Craving a spy thriller TV show? Check out these 7 new series
Craving a spy thriller TV show? Check out these 7 new series
From espionage to action sequences, these shows bring fresh stories to the genre.
Spy thriller TV shows have had a nice resurgence of late with a new one seeming to appear every month. Well, I’m here for it because – when done right – there’s nothing cooler than dropping into the world of espionage. One of my favorite shows of 2024 was “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” (even if things got a little weird at the end), and now, with the release of Apple TV+’s “Prime Target,” I thought it a great idea to count down the best new (meaning first season only) spy/espionage thrillers from the last year that you can stream right now. Let’s get to it!
Top 7 new spy thriller TV shows on streaming right now:
No. 7: ‘Prime Target’ (2025) | Apple TV+
At No. 7 on this list is a brand-new show still dropping episodes – and that’s “Prime Target” on Apple TV+. I haven’t seen it yet, but it makes the list just because it’s brand, brand new. For those unfamiliar, I wrote a longer piece on the show you can check out here.
The quick version is this: the show follows Edward Brooks, a genius post-graduate mathematician who’s just made a mind-blowing discovery… he’s cracked a pattern in prime numbers that could, in theory, unlock every computer system in the world. Brooks has no idea what he’s in for when his groundbreaking discovery gets out. Suddenly, some very dangerous people are after him, determined to keep his research under wraps. Forced to run for his life, he teams up with NSA agent Taylah Sanders (Quintessa Swindell), who’s been keeping a close eye on him. Together, they dive headfirst into a whirlwind of secrets, betrayals, and non-stop danger, with every step pulling them deeper into a deadly game that only gets riskier as the series unfolds.
Prime Target
A brilliant math student is on the verge of a major breakthrough when a shadowy enemy tries to stop him. Fighting for answers—and his life—he teams up with a government agent to unravel a high-stakes conspiracy.
No. 6: ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ (2024) | Prime Video
Based on the hit 2005 film of the same name, starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” is a spy thriller series with the spine of a love story. Donald Glover and Maya Erskine shine as John and Jane Smith, two total strangers who get thrown together in an arranged marriage - but it’s all a cover for their secret spy missions. The chemistry between the actors is excellent, and each episode takes you through the highs and lows of their “relationship,” from awkward first dates to wild undercover missions. The episode titles say it all - “First Date,” “Second Date,” “First Vacation” - giving you a mix of romance and action that’s just plain fun. Whether they’re dodging bullets or figuring out how to be a “couple,” this show is a (shotgun) blast from start to finish.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Meet the Smiths: two lonely strangers, John and Jane, who have given up their lives and identities to be thrown together as partners – both in espionage and in marriage.
No. 5: ‘Dark Matter’ (2024) | Apple TV+
At No. 5 on the list is another Apple TV+ show “Dark Matter.” Based on Blake Crouch’s bestselling novel, this gripping thriller follows physicist Jason Dessen (played by Joel Edgerton), who is abducted and thrown into alternate versions of his life. As he tries to navigate these parallel realities, Jason uncovers a shadowy organization manipulating the multiverse for their own gain.
Part multiverse sci-fi, part spy thriller, the series combines high-concept storytelling with nail-biting tension – exactly what you’d expect from Blake Crouch. The show’s shadowy organization, covert manipulation of the multiverse, and Jason’s desperate mission to outsmart their control bring an espionage edge to its high-concept sci-fi narrative. With elements of conspiracy, betrayal, and the misuse of advanced technology, “Dark Matter” offers plenty for spy thriller fans to enjoy.
Dark Matter
Jason Dessen is abducted into an alternate version of his life. To get back to his real family, he embarks on a harrowing journey to save them from the most terrifying foe imaginable: himself.
No. 4: ‘The Sympathizer’ (2024) | Max
At No. 4 is “The Sympathizer,” a killer HBO miniseries based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Set right after the Vietnam War, it follows a Communist double agent (played by Hoa Xuande) trying to juggle his secret mission and his life within the South Vietnamese exile community in America. He’s spying on his allies, dodging suspicion, and battling with his own messy loyalties and identity along the way. Packed with intense espionage, moral dilemmas, and sharp takes on ideology and power, The Sympathizer is as much a spy thriller as it is a deep dive into what it means to belong. It’s gripping, smart, and totally worth your time.
The Sympathizer
Near the end of the Vietnam War, a spy who was embedded in the South Vietnam army flees to the United States and takes up residence in a refugee community, where he continues to gather intelligence and report back to the Viet Cong.
No. 3: ‘Black Doves’ (2024) | Netflix
At No. 3 on the list is the new Netflix spy thriller, “Black Doves” - all about secrets, betrayal, and danger lurking in London’s shadows. Helen Webb (Keira Knightley) seems to have it all - a polished life as the wife of the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence. But she’s living a double life as a spy for a group called the Black Doves, who deal in high-stakes secrets. And things take a dark turn when Helen’s lover, Jason (Andrew Koji), is murdered by powerful underworld figures, pulling her into a deadly conspiracy that threatens to expose everything. To keep Helen safe and uncover the truth, the Black Doves send in Sam Young (Ben Whishaw), an assassin with a complicated past and deep ties to Helen.
Created by Joe Barton, the show mixes fast-paced action with tense, emotional drama, all set during the festive - but far from cheerful - holiday season in London. This show just dropped in early December, so if you’re looking for something that still has a holiday vibe, this is it.
Black Doves
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.
No. 2: ’ The Agency’ (2024) | Paramount+ With SHOWTIME
The No. 2 show on this list is still dropping new episodes at the time of this writing and is set to conclude on Jan. 24, 2025. It’s “The Agency.” This slick and suspenseful spy thriller follows Martian Cole (Michael Fassbender), a seasoned CIA operative who’s forced to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. But going home isn’t simple - Martian’s past catches up with him in the form of old flames, unfinished missions, and dangerous new threats that test his loyalty to the agency and himself.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Richard Gere, the series is packed with great action sequences and plenty of espionage. Set against the backdrop of London’s gritty streets and intelligence offices, “The Agency” explores what it really means to trust someone when everyone has something to hide.
The Agency
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.
No. 1: ‘The Day of the Jackal’ (2024) | Peacock
At No. 1 is the Peacock original series, “The Day of the Jackal.” The series takes the classic 1973 film and reimagines it as a sleek, modern-day thriller. Created by Ronan Bennett, the show follows the ruthless assassin known only as “The Jackal” (Eddie Redmayne) as he takes on a mission that could change the course of global politics. On his trail is Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch), a brilliant British intelligence officer who will stop at nothing to bring him down. As the chase unfolds across Europe, the show is packed with tense cat-and-mouse sequences, shocking twists, and a constantly shifting sense of who’s really in control.
What sets “The Day of the Jackal” apart is its smart storytelling and gritty, globe-trotting style. With its sharp writing, high-stakes action, and stunning locations, the show feels like a fresh yet faithful update to the original story. It’s a must-watch for fans of the original movie and casual spy thriller fans looking for their next target (get it?). Give it a watch.
The Day of the Jackal
An unrivalled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal, makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who starts to track down the Jackal in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake.