Spy film - Definition and Overview

The spy film film genre deals with the subject of fictional espionage, either in a realistic way or as a basis for fantasy. Many novels in the spy fiction genre have been adapted as films, although in many cases (such as James Bond) the overall tone is changed.

The height of the spy movies is often considered to be the 1960s when Cold War fears meshed with a desire by audiences to see exciting and suspenseful films.

'Realistic' fictional spy films:

• The Ipcress File
• The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
• Spy Game
• The 39 Steps

'Fantasy' spy films:

• The James Bond film series
• The "Our Man Flint", etc. series with James Coburn
• The Matt Helm series starring Dean Martin
• The Bourne trilogy - The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum
• XXX
• Mission Impossible
• Cloak and Dagger

'Parody' spy films:

• Spies Like Us
• Austin Powers series
• Spy Hard
• Casino Royale

Spy films or television series that include elements of science fiction are sometimes called SpyFi.