Now that Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One is out and trending, annihilating the competition at the box office, it’s easy to see why the Mission: Impossible franchise, starring the iconic Tom Cruise as elite-spy Ethan Hunt, has constantly been the gold standard for action-packed espionage movies. Fans of the spy thriller genre are always in for a real treat thanks to its blend of high-stakes intrigue, daring stunts, high-tech gadgetry, and nonstop action.
It’s feasible, though, that you’ll be left wanting more after watching every installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise. Fortunately, the film industry is rife with other entertaining spy thrillers and action extravaganzas that, in their own ways, embody the qualities that give rise to great cinema. Whether it’s the world-spanning escapades, the seemingly impossible assignments, or the murky realm of international espionage, these movies also capture the enticing and thrill-inducing nature of the Mission: Impossible series.
Atomic Blonde (2017)
The 2012 graphic novel The Coldest City inspired David Leitch’s iconic film Atomic Blonde. A beautiful, fast-paced thriller set in Berlin in the waning days of the Cold War, Atomic Blonde stars Charlize Theron as the tough MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton. In the film, Broughton is partnered with the eccentric station chief David Percival (James McAvoy) in Berlin to find a missing list of double agents. Broughton demonstrates her abilities as a cold and effective spy as she maneuvers through a labyrinth of lies and betrayal.
Atomic Blonde is known for its highly stylized action sequences, sometimes in long, masterfully choreographed single takes. The fight scene on the stairs is particularly noteworthy since it showcases Broughton’s devastating combat skills and Theron’s dedication to doing her own stunts. The plot of Atomic Blonde, like that of Mission: Impossible, is intricate and involves espionage, double-crosses, and dangerous missions. But the picture stands out thanks to its unique visual style, rooted in 1980s aesthetics, seen in everything from the neon-soaked color palette to the soundtrack replete with great ’80s classics.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Based on John le Carré’s 1974 novel, Tomas Alfredson’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a Cold War spy thriller from 2011. Gary Oldman (as George Smiley) leads an all-star cast including Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Ciarán Hinds. A former spy named George Smiley finds himself drawn back into espionage when tasked with finding a Soviet mole in the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6).
Unlike the high-octane action of the Mission: Impossible series, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is methodical and cerebral, focusing on psychological tension, human interactions, and complex plotting. In contrast to Ethan Hunt, who is frequently at the center of exciting action situations, Smiley works covertly, using his wits and deduction to untangle the web of lies. The film’s suspense isn’t built through car chases or fistfights but rather through compelling conversations despite their seemingly calm aura.
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman’s Kingsman: The Secret Service is an action comedy based on the Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons comic book series of the same name. The film is a tongue-in-cheek homage to the traditional espionage genre, bringing a fresh mix of humor, over-the-top action, and engaging characters. Taron Egerton plays Gary “Eggsy” Unwin, a young Londoner with no direction in life, who the Kingsman recruits.
Harry Hart (Colin Firth), an experienced Kingsman agent and Eggsy’s mentor, sees potential in him despite the latter’s disadvantaged upbringing. The story intensifies as Eggsy prepares to become a Kingsman and a megalomaniacal tech millionaire Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) threatens to destroy the planet. High-stakes global threats, secret operations, and spectacular action sequences are the bread and butter of Kingsman: The Secret Service, much like in the Mission: Impossible films. It stands apart, though, with its sarcastic spin on standard espionage film clichés.
Salt (2010)
Phillip Noyce and Kurt Wimmer helmed and wrote the script for the action thriller Salt. Angelina Jolie plays CIA operative Evelyn Salt, who goes on the run after being falsely suspected of being a Russian spy. The film opens with a defector claiming Salt is a Russian sleeper agent working for a covert American intelligence agency. After having her loyalties questioned, Salt goes on the run to clear her identity and prove her worth. The more she investigates, the more the boundaries between friend and adversary become hazy.
The plot of Salt is full of unexpected turns, and the spectator is left guessing about Salt’s loyalties right up until the very end. As a highly trained agent, Evelyn Salt can perform incredible physical feats and think quickly on her feet, just like Ethan Hunt. The action scenes in Salt are also excellent along with the physicality and ferocity of Jolie’s performance, which is on par with Tom Cruise’s.
Jack Reacher franchise (2012-present)
Because Tom Cruise wasn’t done impressing us as Ethan, he became Jack Reacher, a former U.S. Army Major turned vagabond who is lured into deadly investigations thanks to his investigative training and sense of justice in the Jack Reacher film series, adapted from Lee Child’s best-selling novels. These films, like the Mission: Impossible series, are action-thrillers at their core, with plots revolving around intrigue, conspiracy, and daring operations.
However, the tone and themes of these two franchises are very different. On one hand, Ethan Hunt works with a team in Mission: Impossible, facing global dangers with cutting-edge technology and intricate preparations. In contrast, the Jack Reacher films center on Reacher’s solo, up-close and personal investigations. Reacher works primarily independently, using his wits, fighting skills, and moral compass to solve problems. His fights are typically smaller and more local, but their effects can be seen further afield.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
Spy thriller The Man from U.N.C.L.E., directed by Guy Ritchie, is based on the 1960s TV series of the same name, and it serves up a hefty dose of Cold War-era intrigue and charm. While Mission: Impossible is well-known for its high-stakes action sequences and espionage, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. takes a more light-hearted, amusing, and stylish approach to the genre without sacrificing any of the thrill or adrenaline. As the Cold War heats up, CIA spy Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) must put aside their differences and work together to stop a mystery worldwide criminal organization in this action thriller.
Victoria Vinciguerra (Elizabeth Debicki) leads this ruthless group actively seeking to spread nuclear weapons worldwide. A common theme between The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Mission: Impossible is the importance of putting together a diverse group of specialists. Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander), the daughter of a missing German scientist, is the team’s third member and the key to infiltrating the criminal organization. The film revolves around the chemistry between the three leads, who share witty repartee, unexpected friendships, and a touch of romantic tension.
Inception (2010)
In 2010, Christopher Nolan released his ground-breaking science fiction film, Inception. While not your standard spy thriller, the concept of corporate espionage by infiltrating dreams offers a fresh take on the genre. In the movie, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Dom Cobb, an expert “extractor” who steals people’s secrets by invading their dreams. However, Cobb’s ultimate aim does not include extraction but rather “inception” — the virtually impossible feat of putting an idea into someone’s subconscious.
This premise sets the stage for an action-packed adventure that challenges the viewer’s conception of time and space. There are parallels between Ethan Hunt’s IMF squad in Mission: Impossible and Cobb’s team of specialists. From the team’s point man, Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), to its architect, Ariadne (Elliot Page), each member contributes something unique to the table. Their job — to plant an idea in the mind of their target so that they think it’s their brainchild — is just as impossible as any mission from the Mission: Impossible series.
John Wick Franchise (2014-present)
The John Wick film series, featuring Keanu Reeves in the title role, has won accolades and box office success for its thrilling action scenes and gripping story. It’s not a classic espionage thriller like Mission: Impossible or James Bond, but it has some of the same characteristics, such as thrilling action sequences, high stakes, and an undercurrent of a hidden world operating beneath the surface of society. The protagonist, John Wick, is a former assassin who, after suffering a personal tragedy, finds himself dragged back into the vicious underworld.
The films are famed for their “gun-fu” style — a fusion of martial arts and gunplay — which has received widespread acclaim for choreography and execution. Keanu Reeves’s portrayal of the stoic and unyielding assassin is fundamental to the series’ success, making Wick famous in modern cinema. The broad and fascinating world-building in John Wick is one of the film’s distinguishing elements. The movies depict a criminal underworld that is highly organized, with its laws, currency, and places that are all interconnected in a way that is reminiscent of a secret society.
The Bourne franchise (2002-present)
Matt Damon’s portrayal of memory-impaired spy Jason Bourne in the Bourne films establishes a distinct niche for the series within the broader subgenre of spy thrillers. The protagonists of both series are competent operatives caught up in a labyrinth of international espionage, and this is perhaps the most striking connection between them. As an Impossible Mission Force (IMF) agent, Ethan Hunt demonstrates ingenuity, loyalty, and resolve throughout the Mission: Impossible series.
In contrast, Bourne introduces us to Jason Bourne, a former CIA assassin suffering from amnesia and desperately trying to reconstruct his past while being hounded by his former employers. These movies share a setting: the murky, treacherous realm of covert operations. Similar to how Ethan Hunt’s superiors and colleagues repeatedly betray him in Mission: Impossible, Jason Bourne is the target of a massive scheme within the CIA. Both film series are propelled by internal conflict and double-dealing, which adds drama and intrigue.
The James Bond franchise (1962-present)
The James Bond films are considered the peak of the espionage thriller genre, and they share many similarities with the Mission: Impossible movies, despite having their own unique styles and appeal. James Bond has entertained audiences since debuting in 1962 and like the Mission: Impossible flicks, the Bond movies continue to do so by providing an exciting blend of espionage, villainy, exoticism, technology, and romance. Several captivating performers have left their mark on the James Bond canon, from the timeless charm of Sean Connery to the modern grit of Daniel Craig.
Similar to Mission: Impossible, the James Bond films feature complex plot twists, high-stakes missions, and threats on a global scale. Both feature jaw-dropping action scenes and set pieces. They are known for their ground-breaking action sequences, elaborate chase scenes, and iconic gadgets, with the former setting the standard with its gravity-defying stunts and the latter for its amazing practical effects.
Like the Mission: Impossible films, the James Bond movies take place across the globe and are rife with international intrigue. Because of this similarity, both genres tend to provide a visual feast of far-flung locations and societies, which adds to the epic scope of the stories they tell.
The 10 best spy thrillers like ‘Mission Impossible’
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