A series of James Bond films overtook the 1980s, but there are a few other on-screen spies with equally thrilling stories. Spy films have presented various exciting stories over the years, dealing with corruption, high-stakes missions, and political conflict. Often, spy films present a clear hero and villain, making it easy for audiences to become invested. Additionally, this distinction allows for the leading actors to stand out and give a lauded dramatic performance, such as Kevin Costner and Donald Sutherland.
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Considering the decade in which these films were released, a few of them deal with components of the Cold War, while others take a different approach to the genre by implementing themes of relatable family dynamics and romance. Some of these films are up there with the best spy movies of all time, such as No Way Out, while others are underrated entries in the genre, worthy of some recognition, including The Amateur. With as many spy films as there were being released around the decade, it was easy for great films to slip through the cracks.
Related 10 Underrated Spy Thrillers From The 1970s You Probably Haven’t Heard Of
In a sea of popular James Bond movies, many spy thrillers didn’t get to shine in the 1970s, and some were much better than the repetitive Bond films.
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10 Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
Remo Williams was seen as a potential American James Bond.
Differing from other spy thrillers listed, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins doesn’t have the highest levels of praise from critics. The film stars Fred Ward as the titular secret agent for the United States organization CURE. Remo trains with a martial arts master and sets out on his mission to investigate a sketchy program within the U.S. Army. The goal with Remo Williams was to begin a new action-adventure franchise, with the film’s distributor, Orion Pictures, drawing similarities between Remo and James Bond (via Los Angeles Times).
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However, a negative critical response and a failing performance at the box office put an end to Remo Williams‘ future as a franchise. Still, there’s plenty of fun to be had with the film. The thrill of Remo Williams doesn’t necessarily come from its narrative, but its action and merging of genres instead. Throughout the movie, the mix of martial arts and espionage is sure to entertain, while the various locations of action scenes, like the Statue of Liberty, are sure to impress.
9 The Amateur (1981)
A CIA cryptographer ventures behind the Iron Curtain.
The Amateur follows Charles Heller (John Savage), a cryptographer for the CIA, as he makes his way into Czechoslovakia to confront those responsible for killing his fiancée. The film is based on Robert Littell’s novel of the same name. Littell specializes in the spy genre, writing stories that typically involve the CIA and the Soviet Union. Though The Amateur isn’t as action-packed as other spy films tend to be, it’s still a thrilling watch.
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A great amount of suspense builds throughout the film as Charles, with little training, is left to fend for himself in an unknown area. Savage might not be as charismatic or exciting as other on-screen action stars, but he delivers a compelling performance that helps keep audiences invested in his character’s story. Savage is also supported by a range of actors, including John Marley, Nicholas Campbell, and Christopher Plummer.
8 Firefox (1982)
A former Vietnam War pilot is sent on another mission.
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Among all the films Clint Eastwood has directed and starred in, Firefox remains mostly one of a kind. Eastwood produced, directed, and led the techno-thriller as Major Mitchell Gant, a Vietnam veteran assigned to retrieve a Soviet fighter jet. Firefox has a slow start that sees Mitchell carrying out a typical mission seen many times throughout the genre. However, Firefox then becomes an all-out action film, filled with the intense sequences and confrontations associated with Eastwood’s work.
Though Firefox doesn’t quite reach the heights of Eastwood’s other non-Western action films, it still entertains. The special effects are respectable, and the plot, while simple, is easy to follow and have fun with. Still, Eastwood’s star power and Firefox‘s box office numbers weren’t enough to reach higher levels of success. Firefox earned mostly negative reviews from critics, which put an end to any potential sequels.
7 The Sea Wolves (1980)
Gregory Peck, David Niven, and more in the story of Operation Creek.
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Based on James Leasor’s book, Boarding Party, The Sea Wolves works as both a war and spy film. Both the film and book tell the story of Operation Creek, a covert military operation that took place during World War II. The Sea Wolves stars Gregory Peck, David Niven, and James Bond actor Roger Moore, among a few other well-known American and British actors. The Sea Wolves does take its time to get to its action scenes, and though that may turn some audiences away, patient viewers will be rewarded with an entertaining spy film that highlights the best of the genre.
There are a few inevitable creative differences between what happened in real life and what’s seen on screen, but The Sea Wolves still uses its historical inspiration to its advantage. There is a gradual tension built throughout The Sea Wolves, and the filming location in Goa, India, makes for some stunning visuals.
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6 Target (1985)
A father and son go on a rescue mission.
Target begins as a family drama with a dissimilar father-and-son duo who struggle to see eye to eye. However, the film quickly turns into a thrilling spy mystery when Chris’ (Matt Dillon) mother goes missing and the past of his father (Gene Hackman), a former CIA agent, comes to light. Target is full of the standard action expected of a spy film, including car chases, as Chris and his father, Walter, are racing against the clock to reunite with their family member.
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Accompanying the film’s spy themes is a neat story about a reluctant father and son forced to work together for the sake of their family. Dillon, who’d worked on a handful of films before, including My Bodyguard and The Outsiders, holds his own acting opposite Hackman. Already seen as an acclaimed actor in films like Bonnie & Clyde and The French Connection, Hackman continues to showcase his prowess in dramatic roles and is a captivating presence in Target.
5 The Fourth Protocol (1987)
Demoted British spy John Preston intervenes with plans for a nuclear explosion.
One of the many films adapted from the work of novelist Frederick Forsyth, The Fourth Protocol follows a demoted British spy, John Preston (Michael Caine), who works to prevent a nuclear bomb set to go off on British soil. James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan acts as the KGB agent behind the hazardous plan. As seen in numerous other film adaptations of books, there are a few differences between Forsyth’s story and The Fourth Protocol film.
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The biggest difference is the large portion of political content left out of the film. Still, The Fourth Protocol is filled with suspense the whole way through. Caine delivers a strong performance, reminiscent of his work in The Whistle Blower the year before. However, it is Brosnan who steals the show. As the relentless assassin, Brosnan has a chilling presence within the film that rarely lets up.
4 The Falcon And The Snowman (1985)
Based on a real case of U.S. secrets being sold to the Soviet Union.
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Robert Lindsey’s award-winning book, The Falcon and the Snowman: A True Story of Friendship and Espionage, acts as the inspiration for The Falcon and the Snowman‘s story. The film follows young American men, Christopher Boyce (Timothy Hutton) and Daulton Lee (Sean Penn). The former gets a job with the CIA and teams up with his friend Daulton to sell information to the Soviet Union after discovering a troublesome truth about the American government. The Falcon and the Snowman is tense the whole way through and has just the right amount of ingredients for a gripping thriller.
However, The Falcon and the Snowman also manages to work as a dramatic character study, as Christopher and Daulton’s tendency to rush into things quickly becomes a problem. The Falcon and the Snowman wasn’t a great success at the box office, but that didn’t stop critical acclaim from rolling in. Both Hutton and Penn received praise from critics, who felt the actors grounded the film with their realistic portrayals of the naive and impetuous young men.
3 Eye Of The Needle (1981)
A German spy falls in love with a lonely woman.
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Spy films, especially when produced in rapid succession, can get formulaic. Therefore, it’s always refreshing when a spy film takes a differing approach to the genre, just as Eye of the Needle did. The film is based on Ken Follett’s thriller novel of the same name and follows an unsympathetic German spy, Henry Faber (Donald Sutherland), on a mission in England. Whilst heading towards Scotland, a dangerous storm leaves him stranded on an island. Audiences are sure to appreciate Sutherland’s performance in Eye of the Needle, as it’s one of the actor’s best.
Sutherland effortlessly captures Henry Faber’s uncompromising nature, but is also able to portray a vulnerable side to the spy when a forbidden love begins to take shape between Henry and a woman on the island (Kate Nelligan). The love story between Nelligan and Sutherland’s characters is captivating, but never takes away from Eye of the Needle‘s dark espionage themes. Rather, the film’s love story introduces more stakes that build into a tense third act.
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2 The Whistle Blower (1986)
A retired naval officer uncovers a corrupt government.
Based on John Hale’s 1984 novel, The Whistle Blower has a fascinating and gripping narrative that combines espionage tropes with themes of class division. The Whistle Blower is led by Michael Caine, who plays Frank Jones — a retired British naval officer and the father of an employee at a British intelligence and security organization. When Frank’s son is found dead, he takes matters into his own hands and uncovers a shocking truth about the government. There are enough action scenes to satisfy fans of the genre, but the real thrill of the film comes from Frank’s emotional journey.
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The Whistle Blower is up there with Caine’s best films because while every performance in the spy thriller adds to the effectiveness of the film, it is Caine who’s a true standout. As Frank dives further into his investigation, uncovering more truths, the mix of anger and heartbreak felt by the character is powerfully captured in Caine’s performance. Audiences root for Frank’s success as he remains determined to see his mission through in the name of his son.
1 No Way Out (1987)
Surprising twists are introduced as a murder is investigated.
As the third film to adapt Kenneth Fearing’s 1946 novel, The Big Clock, No Way Out still feels fresh, with all of its thrills and narrative mysteries. No Way Out follows Kevin Costner’s Tom Farrell, a Navy officer caught up in a romantic relationship with his superior’s lover. When the woman is found dead, Farrell is tasked with leading the investigation, only to slowly become a suspect himself. No Way Out is complex, but easy to engage with and is full of exciting action and cleverly-written twists.
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Costner’s role in No Way Out is one of his best, with the film being a part of a series of ’80s releases that cemented his status as an A-list movie star — starting with The Untouchables and ending with Field of Dreams. Costner excels in both the tense action scenes and the quieter moments that showcase the emotional weight the case has on his character.