10 Best Movies Like Red Sparrow -

Movies like Red Sparrow bring the same stylish suspenseful tension as the 2018 Jennifer Lawrence spy thriller. Jennifer Lawrence stars in Red Sparrow as a Russian ballerina-turned-spy, and the blend 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, loyalty is fluid, and power comes at a steep price. With its mix of espionage, political mind games, and a lead character who turns the tables on her handlers, Red Sparrow offers a very specific brand of spy thriller – one that feels as cerebral as it is deadly.

What makes a movie like Red Sparrow tick is its ability to balance intelligence with tension. These aren’t standard shoot-’em-up action flicks, but layered, character-driven, and often morally ambiguous narratives. Whether it’s a femme fatale using her charm as leverage or a covert operative questioning their mission, movies like Red Sparrow hook viewers with high-stakes and sharp twists. Fans of Red Sparrow will enjoy the slow-burn suspense, the psychological depth, and the richly atmospheric worlds these films create. From Cold War dramas to stylish action thrillers, movies like Red Sparrow deliver all the intrigue, danger, and deception that made the 2018 Jennifer Lawrence movie a cult classic.

10

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Directed By John Frankenheimer

The Manchurian Candidate

Release Date: October 24, 1962
Runtime: 126 Minutes
Director: John Frankenheimer
Writers: Richard Condon, George Axelfrod, John Frankenheimer

Angela Lansbury

Raymond Shaw
Janet Leigh

Eugenie Rose Chaney
Angela Lansbury

Mrs. Eleanor Shaw Iselin

A political thriller laced with paranoia and mind games, The Manchurian Candidate is a cerebral cousin to Red Sparrow and one of the best spy thriller films ever made. From beginning to end, it keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat, just wondering what is going to happen next. It focuses on a young man who has become an unwitting part of a Soviet plot to take over the United States government. The real star of the film, however, is Angela Lansbury, who amply demonstrates that she is as talented in drama as she is in comedy and musicals.

A collage image featuring three shots of Jennifer Lawrence in spy thriller Red Sparrow - created by Tom Russell

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Like Dominika Egorova, the characters in this Cold War classic are tangled in manipulation, coercion, and psychological warfare. Laurence Harvey’s Raymond Shaw is a war hero turned sleeper agent, brainwashed by communists to become an assassin – a haunting concept that echoes the intense psychological conditioning Dominika undergoes. The black-and-white cinematography only sharpens the film’s moody, sinister tone. While Red Sparrow thrives on sensual intrigue, The Manchurian Candidate leans into chilling suspense and political satire. If you’re drawn to the mental chess of Red Sparrow, this early masterpiece is a must-see.

9

Salt (2010)

Directed By Phillip Noyce

Salt

7/10

Release Date: July 23, 2010
Runtime: 100 Minutes
Director: Phillip Noyce
Writers: Kurt Wimmer

If Red Sparrow had a high-octane cousin obsessed with wild stunts and pulse-pounding action, it would be Salt. Angelina Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer accused of being a Russian spy who goes rogue to prove her innocence. One of the things that makes Angelina Jolie one of the most respected actresses working in Hollywood is the fact that she’s comfortable and exemplary in a wide variety of genres. What’s especially notable about Salt is that it was originally supposed to have a male hero, but one can’t help but be grateful that they changed it so that Jolie could continue to showcase her talents.

Jolie’s portrayal channels the same steely resilience and enigmatic energy that Jennifer Lawrence brings to Dominika. Both women are incredibly skilled, emotionally guarded, and constantly playing both sides. What sets Salt apart is its relentless pace. The film rarely pauses to catch its breath, trading slow-burn suspense for chase scenes and daring escapes. Fans of Red Sparrow who want more espionage with a side of blockbuster adrenaline will find Salt a satisfying thrill ride.

8

Another Country (1984)

Directed By Marek Kanievska

Another Country

Release Date: June 1, 1984
Runtime: 87 minutes
Director: Marek Kanievska
Writers: Julian Mitchell
Producers: Alan Marshall, Robert Fox

Rupert Everett

Guy Bennett

On the surface, Another Country might seem worlds away from Red Sparrow, but look closer and the connection becomes clear. Part of what makes Another Country such a pleasure to watch is the undeniable talent of its stars, Colin Firth and Rupert Everett. The two star as young men coming of age in 1930s Britain, and the film looks in particular at the pernicious ways in which class worked on young men of the era. At the same time, it’s also a look at the ways in which homosexuality was very much stigmatized during this important period of British history.

If you’re into spy tales that explore the “why” just as much as the “how,” Another Country is more than worth a watch.

Like Dominika in Red Sparrow, Rupert Everett’s Guy Bennett is shaped by an oppressive system and eventually turns against it. Another Country is quieter, more introspective, and trades in bullets for philosophical musings, but the emotional undercurrents of rebellion and self-preservation feel strikingly familiar. If you’re into spy tales that explore the “why” just as much as the “how,” Another Country is more than worth a watch.

7

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Directed By David Leitch

Atomic Blonde

6/10

Release Date: July 26, 2017
Runtime: 115 minutes
Director: David Leitch
Writers: Kurt Johnstad, Antony Johnston, Sam Hart

If Dominika Egorova had a neon-lit alter ego with killer fashion sense and a mean right hook, she’d be Charlize Theron’s Lorraine Broughton in Atomic Blonde. Set in Berlin during the tail-end of the Cold War, Charlize Theron plays an undercover MI6 agent navigating a web of espionage, lies, and double-crosses – all key themes and plot points that resonate with Dominika’s journey in Red Sparrow.

DID YOU KNOW: The movie was based on the graphic novel The Coldest City (2012) by Antony Johnston.

Both films showcase fiercely independent women trained to seduce, deceive, and survive in a world dominated by ruthless men. Atomic Blonde dials up the style and action, delivering brutal fight choreography and a synth-heavy soundtrack that makes every punch pop. Where Red Sparrow simmers with psychological tension, Atomic Blonde explodes with kinetic energy. Still, at their core, both heroines share the same mission: survive the spy game on their own terms.

6

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1965)

Directed By Martin Ritt

One of the things that’s most notable about the spy genre is that it can, at times, veer into the unrealistic. This is understandable, since spycraft by its very nature is somewhat out of the ordinary. Every so often, however, a spy film really leans into realism, and 1965’s The Spy Who Came In From THe Cold is an example of that. There’s a lot to enjoy about the film, including the powerful performance from Richard Burton, one of the most intense and committed actors of his generation. Both bleak and brilliant The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is like Red Sparrow stripped of glamour – raw, ruthless, and utterly captivating.

Richard Burton stars as Alec Leamas, a burned-out British agent sent into East Germany to spread disinformation, only to find himself caught in a web of moral ambiguity. Much like Dominika, Leamas operates in a world where loyalty is meaningless and human lives are disposable. There are no gadgets or glamor here, just grim realism and the quiet devastation of espionage. Fans of Red Sparrow will appreciate the way both films dissect the emotional toll of being a pawn in the great game of intelligence. If you’re looking for a cold, hard look at the cost of betrayal, this le Carré adaptation is essential viewing.

5

Bridge Of Spies (2015)

Directed By Steven Spielberg

Bridge of Spies

5/10

Release Date: October 16, 2015
Runtime: 142 Minutes
Writers: Joel Coen, Matt Charman, Ethan Coen

Whatever else one can say about the famed director Steven Spielberg, he definitely knows how to create a film that is solid entertainment. In the case of 2015’s Bridge of Spies, it helps that it’s anchored by Tom Hanks, who is without a doubt one of the most popular actors working in Hollywood today. Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies is more measured and polished than Red Sparrow, but the espionage stakes are just as high. Based on true events, the film follows Tom Hanks as a lawyer tasked with negotiating the exchange of captured spies between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

While Hanks plays the idealistic foil to the cynical world around him, Bridge of Spies still pulls back the curtain on the realpolitik and shadowy deals that define the spy world – much like Red Sparrow does, albeit from the Russian side. The difference is tone: where Red Sparrow revels in moral gray areas and psychological manipulation, Bridge of Spies offers a slightly more hopeful take on diplomacy and integrity. Still, for fans craving more Cold War intrigue with layered characters and a strong sense of history, Bridge of Spies more than delivers.

4

North By Northwest (1959)

Directed By Alfred Hitchcock

North By Northwest

10/10

Release Date: September 8, 1959
Runtime: 136 minutes
Writers: Ernest Lehman

Alfred Hitchcock is a director whose name will forever be associated with the thriller, and it’s easy to see why when it comes to this classic film. North by Northwest focuses on a man who becomes ensnared in all sorts of Cold War shenanigans, often with absolutely no idea how it came to be so. Cary Grant is truly extraordinary in the 1959 movie, though he is matched in heroism by James Mason’s villain. The climactic fight atop Mount Rushmore, and the scene where Grant is chased by a crop-dusting plane, are iconic cinematic moments.

North by Northwest is the stylish godfather of modern spy thrillers, and it paved the way for films like Red Sparrow to blend intrigue, danger, and sexual tension. It’s a cat-and-mouse game filled with iconic set pieces – the crop duster, Mount Rushmore – and a seductive femme fatale who may or may not be trustworthy. Like Red Sparrow, North by Northwest toys with identity, deception, and survival, and both leads are forced to think on their feet in hostile territory. Hitchcock’s direction leans more toward suspenseful wit than graphic intensity, but the DNA of Red Sparrow’s storytelling is clearly present.

3

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Directed By Simon West

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Release Date: June 15, 2001
Runtime: 100 Minutes
Director: Simon West
Writers: Sara B. Cooper, Mike Werb, Michael Colleary, Simon West, Patrick Massett, John Zinman

Long before she took on the lead role in Salt, Angelina Jolie showed that she had the potential to become the epitome of the female action hero when she starred as the titular Lara Croft. She truly took this video game character and made it her own. Even though there have been other attempts to resurrect this character, there’s no question that Jolie’s turn as Lara Croft remains the one that everyone else is going to have to contend with in their own interpretation. While Lara Croft: Tomb Raider dials up the fantasy and globe-trotting adventure, there’s a definite crossover with Red Sparrow in the form of a strong, fiercely capable female lead.

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Angelina Jolie’s Lara Croft may be more treasure hunter than spy, but she’s no stranger to international intrigue, dangerous enemies, and high-stakes missions. Like Dominika, she’s resourceful, physically formidable, and often underestimated. What sets Tomb Raider apart is its embrace of the supernatural and its focus on ancient artifacts instead of state secrets. Still, fans of Red Sparrow who enjoyed watching a commanding woman outwit her adversaries and survive against impossible odds will find Lara’s journey just as thrilling – with a little more action and a lot more ancient ruins.

2

Wonder Woman (2017)

Directed By Patty Jenkins

Wonder Woman

Release Date: May 30, 2017
Runtime: 141 minutes
Director: Patty Jenkins
Writers: Allan Heinberg
Producers: Charles Roven, Geoff Johns, Richard Suckle, Stephen Jones, Zack Synder, Deborah Snyder, Jon Berg, Wesley Coller, Steven Mnuchin

The 2010s and 2020s have been something of a golden age for superhero films, and this one is notable for the appearance of the title character, one of the few female superheroes to get her own movie. 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 heroes into the events of the real world that most viewers are already familiar with. What’s more, Gal Gadot brings a truly powerful force to her characterization as Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman may be a superhero movie on the surface, but underneath the Amazonian armor is a story about a powerful woman navigating the complexities of war, loyalty, and human nature – all central themes in Red Sparrow. Gal Gadot’s Diana is a symbol of strength and compassion, entering a brutal, male-dominated world not unlike the one Dominika faces. Both women are shaped by intense training and a loss of innocence, and both confront the darkness of mankind in their own way. The tone of Wonder Woman is far more uplifting than Red Sparrow, but fans of layered female protagonists with agency and purpose will be drawn to both.

1

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Directed By Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much may start as a vacation gone wrong, but it quickly spirals into a tense tale of international conspiracy – a premise not too far removed from Red Sparrow. The 1950s was something of a golden age for Alfred Hitchcock, who produced some of his most iconic films. He proved particularly adept at thrillers, and The Man Who Knew Too Much is one of his finest. In large part, this stems from the great performances from James Stewart and Doris Day, who star as an American couple whose son gets kidnapped.

While this classic trades covert seduction for nail-biting suspense, the themes of manipulation, secrets, and survival under pressure tie it closely to Dominika’s world.

Like Dominika, they’re thrown into danger and forced to outmaneuver powerful forces. The tension builds with a slow burn, much like Red Sparrow, and the film climaxes with a brilliant set piece at London’s Royal Albert Hall. While this classic trades covert seduction for nail-biting suspense, the themes of manipulation, secrets, and survival under pressure tie it closely to Dominika’s world. Fans of smart, stylish thrillers will find it just as gripping.