 007 villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Additionally, Spectre's opening credits are arguably one of the best out of any James Bond film.
1 Skyfall (2012)
Worldwide Total: $1,108,594,137
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Skyfall
- Release Date
- November 9, 2012
- Runtime
- 143 minutes
- Director
- Sam Mendes
Cast
-
James Bond
Judi DenchM
WHERE TO WATCH
Skyfall is the twenty-third James Bond film, featuring Daniel Craig as 007. Released in 2012, the film follows Bond as he investigates an attack on MI6, guided by M, portrayed by Judi Dench, while contending with internal pressures and a new authority figure, Gareth Mallory, played by Ralph Fiennes.
Not only is Skyfall the highest-grossing James Bond film at the box office, but it's also the highest-grossing spy action film of all time. The third Bond film led by Craig was an all-around success, earning widespread critical acclaim and five Academy Award nominations. While plenty of spy thrillers have all the necessary elements for success, like a convincing villain, a compelling arc for their protagonist, emotional depth, and strong action set pieces, few tie them together so effortlessly the way Skyfall does.
James Bond villains are a crucial part of the spy films, with the antagonists varying from cheesy, one-dimensional figures to menacing giants.
Skyfall further explores Bond's past and his significant yet nuanced relationship with M (Judi Dench). Their connection is further complicated by the fact that M has become the target of Skyfall's magnificently threatening villain, Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem). James Bond villains are a crucial part of the spy films, with the antagonists varying from cheesy, one-dimensional figures to menacing giants. Largely thanks to Bardem's performance, Raoul is seen as the latter and is an undeniable part of Skyfall's success.
Sources: Box Office Mojo
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