Who doesn’t love a good spy thriller? TV, in particular, is the perfect medium for stories of intrigue and espionage – even more so than film. Of course, that’s not to say that quality spy thriller movies don’t exist, but on occasion, television fares better in executing this genre on screen. TV is usually king. You get more time with the characters, writers have more time to develop them, and the narrative can breathe over multiple episodes (sometimes seasons) as opposed to being shoved into a two-hour movie.
Below, I’ve compiled a list of 10 spy thriller series that outshine most movies, from the critically acclaimed Slow Horses to the tear-inducing Andor and the wildly entertaining The Americans. My requirements for these selections? Solid character work, tight writing, well-established pacing, and a full-on embrace of the spy thriller elements we know and love.
Why You Should Trust Me: I’ve been covering TV for almost 10 years as a freelance entertainment journalist. My primary coverage for MovieWeb has been TV-focused, from lists and reviews to features and everything in between.
‘Slow Horses’ (5 Seasons, 2022-Present)
A Darkly Comedic Thrill Ride
Jack Lowden and Sir Gary Oldman as River Cartwright and Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses.Apple TV
It’s a strange, strange game, indeed. Adapting Mick Herron’s acclaimed Slough House series, Apple TV’s Slow Horses centers on a group of misfits expelled from MI5 and their travails while on the fringes of the covert organization. The series is an artful blend of dark comedy and spy thriller with a dash of drama for good measure. You really get a sense of who these characters are, even with only six episodes a season.
Bolstered by compelling performances and Gary Oldman as the cantankerous head of Slough House who seemingly never showers, Slow Horses is a must-watch. Jack Lowden also gets quite the workout each season with how much his character, River Cartwright, takes off in a full-on run.
‘The Americans’ (6 Seasons, 2013-2018)
A Gripping Tale in the Height of the Cold War
FX
FX’s The Americans is more than the series that brought Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell together as TV’s reigning couple – it’s a well-crafted, pulse-pounding, action-packed story. Set during the height of the Cold War, two KGB agents pose as Americans in suburbia, carrying out their spy duties while raising their two American-born children.
The Americans deftly balances narrative development with in-depth character work, with Rhys and Russell turning out two of the best performances in TV history (and that’s not hyperbole). Additionally, their chemistry is off the charts, making it all too easy to root for their characters.
‘The Day of the Jackal’ (1 Season, 2024-Present)
A Dangerous Game of Cat and Mouse
Lashana Lynch as Bianca with a flashlight in Peacock’s Day of the Jackal seriesSky Atlantic
Peacock
If you love a good cat-and-mouse spy thriller, look no further than Peacock’s The Day of the Jackal. Based on Frederick Forsyth’s 1971 novel and 1973 film of the same name, the series follows a tenacious British intelligence officer as she tirelessly tries to track down the titular Jackal, an elusive assassin. Eddie Redmayne plays the Jackal with cold, hardened edges, and he undoubtedly steals the show with his performance.
The Day of the Jackal effectively builds on the story throughout its first season, sprinkling in suspense to keep us on the edge of our seats. The shocking cliffhanger in the Season 1 finale upends narrative expectations, to be sure, but it sets up an exciting second season.
‘The Night Manager’ (2 Seasons, 2016-Present)
Infiltration at Its Most Suspenseful (and Tom Hiddleston-iest)
Prime Video
It’s hard to believe The Night Manager only has two seasons, considering the first aired in 2016 and the second debuted almost 10 years later. You can’t keep Tom Hiddleston down, though. Based on the 1993 novel of the same name by John le Carré, this gripping spy thriller series follows a hotel night manager in Cairo, Egypt, as he’s recruited to infiltrate an arms dealer’s crew. It’s really grounded by its captivating performances from Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Elizabeth Debicki, and Olivia Colman.
The Night Manager is an underrated gem. I never hear anyone talking about it. It doesn’t help that several years exist between both seasons, but thankfully it received a two-season renewal in 2024, so here’s hoping Season 3 isn’t too far away.
‘Andor’ (2 Seasons, 2022-2025)
The Best of ‘Star Wars’
Disney+
Andor is one of my favorite spy thrillers on this list. It’s arguably the best the Star Wars franchise has to offer. This series is the perfect gateway to said franchise. However, its universal appeal is that it’s not your typical Star Wars property. It’s a prequel to the equally excellent Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, following the eponymous Cassian Andor as he goes from black-market smuggler to leader of a rebellion.
Diego Luna leads a stellar cast in a riveting, breathless tale that champions the marginalized and reminds us that resistance is built on the back of hope. Andor is the rallying cry for anyone who understands that bucking the system is better than buckling underneath it.
‘The Diplomat’ (3 Seasons, 2023-Present)
So Nice I Had to Include Keri Russell on This List Twice
Netflix
Let it be known that Keri Russell is the Queen of the Spy Thriller. She now stars in Netflix’s The Diplomat as Kate Wyler, a career diplomat whose high-profile job puts her in hot water, with far-reaching implications for her family life and her political future. It’s perhaps more of a political thriller than a spy thriller (sue me), but it’s certainly superior to most movies in the genre.
The Diplomat is a masterclass on pacing, performances, and tight writing. Russell steals the show, to be sure, but she’s No. 1 on a call sheet full of compelling actors. The geopolitical and overall narrative stakes are through the roof, but, through it all, this show is just good old-fashioned fun.
‘Counterpart’ (2 Seasons, 2017-2019)
A Genre-Bending Adventure
Justice for Counterpart. The Starz series deserved more than two seasons. Part-espionage, part-sci-fi thriller, Counterpart stars J.K. Simmons as Howard Silk, a mild-mannered office worker for a Berlin-based United Nations agency. Howard discovers that his agency is concealing a crossing to a parallel dimension between two Earths: Alpha and Prime. Delightful science fiction shenanigans and thrilling action ensue.
Counterpart has such a unique premise, bolstered by a Simmons who commands the screen. It’s an absorbing watch from beginning to end, complete with in-depth narrative lore that keeps audiences on their toes.
‘Black Doves’ (1 Season, 2024-Present)
An Exciting Trip Through the Underworld
Keira Knightley as Helen Webb in Black DovesNetflix
Netflix’s Black Doves is created by Joe Barton, the writer behind the underappreciated Lazarus Project. Needless to say, Barton has another hit on his hands. The exciting series follows a spy whose lover was murdered by the London underworld, ultimately putting her own identity in danger. Thankfully, an old friend from her agency, the titular Black Doves, is there to protect her. While certainly a spy thriller, Black Doves is a genre-blending delight, with a smattering of mystery, drama, and dark humor, for good measure.
Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw are a ton of fun together, with great chemistry, to boot. The characters are well-rounded and entertaining as all get-out. Plus, sitting at six episodes (well, until the second season premieres this fall), Black Doves is an easy binge.
‘Homeland’ (8 Seasons, 2011-2020)
A Unique Blend of Political Thriller and Intriguing Mystery
Showtime
This list wouldn’t be complete without Homeland. Starring Claire Danes, the espionage thriller follows Carrie Mathison, a CIA officer with bipolar disorder who’s convinced that Marine Corps sniper Nicholas Brody was “turned” by al-Qaeda and is therefore a threat to the US. Homeland is an edge-of-your-seat, high-octane affair, fulfilling the very definition of “thriller” in its whopping 96 episodes.
What makes this spy thriller series outshine most movies is that you have eight seasons and those aforementioned 96 episodes to watch the overarching narrative unfold and to connect with these fascinating characters. You would never hear of a genre show like this reaching almost 100 episodes in the age of streaming. Not to mention, Claire Danes is a revelation.
‘Berlin Station’ (3 Seasons, 2016-2019)
An Action-Packed Mission to Uncover the Truth
If you’re wondering what Otto Hightower was doing before serving as Hand of the King, he was a CIA officer named Hector. At face value, the premise for Berlin Station sounds simple: the series follows a CIA team in Berlin and “their clandestine activities.” However, there’s more bubbling beneath the spy-thriller surface. Richard Armitage and Rhys Ifans lead a stellar cast in a series chock-full of intrigue, entertaining storytelling, and action aplenty.
Berlin Station is probably the least popular or well-known series on this list, but it’s certainly worth your time. It’s an easy watch with only three seasons, and it’ll certainly keep you glued to the screen.