One of the most beloved and captivating sub-genres for thriller, action, and drama fans is the spy genre, and there’s a good reason. In a spy film or series, we encounter complex and intriguing characters who put their lives on the line by taking on numerous adversaries. Instead of relying solely on their guns, they employ more covert tactics, which are always thrilling to watch. So, Netflix being what it is, it has a large library of content and also some of the best spy shows you can find, and that’s what inspired us to compile a list of the best spy shows you can watch on Netflix right now.
Black Doves
Black Doves is a British spy action thriller created by Joe Barton. The Netflix series follows Helen, a spy for hire working undercover as the wife of a British politician, but when her lover is killed, she exacts her bloody vengeance with the help of an old friend. Black Doves stars Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw, Sara Lancashire, Andrew Buchan, Andrew Koji, Omari Douglas, Sam Troughton, and Ella Lily Hyland.
In From the Cold
In From the Cold is a spy thriller drama series created by Adam Glass. The Netflix series follows a divorced mother and former Russian spy who has been living with a fake identity in the United States. However, her life is upended when the US government discovers her true identity, forcing her to return to her old life. In From the Cold stars Margarita Levieva, Cillian O’Sullivan, Lydia Fleming, Charles Brice, and Alyona Khmelnitskaya.
Archer
Archer is an adult animated spy comedy series created by Adam Reed. The FX series follows Sterling Archer, a bumbling and volatile secret agent working for his cold and unfeeling mother and a group of dysfunctional colleagues. The voice cast of Archer includes H. Jon Benjamin, Judy Greer, Amber Nash, Chris Parnell, Aisha Tyler, Lucky Yates, Jessica Walter, George Coe, and Adam Reed.
Fubar
Fubar is an action thriller and comedy-drama series created by Nick Santora. The Netflix series follows the story of Luke Brunner, a recently retired CIA agent who discovers that his daughter is also a spy and is still in the field. Now, he must go back into the field to save his daughter. Fubar stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Monica Barbaro in the lead roles with Aparna Brielle, Travis Van Winkle, Jay Baruchel, Fortune Feimster, Fabiana Udenio, Gabriel Luna, Barbara Eve Harris, and Milan Carter starring in supporting roles.
The Recruit
The Recruit is a spy thriller and comedy-drama series created by Alexi Hawley. The Netflix series follows the story of Owen Hendricks, a new CIA lawyer, as he becomes entangled in the complex world of international politics and internal CIA conflicts when a former asset threatens to expose the CIA’s secrets. The Recruit stars Noah Centineo in the lead role, alongside Laura Haddock, Fivel Stewart, Kaylah Zander, Aarti Mann, Colton Dunn, Daniel Quincy Annoh, Byron Mann, and Angel Parker in supporting roles.
Treason
Treason is a British spy thriller drama series created by Matt Charman. The Netflix series follows the story of Adam Lawrence, an MI6 deputy with a bright future, as his personal and professional life takes a bad turn after he reunites with a Russian spy, who forces him to reflect on his whole life and which side he wants to be on. Treason stars Charlie Cox, Oona Chaplin, Olga Kurylenko, Alex Kingston, Beau Gadson, Tracy Ifeachor, Samuel Leakey, and Ciarán Hinds, starring in supporting roles.
The Night Agent
The Night Agent is an action thriller series created by Shawn Ryan. Based on the novel of the same name by author Matthew Quirk, the Netflix series follows the story of FBI Agent Peter Sutherland as he uncovers a conspiracy involving individuals at the highest levels of the United States government. Now, Peter must go on the run with Rose Larkin, a former tech CEO whose life is in grave danger. The Night Agent stars Gabriel Basso and Luciane Buchanan in the lead roles, with Fola Evans-Akingbola, Sarah Desjardins, Eve Harlow, Phoenix Raei, Enrique Murciano, Hong Chau, and D.B. Woodside starring in supporting roles.
Kleo
Kleo is a German action thriller and dark comedy series created by Hanno Hackfort, Richard Kropf, and Bob Konrad. The Netflix series is set after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and it follows the story of Kleo, a former East German spy, as she goes on a killing spree to exact her revenge. Kleo stars Jella Haase in the lead role with Dimitrij Schaad, Julius Feldmeier, Vincent Redetzki, Marta Sroka, Vladimir Burlakov, and Yun Huang starring in supporting roles.
House of Ninjas
House of Ninjas is a Japanese action thriller series created by Dave Boyle. The Netflix series revolved around the Tawara family, who worked as shinobis for the Japanese government, but after losing a family member, they decided to retire, but an ordinary life may not be in the cards for them. House of Ninjas stars Kento Kaku, Yōsuke Eguchi, Tae Kimura, Kengo Kora, Aju Makita, Riho Yoshioka, Nobuko Miyamoto, and Takayuki Yamada.
The Spy
The Spy is an espionage thriller miniseries created by Gideon Raff. Based on L’espion qui venait d’Israël, a novel inspired by true events written by authors Uri Dan and Yeshayahu Ben Porat, the Netflix series revolves around Israel’s most prominent spy Eli Cohen, who infiltrated the Syrian government in the 1960s. The Spy stars Sacha Baron Cohen in the lead role with Hadar Ratzon Rotem, Yael Eitan, Noah Emmerich, Moni Moshonov, Alona Tal, and Mourad Zaoui starring in supporting roles.
Bard of Blood
Bard of Blood is an Indian spy thriller series created by Mayank Tewari and Bilal Siddiqi. Based on the 2015 novel titled The Bard of Blood by author Bilal Siddiqi, the Netflix series follows the story of exiled RAW agent Kabir Anand as he is called back into action to rescue four captured spies in Balochistan. However, the mission goes incredibly wrong, and now Kabir must face his past demons. Bard of Blood stars Emraan Hashmi in the lead role with Sobhita Dhulipala, Sahiba Bali, Vineet Kumar Singh, Kirti Kulhari, and Jaideep Ahlawat starring in supporting roles.
Killing Eve
Killing Eve is a British spy thriller and dark comedy-drama series created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Based on a novel series titled Villanelle by author Luke Jennings, the BBC America series follows the story of Eve Polastri, a bored British intelligence investigator, as she is tasked with capturing a psychopathic assassin named Villanelle. Killing Eve stars Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer in the lead roles, with Fiona Shaw, Darren Boyd, Owen McDonnell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, David Haig, Kim Bodnia, Sean Delaney, and Nina Sosanya starring in supporting roles.
Vagabond
Vagabond is a South Korean spy action thriller series created by Lee Yong-seok. The SBS TV series follows the story of a stuntman who loses a loved one in a tragic plane crash, but as he struggles to deal with his grief, he ends up uncovering a conspiracy involving a big arms corporation and his nation’s leading politicians. Vagabond stars Lee Seung Gi and Bae Suzy in the lead roles with Moon Jeon-hee, Shin Sung-rok, Yun-Shio Baek, Moon Sung-geun, Park Ah-in, Jeong Man-Sik, Ryu Won, Teo Yoo, and Lee Geung-young starring in supporting roles.