12 Movies Like Slow Horses You Need to Watch
Need tense spy dramas with sharp twists? Explore 12 picks, including Slow Horses, The Recruit, Black Bag, and more, for your next watch.
If you’re hunting for sharp spy stories with dry humor, messy loyalties, and plenty of tension, this guide to movies like Slow Horses is built for you. The best matches mix drama, thriller, and mystery, with characters who are clever, flawed, and always a step from disaster. Start with Slow Horses (2022) and then try The Ipcress File (2022), Black Bag (2025), and The Recruit (2022) for different takes on espionage and betrayal. Treason (2022), Rabbit Hole (2023), The Agency: Central Intelligence (2024), and Liaison (2023) also bring plenty of intrigue, from fast-moving action to uneasy romance. Whether you want a tense intelligence plot or a quieter, more character-driven chase, these picks keep the pressure on.
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01
The Ipcress File
drama · thriller
As the Cold War rages, ex-smuggler turned reluctant spy Harry Palmer finds himself at the centre of a dangerous undercover mission, on which he must use his links to find a missing British nuclear scientist.
Directed by James WatkinsCast Joe Cole, Lucy Boynton, Tom Hollander, Ashley Thomas, Paul HigginsAMC+ -
02
Black Bag
drama · mystery · romance · thriller
When intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse is suspected of betraying the nation, her husband – also a legendary agent – faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country.
Directed by Steven SoderberghCast Michael Fassbender, Gustaf Skarsgård, Cate Blanchett, Tom Burke, Marisa AbelaPeacock Premium -
03
The Recruit
action · adventure · crime · drama · thriller
Recruited out of law school by the CIA, a daredevil young attorney leaps unprepared into the dangerous world of international espionage.
Directed by Julian Holmes, Alex Kalymnios, Doug Liman, Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, Alexi HawleyCast Noah Centineo, Aarti Mann, Colton Dunn, Fivel Stewart, Vondie Curtis-HallNetflix -
04
Treason
action · drama · thriller
An MI6 deputy's bright future takes a sharp turn after a reunion with a Russian spy forces him to question his entire life.
Directed by Louise Hooper, Sarah O'GormanCast Olga Kurylenko, Oona Chaplin, Ciarán Hinds, Charlie Cox, Beau GadsdonNetflix -
05
Rabbit Hole
action · drama · thriller
Nothing is what it seems when John Weir, a master of deception in the world of corporate espionage, is framed for murder by powerful forces with the ability to influence and control populations.
Directed by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, Daniel Attias, Jon Cassar, Gwyneth Horder-PaytonCast Kiefer Sutherland, Meta Golding, Enid Graham, Rob Yang, Walt KlinkParamount Plus -
06
The Agency: Central Intelligence
drama · thriller
Covert CIA agent Martian is ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. When the love he left behind unexpectedly reappears, their romance reignites, pitting his career, his real identity and his mission against his heart while hurling them both into a deadly game of international intrigue and espionage.
Directed by Neil Burger, Grant Heslov, Zetna Fuentes, Philip Martin, Joe WrightCast Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, Katherine Waterston, Harriet Sansom HarrisParamount Plus -
07
Liaison
drama · thriller
Two agents—and former lovers—must work together to combat international cyberattacks threatening the UK while also confronting the buried secrets of their destructive relationship.
Directed by Stephen HopkinsCast Vincent Cassel, Eva Green, Peter Mullan, Gérard Lanvin, Daniel FrancisApple TV Plus -
08
The Veil
thriller
Two women play a deadly game of truth and lies on the road from Istanbul to Paris and London. One woman has a secret, the other a mission to reveal it before thousands of lives are lost. In the shadows, mission controllers at the CIA and French DGSE must put differences aside and work together to avert potential disaster.
Directed by Daina Reid, Damon ThomasCast Elisabeth Moss, Yumna Marwan, Dali Benssalah, Josh Charles, Thibault de MontalembertHulu -
09
Spy/Master
action · drama · thriller
Victor Godeanu, Ceausescu's right-hand man, has a secret. He is also a KGB agent and must escape before he is discovered, so he will seize a valuable diplomatic opportunity.
Directed by Christopher SmithCast Alec Secareanu, Parker Sawyers, Ana Ularu, Svenja Jung, Laurentiu BãnescuMax -
10
Black Doves
action · drama · mystery · thriller
When a spy posing as a politician's wife learns her lover has been murdered, an old assassin friend joins her on a quest for truth — and vengeance.
Directed by Julian Farino, Alex Gabassi, Lisa Gunning, Kieron HawkesCast Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw, Sarah Lancashire, Andrew Buchan, Andrew KojiNetflix -
11
Graveyard
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Police Commissioner Önem leads a special investigations unit that solves tough cases involving violence against women.
Directed by Abdullah Oguz, Ömer BaykulCast Birce Akalay, Olgun Toker, Şehsuvar Aktaş, Hakan Meriçliler, Sezgin UzunbekiroğluNetflix -
12
Kleo
action · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, a former East German spy resolves to find out who betrayed her and why — and use her lethal skills to exact revenge.
Directed by Viviane Andereggen, Jano Ben Chaabane, Isabel Braak, Nina VukovicCast Jella Haase, Dimitrij Schaad, Julius Feldmeier, Vincent Redetzki, Thandi SebeNetflix
Wrapping Up
This list is a good place to start if you want sleek spy drama with suspense, shifting alliances, and a bit of personality. Each title brings something slightly different, from grounded realism to bigger twists, so it’s easy to find a series that matches your mood. If you’re building a watchlist for your next binge, bookmark this page and come back when you want another tense, clever recommendation. We update it regularly, so you’ll always have fresh options to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Slow Horses?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
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Last updated: September 4, 2026