Red Sparrow
Movies likeRed Sparrowbring the same fashionable nail-biting tension as the 2018 Jennifer Lawrence spy thriller . Jennifer Lawrence star inRed Sparrowas a Russian danseuse - turn - undercover agent , and the portmanteau word of psychological manipulation , brutal training sequences , and Cold War intrigue makes for a dark , seductive watch . It ’s a story where trust is a weapon system , trueness is fluid , and mightiness comes at a extortionate price . With its mix of espionage , political mind games , and a lead character who turns the tables on her handlers , Red Sparrowoffers a very specific brand of undercover agent thriller - one that feels as cerebral as it is deadly .
What make a movie likeRed Sparrowtick is its ability to balance intelligence agency with tension . These are n’t stock shoot-’em - up natural action flicks , but layered , type - drive , and often morally equivocal narration . Whether it ’s a femme fatale using her magic spell as leveraging or a covert operative questioning their mission , movies likeRed Sparrowhook viewers with high - wager and sharp twists . Fans ofRed Sparrowwill revel the slow - burn suspense , the psychological deepness , and the richly atmospherical worlds these films create . From Cold War dramatic event to stylish action thriller , moving-picture show likeRed Sparrowdeliver all the machination , peril , and conjuring trick that madethe 2018 Jennifer Lawrence moviea furor classic .
10The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Directed By John Frankenheimer
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A political thriller laced with paranoia and judgement games , The Manchurian Candidateis a cerebral cousin toRed Sparrowandone of the best spy thriller films ever made . From beginning to finish , it keeps the viewer on the edge of their arse , just marvel what is hold up to bechance next . It focuses on a young Isle of Man who has become an unknowing part of a Soviet plot to take over the United States government . The real superstar of the film , however , is Angela Lansbury , who amply demonstrates that she is as talented in drama as she is in clowning and musical comedy .
What , just , just happened in the scandalous ending of Red Sparrow , the spy thriller star Jennifer Lawrence ? We break it down .
Like Dominika Egorova , the character in this Cold War classic are dishevel in manipulation , coercion , and psychological warfare . Laurence Harvey ’s Raymond Shaw is a war zep turned sleeper agent , brainwashed by communists to become an assassin - a haunting conception that echoes the acute psychological conditioning Dominika undergoes . The black-market - and - white cinematography only sharpens the pic ’s saturnine , sinister flavour . WhileRed Sparrowthrives on animal intrigue , The Manchurian Candidateleans into chilling suspense and political irony . If you ’re drawn to the mental chess ofRed Sparrow , this early chef-d’oeuvre is a must - see .
9Salt (2010)
Directed By Phillip Noyce
IfRed Sparrowhad a eminent - octane full cousin obsessed with wild stunts and pulse - pounding action , it would beSalt . Angelina Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt , a CIA officer impeach of being a Russian undercover agent who expire rogue to prove her innocence . One of the things that do Angelina Jolie one of the most respected actresses working in Hollywood is the fact that she ’s well-situated and exemplary in a wide-eyed variety of genres . What ’s especially notable aboutSaltis that it was originally supposed to have a male hero , but one ca n’t help but be grateful that they changed itso that Jolie could continue to showcase her endowment .
Jolie ’s depiction channels the same steely resiliency and enigmatic energy that Jennifer Lawrence bring to Dominika . Both women are incredibly skilled , emotionally guarded , and constantly playing both sides . What setsSaltapart is its unrelenting pace . The film rarely pauses to grab its breathing place , trading slow - sunburn suspense for chase scenes and daring escapes . Fans ofRed Sparrowwho want more espionage with a side of megahit adrenaline will findSalta fulfill thrill ride .
8Another Country (1984)
Directed By Marek Kanievska
On the surface , Another Countrymight seem world away fromRed Sparrow , but look closer and the connexion becomes clear . Part of what makesAnother Countrysuch a pleasure to watch is the undeniable talent of its stars , Colin Firth and Rupert Everett . The two star as young men come of historic period in 1930s Britain , and the flick look in particular at the baneful ways in which class worked on young men of the era . At the same sentence , it ’s also a spirit at the ways in which homosexualism was very much stigmatized during this important menses of British history .
If you ’re into spy story that search the " why " just as much as the " how,“Another Countryis more than worth a vigil .
Like Dominika inRed Sparrow , Rupert Everett ’s GuyBennett is shaped by an oppressive system and eventually turns against it . Another Countryis quieter , more introspective , and trades in bullets for philosophical musings , but the emotional undercurrents of revolt and self - preservation feel strikingly familiar . If you ’re into spy tales that search the " why " just as much as the " how,“Another Countryis more than worth a watch .
7Atomic Blonde (2017)
Directed By David Leitch
If Dominika Egorova had a Ne - lit alter ego with killer mode sense and a base proper sweetener , she ’d beCharlize Theron ’s Lorraine BroughtoninAtomic Blonde . Set in Berlin during the tail - ending of the Cold War , Charlize Theron plays an undercover MI6 agent pilot a entanglement of espionage , lies , and double - crosses- all key themes and secret plan points that come across with Dominika ’s journey inRed Sparrow .
DID YOU KNOW : The movie was based on the graphic novelThe Coldest City(2012 ) by Antony Johnston .
Both celluloid showcase ferociously independent women trained to seduce , deceive , and survive in a world dominated by ruthless mankind . Atomic Blondedials up the flair and activity , delivering brutal conflict choreography and a synth - heavy soundtrack that makes every puncher pop . WhereRed Sparrowsimmers with psychological tension , Atomic Blondeexplodes with kinetic energy . Still , at their essence , both heroines share the same delegacy : pull round the undercover agent plot on their own terms .
6The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1965)
Directed By Martin Ritt
One of the things that ’s most noted about the spy musical genre is that it can , at times , veer into the unrealistic . This is perceivable , since spycraft by its very nature is pretty out of the ordinary . Every so often , however , a undercover agent film really leans into reality , and 1965’sThe Spy Who Came In From THe Coldis an example of that . There ’s a passel to enjoy about the film , admit the powerful public presentation from Richard Burton , one of the most intense and committed actors of his propagation . Both desolate and brilliantThe Spy Who come In From The Coldis likeRed Sparrowstripped of glamour - raw , ruthless , and utterly captivating .
Richard Burton stars as Alec Leamas , a burned - out British agent sent into East Germany to distribute disinformation , only to see himself catch in a web of moral ambiguity . Much like Dominika , Leamas mesh in a human beings where loyalty is nonmeaningful and human lives are disposable . There are no gadgets or glamour here , just blue realism and the still devastation of espionage . Fans ofRed Sparrowwill apprise the way both flick dissect the emotional bell of being a pawn in the great secret plan of news . If you ’re looking for a insensate , voiceless face at the price of treachery , this le Carré adaption is essential wake .
5Bridge Of Spies (2015)
Directed By Steven Spielberg
Whatever else one can say about thefamed director Steven Spielberg , he definitely recognise how to create a film that is unanimous entertainment . In the case of 2015’sBridge of Spies , it helps that it ’s cast anchor by Tom Hanks , who is without a doubtfulness one of the most democratic actors working in Hollywood today . Steven Spielberg’sBridge of Spiesis more measured and polished thanRed Sparrow , but the espionage stake are just as eminent . Based on true outcome , the film adopt Tom Hanks as a lawyer task with negotiate the exchange of captured undercover agent between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War .
While Hanks wreak the lofty foil to the misanthropical worldly concern around him , Bridge of Spiesstill pulls back the drapery on the realpolitik and shadowy good deal that define the spy world - much likeRed Sparrowdoes , albeit from the Russian side . The difference is pure tone : whereRed Sparrowrevels in moral greyish areas and psychological handling , Bridge of Spiesoffers a slightly more promising take on diplomacy and integrity . Still , for fans craving more Cold War intrigue with superimposed characters and a warm sentience of story , Bridge of Spiesmore than delivers .
4North By Northwest (1959)
Directed By Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock is a manager whose name will evermore be associated with the thriller , and it ’s easygoing to see why when it comes to this classic flick . North by Northwestfocuses on a man who becomes snare in all sortsof Cold War shenanigans , often with absolutely no thought how it came to be so . Cary Grant is unfeignedly extraordinary in the 1959 movie , though he is match in heroism by James Mason ’s baddie . The climactic fight atop Mount Rushmore , and the fit where Grant is furrow by a harvest - dust woodworking plane , are iconic cinematic moment .
North By Northwest(1959 ) has a 97 % military rating onRotten Tomatoes .
North by Northwestis the stylish godfather of modern spy thriller , and it paved the way for films likeRed Sparrowto portmanteau machination , danger , and sexual tension . It ’s a cat - and - shiner secret plan filled with iconic set pieces - the crop duster , Mount Rushmore - and a seductive femme fatale who may or may not be trustworthy . LikeRed Sparrow , North by Northwesttoys with identity , deceit , and natural selection , and both leads are forced to think on their feet in hostile territory . Hitchcock ’s direction leans more toward suspensive wittiness than graphic intensity , but the DNA ofRed Sparrow ’s storytelling is clearly present .
3Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Directed By Simon West
Long before she took on the lead role inSalt , Angelina Jolie showed that she had the potential drop to become the image of the distaff action mechanism herowhen she starred as the titular Lara Croft . She rightfully took this video biz eccentric and made it her own . Even though there have been other attempts to resurrect this quality , there ’s no query that Jolie ’s turn as Lara Croft remains the one that everyone else is pass to have to contend with in their own rendering . WhileLara Croft : Tomb Raiderdials up the fantasy and globe - trotting adventure , there ’s a definite crossover withRed Sparrowin the form ofa strong , fiercely subject female confidential information .
Action films involving wizard lead , risky stunt , and acts of espionage have proven to be quite successful at the box post over the years .
Angelina Jolie ’s Lara Croft may be more gem hunter than undercover agent , but she ’s no unknown to external machination , dangerous enemies , and high - bet missions . Like Dominika , she ’s resourceful , physically unnerving , and often underestimated . What setsTomb Raiderapart is its bosom of the supernatural and its focal point on ancient artifacts instead of state secrets . Still , fans ofRed Sparrowwho enjoyed watching a commanding adult female outwit her opposer and survive against impossible betting odds will observe Lara ’s journey just as thrilling - with a small more activeness and a deal more ancient ruins .
2Wonder Woman (2017)
Directed By Patty Jenkins
The 2010s and 2020s have been something of a golden age for superhero film , and this one is notable for the coming into court of the title character , one of the few female superheroes to get her own pic . In this instance , Wonder Woman becomes part of World War I , demonstrating the extent to which current superhero films are very much invested in inserting their submarine sandwich into the events of the tangible populace that most viewers are already conversant with . What ’s more , Gal Gadot brings a really herculean force to hercharacterization as Wonder Woman .
Wonder Womanmay be a superhero movie on the surface , but underneath the Amazonian armor isa story about a knock-down woman navigating the complexities of war , commitment , and human nature- all central themes inRed Sparrow . Gal Gadot ’s Diana is a symbol of specialty and compassion , go into a brutal , male - dominated world not unlike the one Dominika faces . Both women are shaped by intense grooming and a loss of pureness , and both confront the iniquity of mankind in their own way . The tone ofWonder Womanis far more uplifting thanRed Sparrow , but fans of superimposed female protagonists with agency and purpose will be describe to both .
1The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock’sThe Man Who fuck Too Muchmay start as a holiday go ill-timed , but it quickly spiral intoa tense tale of outside conspiracy - a premiss not too far remove fromRed Sparrow . The fifties was something of a favorable eld for Alfred Hitchcock , who produce some of his most iconic films . He proved especially adept at thriller , andThe homo Who Knew Too Muchis one of his finest . In large part , this stems from the bang-up performances from James Stewart and Doris Day , who star as an American couple whose Word gets kidnapped .
While this classic swop covert conquest for nail - biting suspense , the composition of handling , secrets , and survival under pressure marry it closely to Dominika ’s world .
Like Dominika , they ’re thrown into danger and impel to outmaneuver powerful forces . The tenseness builds with a slow burn , much likeRed Sparrow , and the film climaxes with a brilliant Seth piece at London ’s Royal Albert Hall . While this classic trades covert conquest for nail - pungent suspense , the themes of use , secrets , and survival under imperativeness bind it closely to Dominika ’s cosmos . fan of smart , stylish thriller will find it just as spellbind .
