Argylle is set to be released on February 2nd, 2024. The spy comedy from the “twisted mind of Matthew Vaughn” is apparently supposed to kick-off a Kingsman/Argylle/something else cinematic universe, so get ready for that, I suppose. However, if you just can’t contain yourself for the release of Argylle, here are eight movies that you can watch to get yourself hyped.
1. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
From the same director as Argylle, the Kingsman franchise offers a more British spy parody – asking the question “what if James Bond was working class?”. Or, at least, Matthew Vaughn’s idea of working class. In “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” a streetwise but aimless young man (Taron Egerton) is recruited into a secretive spy organization by a suave mentor, just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius (Samuel L Jackson). Thrust into a rigorous training program, the recruit must compete for a place in the agency while navigating the dangerous waters of espionage.
Related: Every Matthew Vaugh movie ranked
2. Red (2010)
Another spy comedy, Red (2010) tells the story of some retired spies re-entering the game. It follows Frank Moses (Bruce Willis), a former black-ops CIA agent, who leads a quiet life alone until the night he becomes a target of a high-tech assassin. To uncover the assailant’s identity, he reunites with his old team — a group of retired spies and specialists as lethal as they are eccentric. As they embark on a cross-country mission, they use their old-school skills to outwit relentless assassins and uncover a massive conspiracy.
3. Spy (2015)
If the idea of an unlikely hero being sucked into on-the-field spy antics entices you, then Spy (2015) is a movie for you. “Spy” is a comedic action film that follows Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy), a desk-bound CIA analyst with an unremarkable track record, who volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer after her partner falls off the grid. As she transforms from a behind-the-scenes handler into a field agent, Susan becomes entangled in a web of espionage, deceit, and misadventures.
4. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
Argylle is the second spy comedy movie that Henry Cavill has starred in. “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” is set against the backdrop of the early 1960s period of the Cold War, where a CIA agent (Cavill) and a KGB operative (Armie Hammer) are forced to put aside longstanding hostilities and team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization. Their only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.
5. Knight and Day (2010)
“Knight and Day” centres around June Havens (Cameron Diaz), an ordinary woman whose life takes a wild turn when she becomes entangled with a rogue spy named Roy Miller (Tom Cruise), who is trying to clear his name. As they embark on a globe-trotting adventure, dodging bullets and chasing secrets, June must figure out whether to trust this charming but unpredictable operative. The movie delivers a mix of high-octane action and light-hearted romance, all wrapped in a comedic spy thriller.
6. Get Smart (2008)
“Get Smart” follows the transformation of Maxwell Smart (Steve Carrell), an eager but inept analyst at the U.S. spy agency CONTROL, who gets his chance to be a field agent. Paired with the competent and alluring Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), Smart must thwart the destructive plans of the criminal organization KAOS. The film delivers a blend of slapstick comedy, gadget-driven action, and a touch of romance as Smart bumbles through espionage with earnest determination.
7. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)
“Mr. & Mrs. Smith” depicts the tumultuous and secretive lives of John and Jane Smith (Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie), a seemingly mundane married couple who are both hiding a big secret: they are highly skilled assassins working for competing organizations. Unaware of each other’s true identities, their marriage hits an explosive turning point when they are assigned to kill one another, leading to a series of action-packed and comedic encounters. The film cleverly combines elements of domestic comedy with high-stakes action as the couple navigates their complex personal and professional dilemmas.
8. Johnny English (2003)
“Johnny English” is a spy comedy film that parodies the James Bond secret agent genre, featuring the bumbling yet confident MI7 agent Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson). After a sudden attack on the agency, English, who is more enthusiastic than skilled, becomes Britain’s only spy and must solve a plot to steal the crown jewels. The film is a mix of slapstick humour and spy adventure, showcasing English’s ineptitude against unimaginable danger.
What movies are you watching to pregame for Argylle (2024)? Let us know in the comments below.