10 Best Spy Thrillers To Watch Like Argylle

April 26, 2024, 11:31 p.m.

Movies

10 Best Spy Thrillers To Watch Like Argylle

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Summary Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy, is a well-received spy comedy thriller with a touch of parody, ideal for fans of fun-loving espionage films.

Argylle's poor box office performance is linked to its plot holes and reviews, hindering potential sequels and crossovers in the future.

For fans of modern spy comedies like Argylle, movies like Atomic Blonde and Mr. & Mrs. Smith offer compelling and entertaining alternatives.

There are several other modern spy comedy thrillers that fans of Matthew Vaughn's Argylle can enjoy. Depsite having a star-studded ensemble cast featuring Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Samuel L. Jackson, Catherine O'Hara, John Cena, Dua Lipa, and Henry Cavill, Argylle was a box office flop upon its release in early February 2024. Argylle only made $96 million worldwide against its staggering $200 million budget, quickly becoming one of the biggest box office failures of the year. Still, there are several other good spy comedy thrillers for fans of the fun-loving genre.

Argylle's poor reviews likely contributed to its poor box office performance. Argylle has several headscratcher moments and plot holes that make it difficult to fully comprehend its serpentine narrative. Although Vaughn has indicated that he plans to expand on the original film's concept with several Argylle prequels, sequels, and crossovers, the poor box office performance and critical reception of the film may prevent him from doing so. There is speculation that Argylle could eventually crossover with Kingsman and that the next movie will be based on the actual book published by "Elly Conway" in January 2024. Argylle is now available to stream exclusively on Apple TV+.

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10 Spy (2015)

Spy Written and directed by Paul Feig, 2015's Spy features Jason Statham, Jude Law, and Melissa McCarthy in an Action, Comedy, and Spy setting. McCarthy plays a CIA employee relegated to a desk that helps her field agent partner remotely until she's forced into action to help keep everyone safe. Director Paul Feig Release Date June 15, 2015 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Paul Feig Cast Melissa McCarthy , Rose Byrne , Jude Law , Jason Statham , Raad Rawi , Jessica Chaffin , Miranda Hart , Sam Richardson Runtime 120 Minutes Budget $65 million Main Genre Comedy

Spy is a celebrated spy thriller comedy starring Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, and the formidable action star Jason Statham. Written and directed by Paul Feig, the acclaimed creator of Freaks and Geeks and director of Bridesmaids and fifteen episodes of The Office, Spy is full of parody of the typical spy-action genre and is arguably one of the best spy action comedies ever made. The spoofs seen throughout Spy are very similar to those in Argylle, playing on many traditional tropes of spy classics such as those in the James Bond franchise. Spy received an impressive 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 75 on Metascore, a great indication of its overall quality as a spy comedy thriller. Spy is currently available to stream on MAX.

9 Atomic Blonde (2017)

Atomic Blonde Based on a graphic novel, Atomic Blonde stars Charlize Theron as Lorraine Broughton, an MI6 agent who is attempting to locate a sensitive list of double agent spies before it is smuggled from East to West Germany, just before the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Theron is joined by a cast that includes James McAvoy, Sofia Boutella, and John Goodman. Director David Leitch Release Date July 26, 2017 Studio(s) Focus Features Distributor(s) Focus Features Writers Kurt Johnstad , Antony Johnston , Sam Hart Cast Charlize Theron , Eddie Marsan , John Goodman , James Faulkner , Toby Jones , James McAvoy , Daniel Bernhardt , Sofia Boutella Runtime 115 minutes Budget $30 million

Atomic Blonde may not be the most obvious choice as a spy action comedy, but it is still a phenomenal spy thriller led by the incomparable Charlize Theron fresh off of 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road. Atomic Blonde, which was directed by David Leitch and based on an adapted screenplay written by Kurt Johnstad, also stars James McAvoy, John Goodman, Bill Skarsgard, and Eddie Marsan. Theron is perfectly cast in the lead role of undercover MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton, who played an integral part in the realistically gripping fight scenes. Leitch, the director of Deadpool 2, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, and Bullet Train, also directed The Fall Guy with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. Atomic Blonde is not currently available to stream on any major platforms.

8 American Ultra (2015)

American Ultra Released in 2015, American Ultra is an action comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Walter Goggins, Topher Grace, and Connie Britton. The film centers on Mike Howell (Eisenberg), a stoner who discovers he is actually a skilled secret agent for the CIA. American Ultra received mixed reviews upon release and only made a few million dollars at the box office. Director Nima Nourizadeh Release Date August 19, 2015 Studio(s) Lionsgate Distributor(s) Lionsgate Writers Max Landis Cast Bill Pullman , Jesse Eisenberg , John Leguizamo , Topher Grace , Walton Goggins , Connie Britton , Kristen Stewart Runtime 95 Minutes Budget $28 million

American Ultra is a comedic cult classic starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Walton Goggins, Topher Grace, Connie Britton, John Leguizamo, and Tony Hale. American Ultra spoofs on the action comedy genre through Eisenberg's stoner character Mike Howell, who is secretly disguised as a government agent. The film is directed by Nima Nourizadeh of Project X acclaim and is based on a screenplay written by Max Landis (Chronicle, Bright). Similar to Argylle, American Ultra is full of for lack of a better word silly and often bizarre twists that, while nonsensical, are still very entertaining. The film was similarly given poor reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, earning a score of 44% compared to Argylle's abysmal 33%. Fans who were willing to give Argylle a chance could find themselves pleasantly surprised by American Ultra, which is currently available to stream on Peacock.

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7 Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

Mr. & Mrs. Smith Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a romantic comedy action film that follows a married couple who discover that they're both assassins after years of maintaining a false relationship for cover when John and Jane discover on a hit job that they both have the same target, the failed mission results in the discovery that they're both assigned to different agencies. Now tasked with eliminating one another, the two engage in a darkly comedic battle where they soon begin to fall in love - for real, this time. Director Doug Liman Release Date June 10, 2005 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century , Summit Entertainment Writers Simon Kinberg Cast Keith David , Angelina Jolie , Kerry Washington , Vince Vaughn , Brad Pitt , Adam Brody Runtime 120 minutes Budget $110 million

Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a spy action comedy classic starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, famous for pairing the iconic Hollywood celebrity couple together. Not to be confused with the recent Mr. & Mrs. Smith Amazon series co-created by Donald Glover, which is arguably even better than the 2005 original movie, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is widely considered one of the most notable action spy comedies of the 2000s. Directed by Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow, American Made, Road House), based on an original screenplay by Simon Kinberg (X-Men: The Last Stand, Sherlock Holmes, Jumper), Mr. & Mrs. Smith is an absolute must-watch for fans of the spy action thriller comedy genre. The 2005 Mr. & Mrs. Smith film is available to stream on Hulu, while the Mr. & Mrs. Smith television series is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

6 The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)

The Spy Who Dumped Me Director Susanna Fogel Release Date August 3, 2018 Writers David Iserson , Susanna Fogel Cast Kate McKinnon , Dustin Demri-Burns , Justin Theroux , Sam Heughan , Mila Kunis , Hasan Minhaj Main Genre Comedy

The Spy Who Dumped Me is a somewhat overlooked spy action comedy from 2018 starring two comedic heavyweights, Mina Kunis and Kate McKinnon. The film's title is a direct play on the classic 1977 James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me in which Roger Moore portrayed Agent 007. Kunis and McKinnon play two best friends who become entangled in an international conspiracy when they realize that one of their ex-boyfriends is a world-class spy. The premise alone makes for an intriguing film, which is made even more appealing by the comedic pairing of Kunis and McKinnon. What's more, Justin Theroux plays the spy named Drew. The Spy Who Dumped Me was written and directed by Susanna Fogel, one of the screenwriters of Olivia Wilde's celebrated coming-of-age story Booksmart. The Spy Who Dumped Me is not currently available to stream on any digital platform.

5 The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent tells the story of a fictionalized version of actor Nicolas Cage when he unwittingly becomes entangled with a criminal cartel. On the brink of bankruptcy, Cage (played by himself) is made an offer he can't refuse: $1 million to appear at the birthday party of a wealthy fan named Javi (Pedro Pascal). However, Cage's trip puts him in the middle of a CIA investigation into Javi, and he finds himself caught between his new friend and a whole host of very dangerous people. Director Tom Gormican Release Date April 22, 2022 Studio(s) Lionsgate Distributor(s) Lionsgate Writers Kevin Etten , Tom Gormican Cast Jacob Scipio , Pedro Pascal , with Neil Patrick Harris , Ike Barinholtz , Tiffany Haddish , Lily Sheen , Nicolas Cage , Alessandra Mastronardi , Neil Patrick Harris , Sharon Horgan Runtime 107 minutes Budget 30 million

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a hilarious, one-of-a-kind satirical spy comedy starring Nicolas Cage as himself. While The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is not the first movie in which Cage has gone super meta in a leading role, like in the iconic 2002 Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman film Adaptation., the 2022 comedy is one of Cage's most enjoyable films in recent memory. In The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, a fictionalized version of Cage is recruited by a CIA operative to investigate a dangerous superfan named Javi Gutierrez, played by the incomparable Pedro Pascal. The film was written and directed by Tom Gormican, who rose to prominence from 2014's That Awkward Moment starring Zac Efron, Miles Teller, and Michael B. Jordan. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is available to stream on Roku Channel.

4 Burn After Reading (2008)

Burn After Reading Director Ethan Coen , Joel Coen Release Date September 5, 2008 Writers Joel Coen , Ethan Coen Cast George Clooney , Frances McDormand , Brad Pitt , John Malkovich , Tilda Swinton , Richard Jenkins Runtime 96 minutes Budget $37 million

Burn After Reading is a classic spy satire written and directed by the Oscar-winning duo, Joel and Ethan Coen. Burn After Reading has an incredible cast that includes Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, George Clooney, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, J.K. Simmons, and more. While Burn After Reading is certainly more grounded in reality than the larger-than-life Argylle thanks to the unique and gritty filmmaking approach of the Coen Brothers, the film is still full of style and humor. Pitt's knucklehead protagonist Chad Feldheimer tries to blackmail a CIA operative named Osborne Cox after finding classified information. Fans of Argylle will certainly find the characters, story, and filmmaking in Burn After Reading compelling. Burn After Reading is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

3 Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023)

Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (Don't Use) Jason Statham stars as super spy Orson Fortune in Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre from writer/director Guy Ritchie. When a new weapon technology falls into the hands of billionaire Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant), he looks to make a sale to dangerous crime groups. Fortune and his team of international spies are assigned to track him down and stop the sale of this technology with the help of Simmonds' favorite Hollywood actor, Danny Francesco. Director Guy Ritchie Release Date January 4, 2023 Writers Ivan Atkinson , Marn Davies , Guy Ritchie Cast Jason Statham , Aubrey Plaza , Josh Hartnett , Cary Elwes , Bugzy Malone , Hugh Grant Runtime 114 minutes Main Genre Action

Guy Ritchie's Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre has a very similar look and vibe to Argylle and Matthew Vaughn's other spy comedy franchise Kingsman. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre has a star-studded cast led by Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Hugh Grant, and Josh Hartnett and was one of the more overlooked movies of 2023. It also marks the fifth feature film collaboration between Ritchie and Statham, only a few years after their celebrated heist movie Wrath of Man (2021) was released. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre is meant to be an enjoyable, easy-to-watch spy action comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously, which means that fans of Argylle will almost certainly like it. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre is currently available to stream on Starz.

2 The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Based on the television series of the same name, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is directed by Guy Ritchie and stars Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer. Set during the height of the Cold War, the film follows a CIA operative and a KGB agent who are forced to work together to stop an international criminal conspiracy. Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, and Hugh Grant star alongside Cavill and Hammer. Director Guy Ritchie Release Date August 14, 2015 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Lionel Wigram , Guy Ritchie Cast Hugh Grant , Jared Harris , Armie Hammer Henry Cavill , Alicia Vikander Runtime 116minutes Budget $75–84 million

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is somewhat of a landmark mid-2010s spy action comedy that was originally seen as Henry Cavill's James Bond audition tape. While that didn't necessarily pan out in Cavill's career, Cavill found himself as the face of another spy franchise in Argylle. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. remains one of the most fun and entertaining spy action comedies in recent years. Unsurprisingly, the film was written and directed by Guy Ritchie. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. features a stellar cast that includes Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Hugh Grant, and Jared Harris. It's entirely possible that Ritchie could be planning a sequel for The Man From U.N.C.L.E, which could give Cavill another major action spy franchise to be the face of.

1 Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

Fans of Argylle should drop everything and watch Kingsman: The Secret Service if they somehow have not already. Directed by Vaughn, Kingsman: The Secret Service sparked a sequel and prequel as well called Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) and The King's Man (2021), respectively. Vaughn is expected to continue developing his Argylle universe and eventually overlap it with the characters and locations of Kingsman, as hinted in the Argylle post-credits scene. With Kingsman: The Blue Blood, the third Kingsman movie, and The King's Man: The Traitor King, the Kingsman's prequel sequel movie both currently in production, there will be plenty more Kingsman material from Vaughn to come. Kingsman is currently available to be streamed on MAX.