Overview
An unassuming CIA analyst steps into the world of espionage, proving that heroes come in all forms.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- witty
- irreverent
- propulsive
- movie night
- comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Paul Feig’s energetic action-comedy direction, sharp screenplay, and especially Melissa McCarthy’s lead performance, with Jason Statham’s comic persona also singled out.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Susan Cooper begins as a deskbound CIA analyst and volunteers for fieldwork when frontline agents are compromised.
The unassuming female analyst becomes the undercover operative while established action-agent personas are treated comically.
Jason Statham plays Rick Ford as a wildly overconfident version of the hypercompetent action hero associated with his screen image.
The undercover mission centers on stopping an arms dealer and preventing a global crisis involving a nuclear bomb.
Films like Spy, and why
The Heat
female-led spy comedy blending undercover missions, broad physical humor, and escalating international action
The Other Guys
irreverent espionage parody with comic action, incompetent agents, and international criminal intrigue
Kingsman: The Secret Service
stylish spy adventure driven by comic reversals, flamboyant villains, and playful genre subversion
21 Jump Street
undercover crime comedy featuring mistaken identities, action set pieces, and an unlikely operative
Movie Details
- Director
- Paul Feig
- Release Date
- 2015-05-06
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (6548)
Cast
- Melissa McCarthy
- Rose Byrne
- Jason Statham
- Jude Law
- Miranda Hart
- Allison Janney
- Bobby Cannavale
- Peter Serafinowicz
- Morena Baccarin
- Raad Rawi
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Spy about?
- A sidelined CIA analyst discovers that her overlooked skills may make her the Agency’s funniest and most resourceful undercover operative.
- What is Spy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Spy as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Spy violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Spy as moderate.
- What did critics think of Spy?
- Critics broadly praised Paul Feig’s energetic action-comedy direction, sharp screenplay, and especially Melissa McCarthy’s lead performance, with Jason Statham’s comic persona also singled out.
- Which films are like Spy?
- Films with a similar feel include The Heat, The Other Guys, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and 21 Jump Street.
- How long is Spy?
- Spy runs 120 minutes.
- Where can I watch Spy?
- In United States, Spy streams on Starz Apple TV channel.
