While many have discussed how Stranger Things took almost a decade to produce five seasons, the British spy thriller The Night Manager took a staggering ten years to deliver its second season. Fortunately, viewers were eager for more, and the show performed well on streaming platforms when it premiered on Prime Video earlier this year.
What makes this series so captivating? Adapted from a novel by John le Carré, it features Tom Hiddleston as Jonathan Pine, the manager of a luxurious hotel in Cairo who finds himself entangled with an Egyptian crime lord connected to Dickie Roper (Hugh Laurie), a wealthy and influential arms dealer. Roper's charm is matched only by his moral ambiguity, while Angela Burr (played by the talented Olivia Colman) is a Foreign Office agent determined to see him brought to justice. The narrative is nothing short of thrilling.
As you await the anticipated third season--hopefully arriving sooner than the last--you might want to explore these 15 other spy thrillers that will keep you entertained.
The Ipcress File (2022)
Based on Len Deighton's classic, this series features Joe Cole as the enigmatic Harry Palmer, who is offered a chance at freedom from military prison by Major Dalby (Tom Hollander) in exchange for working as an intelligence officer. His first assignment leads him on a globe-trotting adventure involving a missing nuclear scientist, showcasing impeccable period detail.
A Spy Among Friends (2022)
This gripping drama is based on true events, focusing on MI6 operative Kim Philby (Guy Pearce), who is revealed to be a double agent. His former colleague Nicholas Elliott (Damian Lewis) is tasked with uncovering the depth of Philby's betrayal, leading to a tense confrontation.
Black Doves (2024-)
Keira Knightley stars as Helen Webb, the wife of the UK Secretary of State for Defence, who secretly works as a spy. After her lover's death threatens her cover, she finds herself embroiled in a plot that is both humorous and thrilling.
The Day of the Jackal (2024-)
This adaptation of Frederick Forsyth's novel features Eddie Redmayne as an assassin pursued by MI6 operative Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch). With high production values, each episode plays out like a mini-movie.
Slow Horses (2022-)
Updating the spy genre, this series follows a group of MI5 agents who have made mistakes but still find themselves in the midst of thrilling escapades. Led by Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, the show balances humor with a sense of redemption.
The Little Drummer Girl (2018)
Directed by Park Chan-wook, this adaptation focuses on a young actress (Florence Pugh) who becomes embroiled in a complex espionage plot, raising questions about loyalty and morality.
The Agency: Central Intelligence (2024-)
Michael Fassbender plays Brandon Colby, a former CIA agent who must navigate his personal and professional life when a diplomatic mission takes a dangerous turn.
Snowdrop (2021-2022)
Set in late 1987, this series follows a student who unknowingly shelters a North Korean spy. The drama unfolds against a backdrop of historical tension and personal conflict.
Informer (2018)
Nabhaan Rizwan stars as Raza Shar, a reluctant informant caught in a web of counter-terrorism efforts, offering a tense and engaging narrative.
Billions (2016-2023)
While not strictly a spy drama, this series features a charismatic hedge fund manager and a determined government agent, creating a cat-and-mouse dynamic that mirrors espionage thrillers.
The Bureau (2015-2020)
This French series offers a realistic portrayal of the daily lives of spies, focusing on Guillaume Debailly (Mathieu Kassovitz) as he returns from an undercover mission, only to face complications from his past.
Homeland (2011-2020)
Beginning as a tense espionage thriller, this series follows CIA officer Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) as she suspects a Marine of being a terrorist. The show won multiple awards for its gripping storytelling.
Down Cemetery Road (2025-)
This upcoming series blends spy and detective elements, featuring Emma Thompson as a private investigator drawn into a conspiracy while searching for a missing girl.
Patriot (2015-2018)
This dark comedy follows intelligence officer John Tavner (Michael Dorman) as he navigates a series of unfortunate events while on a covert mission.
Spy/Master (2023)
A political thriller set in 1978, this series stars Alec Secăreanu as a Romanian director who must navigate a dangerous defection while balancing allegiances to both his country and the Soviets.