The Best '70s Spy Movies

Updated October 1, 2019 1.2k votes 295 voters 12.0k views43 items

List RulesVote up your favorite espionage films that were released in the 1970s

In a way, the espionage genre did not develop much from the ‘60s to the ‘70s. Like their predecessors, the best '70s spy movies are a mix of American grit, British suave, and Cold War realpolitik. With Cold War fears lessening slightly compared to the previous decade, spy movies still often focused on Russian defectors, nuclear annihilation, and East German intrigue.

Many of the greatest ‘70s spy movies feature everyone’s favorite MI6 operative, James Bond. Portrayed by Roger Moore, Bond had a big decade, appearing in five films including The Man with the Golden Gun and The Spy Who Loved Me, later to be parodied by Mike Meyers in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. American filmmakers took on the espionage genre as well, a choice example being Three Days of the Condor. Directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Robert Redford as a CIA agent who doesn’t know who to trust, the film garnered critical acclaim and remains a spy movie classic.

Vote up the best '70s spy movies, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.

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Three Days of the Condor
Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway
Released: 1975
Directed by: Sydney Pollack
Three Days of the Condor is a 1975 American political thriller film directed by Sydney Pollack... more
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The Spy Who Loved Me
Roger Moore, Barbara Bach
Released: 1977
Directed by: Lewis Gilbert
The Spy Who Loved Me is the tenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the third to star... more
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The Day of the Jackal
Derek Jacobi, Edward Fox
Released: 1973
Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
The Day of the Jackal is a 1973 Anglo-French thriller film directed by Fred Zinnemann and... more
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Live and Let Die
Jane Seymour, Roger Moore
Released: 1973
Directed by: Guy Hamilton
This film is the eighth spy film in the James Bond series to be produced by Eon Productions,... more
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Diamonds Are Forever
Sean Connery, Sammy Davis
Released: 1971
Directed by: Guy Hamilton
Diamonds Are Forever is the seventh spy film in the James Bond series by Eon Productions, and... more
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Scorpio
Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon
Released: 1973
Directed by: Michael Winner
Scorpio is a 1973 spy film directed by Michael Winner. It stars Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon... more
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The Man with the Golden Gun
Christopher Lee, Roger Moore
Released: 1974
Directed by: Guy Hamilton
The Man with the Golden Gun is the ninth spy film in the James Bond series and the second to... more

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The Mackintosh Man
Paul Newman, Harry Andrews
Released: 1973
Directed by: John Huston
The Mackintosh Man is a 1973 British-American cold war spy thriller film, directed by John... more
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Moonraker
Roger Moore, Lois Chiles
Released: 1979
Directed by: Lewis Gilbert
Moonraker is the eleventh spy film in the James Bond series, and the fourth to star Roger... more
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Enter the Dragon
Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan
Released: 1973
Directed by: Robert Clouse
Enter the Dragon is a 1973 Hong Kong martial arts action film directed by Robert Clouse;... more
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The Eagle Has Landed
Robert Duvall, Michael Caine
Released: 1976
Directed by: John Sturges
The Eagle Has Landed is a 1976 British film directed by John Sturges and starring Michael... more
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Telefon
Charles Bronson, Lee Remick
Released: 1977
Directed by: Don Siegel
Telefon is a 1977 spy film, starring Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence and Lee Remick. It was... more
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The In-Laws
Alan Arkin, Peter Falk
Released: 1979
Directed by: Arthur Hiller
The In-Laws is a 1979 American action-comedy film starring Alan Arkin and Peter Falk, written... more
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The Thirty Nine Steps
John Mills, Robert Powell
Released: 1978
Directed by: Don Sharp
The Thirty Nine Steps is a British 1978 thriller film directed by Don Sharp, with screenplay... more
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Puppet on a Chain
Barbara Parkins, Alexander Knox
Released: 1971
Directed by: Don Sharp, Geoffrey Reeve
Puppet on a Chain is a 1971 British thriller film directed by Geoffrey Reeve and starring... more
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The Kremlin Letter
Orson Welles, Max von Sydow
Released: 1970
Directed by: John Huston
The Kremlin Letter is an American spy film directed by John Huston, starring Richard Boone,... more
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The Spook Who Sat by the Door
Paula Kelly, J. A. Preston
Released: 1973
Directed by: Ivan Dixon
The Spook Who Sat by the Door is a 1973 film based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Sam... more
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Darling Lili
Julie Andrews, Rock Hudson
Released: 1970
Directed by: Blake Edwards
Darling Lili is a 1970 American musical film. The screenplay was written by William Peter... more
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The Tamarind Seed
Julie Andrews, Omar Sharif
Released: 1974
Directed by: Blake Edwards
The Tamarind Seed is a 1974 American-British romantic drama film written and directed by Blake... more
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The Salzburg Connection
Anna Karina, Udo Kier
Released: 1972
Directed by: Lee H. Katzin
The Salzburg Connection is a 1972 American thriller film directed by Lee H. Katzin, starring... more
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One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing
Helen Hayes, Peter Ustinov
Released: 1975
Directed by: Robert Stevenson
One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing is a 1975 comedy film, which is set in the early 1920s, about... more
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Le Magnifique
Jacqueline Bissett, Jean-Paul Belmondo
Released: 1973
Directed by: Philippe de Broca
Le Magnifique is a French movie released in 1973, starring Jacqueline Bisset and Jean-Paul... more
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The Groundstar Conspiracy
George Peppard, Michael Sarrazin
Released: 1972
Directed by: Lamont Johnson
The Groundstar Conspiracy is a 1972 film directed by Lamont Johnson. It stars George Peppard... more
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The Black Windmill
Michael Caine, Donald Pleasence
Released: 1974
Directed by: Don Siegel
The Black Windmill is a 1974 British spy thriller directed by Don Siegel and starring Michael... more
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Avalanche Express
Lee Marvin, Linda Evans
Released: 1979
Directed by: Mark Robson, Monte Hellman
Avalanche Express is a 1979 cold war adventure thriller film produced and directed by Mark... more

Puppet on a Chain

The Groundstar Conspiracy