The number of overall James Bond films is limited—only 27 are available as of now. While audiences will have to wait longer for more 007 films to be released in the future, we've compiled a list of ten additional movies that give off 007 vibes and might fulfill your espionage flicks demand in the meantime.
Salt
While Salt and James Bond movies have no similarities, the former film came to Angelina Jolie in a very interesting way. Initially, Jolie was offered to play Bond Girl by Amy Pascal in Craig's Casino Royale, but she turned it down as she wanted to play female James Bond, and a year later, she was graced with the offer to play Evelyn Salt.
So if you ever wanted to see Jolie as a world-class spy, this might be it, as her character is sheer smart, enigmatic, and won't hesitate to knock down her enemies. More importantly, as Angelina said previously, her character doesn't take advantage of her sexuality, as they didn't want to show women as "femme fatales" like many spy films. (via Far Out Magazine)
The film revolves around CIA Agent Evelyn, who is devoted to her responsibilities towards her country and is falsely framed for planning the assassination of the Russian president. Now to get out of this perilous situation where she remains a prime suspect, she has to put her agent skills to use to prove her innocence and loyalty towards her nation.
The Courier
007 movies are obviously based on the fictional character James Bond, but The Courier offers a story that is based on a real-life spy named Greville Wynne, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. As most of the Bond movies take place in a Cold War setting similarly even the 2020 movie does, where during the 1960s Oleg Penkovsky casts doubt on Khrushchev's leadership in terms of world safety and a nuclear war-like situation. To prevent such a situation, the CIA and M16 recruit a normal civilian businessman, Greville, who during his business trips smuggles important information provided by Penkovsky. Although he is convinced that his efforts are being used for war prevention, suspicions start growing within his wife's mind when he starts behaving strangely.
Bridge of Spies
Bridge of Spies is yet another masterfully crafted spy-thriller movie by the best in game Steven Spielberg. This particular movie, to be precise, will take you away a bit from the glamor and high-tech environment of James Bond movies, only to offer you a more realistic, historical, and tense take on an espionage story that is based on a true story.
At the height of the Cold War, an accused Russian spy, Rudolph Abel, is held in custody and given a chance for a fair trial. James Donovan, an American lawyer, is recruited to fight his case, which he eventually loses and is even unable to get Rudolph free by way of appeals. Soon, the Soviet Union shoots a U-2 spy plane of Francis Gary Powers over Russia, resulting in James getting involved in a prisoner swap situation.
Body Of Lies
More like 007 movies, even Body of Lies offers a high-stake mission, visually breathtaking locations, a war setting, and some advanced technology. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film showcases Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) as a Central Agency case officer who is tasked with hunting down a high-ranking terrorist named Al-Saleem in Iraq. Initially, he uses Nizar, a member of the terrorist organization, to gain information and later hatches a full-fledged plan to fabricate the terrorist organization. Amidst the mission, what causes problems for him is that he is caught up in the web of growing tension with superiors and their unclear intentions, while also facing a moral dilemma.
Official Secrets
Official Secrets is inspired by a true story about a British Spy called Katherine Gun adapted from a book called The Spy Who Tried To Stop The War by Marcia and Thomas Mitchell. While it might not give you a typical bond-like vibe, it extends a more realistic perspective beyond the glamorous and action-packed world of espionage by diving deep into the complex legal and intelligence matters. In 2003, Katharine Gun, a British intelligence specialist, found a valuable memo through which she learned that the UK was aiding the USA to blackmail the members of security council members to support the invasion of Iraq. To prevent the war from happening, Gun leaks this information to one of her friends who is an anti-war activist, and gets the message out in the press.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy shares a bit of a similar storyline to No Time To Die, where Craig's 007 has to come out of retirement to deal with a dangerous enemy. However, the character of Bond in itself is very charismatic and notorious, whereas this main lead, George Smiley, isn't; he is more like a humbled version of Bond due to his simplicity, age, and non-glamorous life. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the 2011 film is about George Smiley (Gary Oldman), who initially is forced into retirement, only to be called upon later by the government to look into the matter to find out the mole, who is working at the British Secret Service and smuggling all British secrets to Russia. The movie was three times nominated for Academy Awards in categories: Best Lead Actor Performance (Oldman), Best Writing Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score.
The Tailor of Panama
While The Tailor of Panama might share the same genre, M16 involvement, and international intrigue as 007 movies, it also stars Bond actor Pierce Brosnan as Andrew Osnard in the main lead. Andrew Osnard and James Bond might have similar traits of being an M16 spy, a flirt, and having a high-stakes mission to complete, but their moral compass strongly differs. The film begins with Andrew being sent back to Panama after sparking an affair with a minister's mistress in Madrid. Upon his arrival in Panama, he meets Harry Pendel, a local tailor and talented storyteller who has elite connections. Even after being warned about Panama's growing corruption, Andrew seems to contribute to it by helping Harry, who is in debt, and in exchange he wants him to give tailored, significant stories about the government.
Kingsman: the Secret Service
Kingsman: The Secret Service was the first-ever movie in its franchise, and it seems to pay homage to the James Bond franchise too. During his appearance at New York Comic Con, director Matthew Vaughn revealed the idea of transforming a street kid into a British intelligence spy was inspired by Sean Connery's Bond casting story, where he being a Scottish was morphed into an English spy by Dr. No director (via ScreenRant).
The movie does take influence bits and pieces from Bond movies like M16 elements, sophisticated setting, advanced tech, and powerful villains, yet the franchise holds its charm as it focuses on a comedic tone, character development, and contemporary take on the genre. It revolves around the story of Eggsy Unwin joining a secret spy agency, and on his first mission, he is tasked with finding an eco-terrorist.
Ronin
As James Bond remains a central character of his films, Ronin seems to assemble a team of spies on a mission. Surprisingly, the movie will also get you excited to witness the performance of brilliant actors who have been a part of 007 franchise: Sean Bean, Michael Londsdale, and Jonathan Pryce. The film has been lauded for its realistically captured car chases, John Frankenheimer outstanding direction, compelling style, and versatile performances by actors. Roni is about Deidre, an IRA operative gathers an international team and tasks them with perilous assignment i.e to attack a heavily armed convoy and bring a mysterious briefcase back. As the team gets going on the mission, some members' trickery and deception will surface after the goal is reached.
Allied
Now you might wonder what Allied, a romance-war-thriller movie, has to do with James Bond, which seemingly falls under a completely different genre. Well, the world of spies is full of deceit, cunningness, and betrayal; that's the reason often James Bond gets betrayed by someone close or a Bond girl; this is probably the most common trope the 007 movie follows, and so does Allied. At first, the film welcomes romance between World War II operatives, Max Vatan and Marianne Beauséjour, whose initial pretension of being a couple for a mission makes them even closer, and they end up getting married. Soon, the falling-in-love environment swiftly transitions into a tense espionage plot when Max's wife is suspected of being an undercover spy working for their enemy. It's certain that between the love for country and wife, he will only be allowed to choose one.