Spies

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With a spate of interesting spy films released in recent years, this film list looks at spies and spying in all its forms; from the whimsy of coming-of-age tales through to historical accounts of The Cold War and modern parodies of the genre. We look at gadgets and gizmos, twists and turns, and different styles of filmmaking with titles for all ages.

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Harriet The Spy

Cert

Age group8–15

Duration97 mins

Harriet The Spy(1996)

Excellent adaptation of the much-loved book about a girl who writes down everything she sees.

Based on the children’s book of the same name, this lively adaptation – looking at both the drawbacks and upsides of being a child – sees the world through the eyes of an inquisitive 11-year-old girl and would-be sleuth.

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Spy Kids

Cert

Age group5–15

Duration84 mins

Spy Kids(2001)

The children of two retired spies have to rescue their parents from the villainous Fegan Floop.

Spying isn’t just for adults; kids can make equally good secret agents, as demonstrated in this lighthearted family adventure which is packed full of the trademark fun that characterised the rest of the franchise.

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Spies in Disguise

Cert

Age group8–12

Duration102 mins

Spies in Disguise(2019)

Animated adventure where a spy is accidentally turned into a pigeon by a young scientist.

Gadgets have always been a central part of the spy film genre. This playful animation sees what happens when a cocky spy is accidently turned into a pigeon by a young scientist he undermines. With many laughs and parodies of the classic tropes of the genre, this comedy also touches on themes of friendship and the importance of respecting others.

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Stormbreaker

Cert

Age group12–15

Duration89 mins

Stormbreaker(2006)

Action thriller about a teen who has been trained to be a super spy by his uncle, whose death leaves him pitted against a sinister billionaire.

Anthony Horowitz – writer of modern Sherlock Holmes and James Bond books – adapted his own novel for the screen with Stormbreaker, about teenage MI6 agent Alex Rider. Featuring a cast that includes Stephen Fry, Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy and Mickey Rourke, this is a great example of a young-adult take on the espionage scene.

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Johnny English Reborn

Cert

Age group8–15

Duration97 mins

Johnny English Reborn(2011)

Sequel to the James Bond spoof, with English embarking on another dangerous mission.

Rowan Atkinson puts his goofy English charm and physical humour to great effect in this spy spoof sequel, a warm send-up of the Bond movies and similar action heroes for audiences of all ages.

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BlacKkKlansman

Cert

Age group16+

Duration135 mins

BlacKkKlansman(2018)

Based on a true story in which an African-American man manages to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan.

This comedy is based on the memoirs of an African-American detective who went on an undercover operation of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s. With brazen humour, the film highlights the incredibly dangerous situations detectives must put themselves in and explores the ongoing racial dynamics still present in Western society.

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Dr. No

Cert

Age group12+

Duration105 mins

Dr. No(1962)

The beginning of the long-running franchise sees Bond in the Bahamas, trying to stop the mysterious Dr. No from sabotaging the US space programme.

Arguably the best-known spy of them all, Dr. No saw James Bond hit the big screen for the first time. 007 was first inhabited by Sean Connery who for many still defines the character’s style, suaveness and sex appeal. Not all of the elements were in place, however; interestingly, in this film Bond relies on his wits over gadgets to get the job done.

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Official Secrets

Cert

Age group15+

Duration112 mins

Official Secrets(2019)

The true story of a whistleblower who uncovered an illegal spying operation prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States.

Highlighting some of the ethical and moral issues surrounding real-life spying and its complications in politics and warfare, this timely film looks at the real-life story of Katherine Gun, who defied her country by whistleblowing and revealing an illegal spying operation by American and British intelligence services in order to blackmail U.N Security council members.

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Mission Impossible

Cert

Age group12+

Duration105 mins

Mission Impossible(1996)

Breathtaking action film about the leader of an elite team of intelligence operatives, who falls under suspicion when a mission goes wrong.

Brian De Palma’s game-changing thriller starring Tom Cruise as secret agent Ethan Hunt, adapting the much-loved 1960s American TV Show. Featuring spectacular action sequences and mind-bending plots, the character led the way for spy films heading into the 21st century.

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Bridge of Spies

Cert

Age group12+

Duration135 mins

Bridge of Spies(2015)

A lawyer negotiates the release of an American spy plane pilot in exchange for a Soviet agent being held in the United States during the Cold War.

Steven Spielberg brings his experience and knowhow to the field of spies, setting the true story of agents on opposites sides at the height of the Cold War. Mark Rylance, hitherto a renowned stage actor, won an Oscar for his role in this film exploring tense and complex political negotiations.

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The Conversation

Cert

Age group15+

Duration113 mins

The Conversation(1974)

Harry Caul is an industrial spy, but he begins to suspect his subjects are in danger, in this intense and paranoid thriller.

Harry Caul is approached by large corporations to spy on their employees in Francis Ford Coppola’s timeless drama. The Conversation is a masterclass in suspenseful, restrained filmmaking. It captures the feeling of global paranoia due to strained international relations combined with emerging technology, and so strongly resonates with modern society.

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Spectre

Cert

Age group12–16

Duration148 mins

Spectre(2015)

A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends 007 on the trail of a sinister espionage operation known as SPECTRE.

Sam Mendes’ second Bond film, Spectre, sees Daniel Craig’s 007 revisit his past and come face-to-face with an old foe. The film nods at classic Bond titles whilst putting a fresh twist on the adventures, with impressive visual effects and an emphasis on new age technology.

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Spy

Cert

Age group15+

Duration115 mins

Spy(2015)

Action comedy about a CIA analyst who volunteers for an undercover mission to stop an arms dealer from selling a nuclear weapon to terrorists.

Comedy director Paul Feig and leading lady Melissa McCarthy reunite for their third outing together, this time in the form of a spy parody. The movie inverts expectations at every turn – from image to casting – with the intelligent but clumsy desk-op Susan Cooper thrust headfirst into the midst of car chases and covert missions.

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Salt

Cert

Age group15+

Duration95 mins

Salt(2010)

Glossy, fast-moving spy thriller starring Angelina Jolie as a CIA operative on the run.

Angelina Jolie’s respected and authoritative Evelyn Salt goes on the run in this action-heavy thriller, with the release of this big-budget blockbuster opening the door to tougher female characters in subsequent years, found in films such as Hanna, The Hunger Games and Mad Max: Fury Road.

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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Cert

Age group15+

Duration122 mins

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy(2011)

It's 1970s Cold War Britain and someone is leaking secrets to the Russians. Cue a tangled web of lies, deceit and creeping paranoia.

Swedish director Tomas Alfredson transports John le Carré’s classic novel to the big screen with an all-star cast including Gary Oldman in the role of central character, George Smiley. This understated, stylish production is rooted in the themes of loyalty, patriotism and guilt that characterise the author’s work in this gripping drama.

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The Lives Of Others

Cert

Age group15+

Duration137 mins

The Lives Of Others(2006)

Highly-acclaimed Oscar-winning drama about corruption and surveillance in Communist East Germany.

Often likened to The Conversation, The Lives of Others is a critically-acclaimed German film set in 1984 which sees a Stasi officer employ surveillance on a lauded and supposedly loyal playwright. It’s a picture full of ethical dilemmas with no easy answers, creating a particularly rich and immersive viewing experience.

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