We're in a veritable golden age of spy thrillers, and audiences can't seem to get enough of high-octane espionage drama. Just look at Director Steven Soderbergh's "Black Bag," which immediately crashed Prime Video's top 10 after arriving on the streaming service last week.
But there's only so many twists and turns you can fit in a movie's runtime. If you're looking for more slow-burning high-stakes investigations, Netflix is home to some of the best spy thriller shows out there, each with layer upon layer of intrigue and revelations lurking beneath the surface.
I've already done the recon and gathered intel on the best of what Netflix has to offer. These shows deliver everything a top-notch spy thriller series should: compelling characters, constantly escalating stakes, and moments that keep you on the edge of your seat and glued to the screen.
So if you're looking for a spy thriller to get sucked into, you're in the right place. Here are five of the best spy thriller shows to stream on Netflix right now.
'Black Doves'
Netflix’s gripping spy thriller "Black Doves" was one of the streamer's biggest hits last year, and its 92% Rotten Tomatoes score proves the hype is real. Created, written, and directed by "Giri/Haji’s" Joe Barton, this series delivers all the hallmarks of a classic British spy drama while still pushing into unexpected territory.
Keira Knightley stars as Helen Webb, a seemingly ordinary housewife who secretly feeds her politician husband’s intel to the titular organization. But when her lover Jason (Andrew Koji) turns up dead, Helen’s spymaster (Sarah Lancashire) recruits her estranged friend Sam Young (Ben Whishaw) to protect her. Knightley and Whishaw's award-worthy performances as two seasoned spies with history between them drive the series, and their banter injects welcome moments of comic relief to break up the simmering tension and high-stakes espionage.
Stream "Black Doves" now on Netflix
'The Night Agent'
"The Night Agent" is one of Netflix's biggest hits to date, starring Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Brasso) as a lowly FBI agent with plenty of emotional baggage whose life is changed forever when he's given a peculiar job: to monitor a phone in the basement of the White House that never rings.
Until the night that it does, that is. That call throws Peter into a high-stakes conspiracy that ultimately leads all the way to the Oval Office. The conspiracy not only exposes acts of treason but also sparks a budding romance between Peter and former tech CEO Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan), who contacts him after the murder of her aunt and uncle. While "The Night Agent's" first season is easily the strongest of the bunch, its relentlessly escalating stakes and compelling characters make it a must-watch.
Watch "The Night Agent" now on Netflix
'Treason'
I love a compelling show I can binge in a day, and "Treason" is one of the best miniseries Netflix has to offer. This twisty spy thriller stars "Daredevil's" Charlie Cox as Adam Lawrence, MI6’s rising star whose promising career ahead of him is thrown into turmoil when his boss gets poisoned by a rogue KGB spy, Kara (Olga Kurylenko).
An investigation into the assassination, coupled with Adam’s history with Kara, who is now demanding a long-overdue favor, casts a shadow of suspicion over him. With his career and personal life in shambles and his family under threat by old enemies, loyalties are tested and long-buried secrets threaten to surface. Though it follows a pretty traditional formula, "Treason" is the kind of double-crossing spy thriller where you never know who the protagonist can really trust, which keeps things unpredictable.
Watch "Treason" now on Netflix
'Killing Eve'
One of the best spy thriller shows of all time, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's darkly comedic "Killing Eve" certainly made a splash when it first arrived in 2018. If you missed out on the racy pop culture phenomenon the first time around, don't let the headlines about its divisive series finale turn you off. Though "Killing Eve" may not have stuck the landing, there's still plenty to love about this sapphic spy thriller, from the electrifying love-hate chemistry between its leads to a twist-filled storyline that keeps you hooked until the very end.
Sandra Oh stars as the titular Eve, a whip-smart MI5 agent tasked with capturing a glamorous assassin named Villanelle. The two become fixated on each other, locked in a thrilling game of cat and mouse where every move blurs the line between hunter and hunted. Watching their dynamic unfold across four seasons is part of what makes this award-winning series so riveting.
Watch "Killing Eve" now on Netflix
'Vagabond'
True to the best of K-dramas, "Vagabond" delivers adrenaline-pumping action sequences and a narrative laced with enough intrigue and romance to keep you invested. After a struggling stuntman Cha Dal-geon (Lee Seung-gi) loses a loved one in a tragic plane crash, he begins to suspect foul play. In his search for answers, he teams up with undercover National Intelligence Service agent Go Hae-ri (Bae Suzy), and the unlikely duo uncovers a sprawling conspiracy that reaches some of the country’s most powerful figures.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Morocco and featuring a star-studded cast, "Vagabond" is packed with all the high-speed car chases, memorable fight scenes, and shocking betrayals you'd expect of the genre. The only potential downside is its cliffhanger ending, which has left viewers eagerly anticipating a second season.
Watch "Vagabond" now on Netflix
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