Ranker FilmList RulesVote up your favorite spy movies that are based on or inspired by literature.
From secret agents risking their lives to CIA operatives investigating global conspiracies, this list includes information about the best spy movies based on books. Some spy movies based on novels stay true to the source material while other spy films adapted from books create new storylines. Some of the best spy movies based on books have at award-winning directors at the helm.
What sagas will you find on this best spy movies based on books list? Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy has to be near the top. This 2011 Cold War spy thriller was based on John le Carre's novel of the same name. Double agent drama and spies investigating spies are at the heart of the film's mysterious story. Argo is another good spy movie based on a book.
CIA secrets worth killing for are found in The Bourne Identity. Other good spy movies based on books include The Third Man, The Lady Vanishes, The Constant Gardener, and of course, Bond films.
Do you have a favorite spy movie based on a book? Vote the best films up to the top of this list and please add any good options we may have missed.
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282From Russia with Love
Sean Connery, Robert ShawReleased: 1963
Directed by: Terence Young
From Russia with Love is the second James Bond film made by Eon Productions and the second to... more on Wikipedia
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262Goldfinger
Sean Connery, Honor BlackmanReleased: 1964
Directed by: Guy Hamilton
Goldfinger is the third film in the James Bond series and the third to star Sean Connery as... more on Wikipedia3
218Secret Agent
John Gielgud, Peter LorreReleased: 1936
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Secret Agent is a British film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, loosely based on two stories in... more on Wikipedia4
174Dr. No
Sean Connery, Ursula AndressReleased: 1962
Directed by: Terence Young
Dr. No is a 1962 British spy film, starring Sean Connery; it is the first James Bond film.... more on Wikipedia5
186The Spy Who Loved Me
Roger Moore, Barbara BachReleased: 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 on Wikipedia6
175Thunderball
Sean Connery, Luciana PaluzziReleased: 1965
Directed by: Terence Young
Thunderball is the fourth spy film in the James Bond series starring Sean Connery as the... more on Wikipedia7
2110The Hunt for Red October
Alec Baldwin, Sean ConneryReleased: 1990
Directed by: John McTiernan
The Hunt for Red October is a 1990 American submarine spy-thriller film directed by John... more on Wikipedia8
142The Bourne Supremacy
Matt Damon, Julia StilesReleased: 2004
Directed by: Paul Greengrass
The Bourne Supremacy is a 2004 American-German action and spy film starring Robert Ludlum's... more on Wikipedia9
188Clear and Present Danger
Harrison Ford, Willem DafoeReleased: 1994
Directed by: Phillip Noyce
Clear and Present Danger is a 1994 spy action thriller film directed by Phillip Noyce, based... more on Wikipedia10
187The Bourne Ultimatum
Matt Damon, Julia StilesReleased: 2007
Directed by: Paul Greengrass
The Bourne Ultimatum is a 2007 American-German action spy thriller film directed by Paul... more on Wikipedia11
120You Only Live Twice
Sean Connery, Donald PleasenceReleased: 1967
Directed by: Lewis Gilbert
You Only Live Twice is the fifth spy film in the James Bond series, and the fifth to star Sean... more on Wikipedia12
2619Casino Royale
Alessandra Ambrosio, Eva GreenReleased: 2006
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Casino Royale is the twenty-first film in the Eon Productions James Bond film series and the... more on Wikipedia13
166The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
Richard Burton, Claire BloomReleased: 1965
Directed by: Martin Ritt
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a 1965 British Cold War spy film directed by Martin Ritt... more on Wikipedia14
179Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Tom Hardy, Benedict CumberbatchReleased: 2011
Directed by: Tomas Alfredson
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a 2011 espionage film directed by Tomas Alfredson. The screenplay... more on Wikipedia15
168The Bourne Identity
Matt Damon, Clive OwenReleased: 2002
Directed by: Doug Liman
The Bourne Identity is a 2002 American-German action spy film adaptation of Robert Ludlum's... more on Wikipedia16
158The Third Man
Orson Welles, Trevor HowardReleased: 1949
Directed by: Carol Reed
The Third Man is a 1949 British film noir, directed by Carol Reed and starring Joseph Cotten,... more on Wikipedia17
135Our Man in Havana
Maureen O'Hara, Alec GuinnessReleased: 1959
Directed by: Carol Reed
Our Man in Havana is a 1959 British film shot in CinemaScope, directed and produced by Carol... more on Wikipedia18
124Patriot Games
Harrison Ford, Samuel L. JacksonReleased: 1992
Directed by: Phillip Noyce
Patriot Games is a 1992 action-suspense film directed by Phillip Noyce and based on Tom... more on Wikipedia19
124On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Diana Rigg, Joanna LumleyReleased: 1969
Directed by: Peter R. Hunt
On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the sixth spy film in the James Bond series, based on the... more on Wikipedia20
91Never Say Never Again
Sean Connery, Kim BasingerReleased: 1983
Directed by: Irvin Kershner
Never Say Never Again is a 1983 spy film based on the James Bond novel Thunderball, which was... more on Wikipedia21
125The Tailor of Panama
Pierce Brosnan, Jamie Lee CurtisReleased: 2001
Directed by: John Boorman
The Tailor of Panama is a 2001 Irish-American spy thriller film directed by John Boorman and... more on Wikipedia22
1510The Ipcress File
Michael Caine, Sue LloydReleased: 1965
Directed by: Sidney J. Furie
The Ipcress File is a 1965 British espionage film directed by Sidney J. Furie, starring... more on Wikipedia23
138The 39 Steps
Alfred Hitchcock, Madeleine CarrollReleased: 1935
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
The 39 Steps is a 1935 British thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Robert... more on Wikipedia24
129Three Days of the Condor
Robert Redford, Faye DunawayReleased: 1975
Directed by: Sydney Pollack
Three Days of the Condor is a 1975 American political thriller film directed by Sydney Pollack... more on Wikipedia25
84Charlotte Gray
Cate Blanchett, Billy CrudupReleased: 2001
Directed by: Gillian Armstrong
Charlotte Gray is a 2001 British–Australian–German drama film directed by Gillian Armstrong... more on Wikipedia
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