Spy movie fans will be excited for the Russo Brothers' latest film, The Gray Man. With stars such as Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling and Regé-Jean Page in the cast, there's every reason for audiences to spare 130 minutes in order to see what they'll be up to.
There's likely to be a standout spy or two in the newest Russo Brothers release, but will they match up to the many others who have come before? Over the years, countless secret agents have appeared in movies and TV shows, and Ranker's s have collectively voted to determine which deserve to be in the Spy Hall of Fame.
Note: Ranker lists are fan-voted, live, and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
Jack Bauer - 24 (2001–12)
Bauer works at the Counter Terrorist Unit, a fictional agency tasked with identifying and stopping terrorist attacks in the United States. He also serves as the organization's director at different stages of the show.
Out of all the spies on the list, Bauer is arguably the most skilled combatant. No enemy ever matches him in fisticuffs or a gunfight and as such, fans are always treated to marvelous action sequences whenever he is on screen. He is well connected too, often having the trust of the President of the United States as well as many other influential figures.
Harry Tasker - True Lies (1994)
To his family, Tasker is a computer salesman but in real life, he is an agent for a spy organization known as Omega Sector. Soon his spy activities sink into his family life.
Harry's difficulty in juggling family life and spy work is what makes him an interesting character. While he is a brilliant agent, he struggles to make his wife happy and soon becomes jealous, forcing him to test her loyalty in rather hilarious ways. But as the resilient person that he is, he eventually figures out a way to make sure all areas of his life flow smoothly.
Napoleon Solo - The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
Napoleon Solo works for the spy organization U.N.C.L.E. during the Cold War. He gets hired because of his experience in the military and the CIA, as well as his secret career as an antique thief.
Solo is almost Bond-like in appearance and mannerisms as he always wears tailor-made suits and is a known womanizer. However, he isn't too much into violence, instead focusing on his strengths, which are gambling, infiltration and cracking safes. Solo's history also makes a case for him as a formidable agent. He ed the military at 16 and was once wanted by four countries for his crimes.
Illya Kuryakin - The Man From U.N.C.L.E (2015)
Kuryakin is the youngest person to ever the KGB. He teams up with Napoleon Solo and another agent to stop a nuclear threat that might destroy the world.
Spies need to be able to flee and pursue others easily and Kuryakin is one of the best in that. His driving skills are unmatched, something he demonstrates when he goes after Solo in East Berlin. He isn't a walkover in combat either as he was once a Russian Sambo cover. But what Kuryakin does best is preserve his spy cover. Even when a mugger takes his father's prized watch, he refuses to beat him down so as to not attract attention.
Nick Fury (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Even 14 years into the MCU, fans still have questions about the mysterious Nick Fury, but there's a lot they do know about his history. Fury starts out in the military before ing the CIA. He is then recruited to S.H.I.E.L.D, an organization meant to protect the United States from both human and extraterrestrial threats.
Those who are good at their jobs always find a way to climb the corporate ladder and that's what Fury does. Starting out as a desk agent, he eventually rises to be the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Under him, the agency accomplishes a lot, most notably gathering and managing the team of superheroes known as the Avengers.
Harry Hart - Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
After a stint in the military, Harry Hart is recruited into the secret agency known as Kingsman. Over time, he participates in numerous missions around the world.
What stands out most about Harry is his human reflexes. He is able to dodge close-range gunfire and as such, he gets to survive longer in the dangerous world of espionage. Harry also has arguably one of the best action scenes of all time in Kingsman when he takes on hundreds of attackers inside a crowded church. And thanks to his proficiency in the Bartitsu discipline, he can fight quite brilliantly using an umbrella.
William Brandt - Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol (2011)
William Brandt is introduced as the Chief Analyst to the Secretary of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). He then goes on to work closely with the protagonist, Ethan Hunt, during his missions.
Unlike other spies, Brandt has a sense of humanity. He feels remorseful for not being able to protect Ethan's wife. He is very knowledgeable too, always depicted as having all the facts about targets, Despite how emotional as he tends to get, he is even a better fighter than Ethan Hunt, managing to disarm him twice.
Ethan Hunt - Mission: Impossible Franchise (1996–present)
Mission: Impossible protagonist Ethan Hunt has quite a resume. He fought in Operation Desert Storm. He also double-majored in engineering and international relations before ing the CIA and later the IMF.
One of the bravest IMF agents in Mission: Impossible, Ethan is best known for his wild stunts. Whether it's climbing the Burj Khalifa or fighting on the edge of a cliff, he will gladly take the risk. And he isn't just good at sneaking in. An escape artist, Ethan always knows how to get out of the toughest of situations too.
Jason Bourne - The Bourne Franchise (2002–16)
The CIA black ops group Operation Treadstone defects after failing to assassinate an African dictator with his children present. He loses his memory after failed attempts to kill him so he attempts to piece together who he is.
Jason Bourne's intelligence and situational awareness are his standout traits as he is always able to piece together clues quickly and anticipate threats way in advance. His skills on the wheel are unmatched too as he is seen engaging in high-speed chases through complex city roads while driving vehicles that are generally considered slow.
James Bond - James Bond Franchise (1962–present)
Undoubtedly the most famous fictional spy of all time, James Bond is an MI6 agent. He has also had more screen time than any other spy, having debuted in the early '60s.
There is plenty to love about Bond, including his dialogue, his alcohol tastes, his fashion sense and his general daredevilry. Most of James Bond's best one-liners are impossible to forget, and so are his encounters with villains, in which he always gets the upper hand in the most unusual of ways. There is variety in the character too, in that fans can always get to pick which version (or era) of Bond they like best.
