Many spy movies overstate the excitement that comes with the job, but there are a few that provide a more realistic and harsher look at being a secret agent. These films aren't without a thrilling chase scene occasionally, but they are much more concerned with the human aspect of the job. Films like The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and The Lives Of Others take into consideration the ways in which an agent is conflicted about putting aside their personal beliefs for the sake of a mission.

Other films opt for a realistic approach to problem-solving that avoids the use of convenient gadgets and intelligence. Oftentimes, movies that real CIA agents recommend are those with these emotional narratives, as splashy action films, while entertaining, don't often dive into the psyche of their agent characters. Films that depict a realistic life as a secret agent make audiences second guess their aspirations for the job.

10 Spy Game (2001)

Directed by Tony Scott

Receiving mostly positive reviews from critics and among the films ed by former agents themselves is Spy Game. The film follows the relationship between the characters of Robert Redford (Muir) and Brad Pitt (Bishop). The latter has been charged and arrested for espionage, so it's up to Muir, a case officer, to get him out.

The film has been praised for its accuracy, especially when depicting the type of relationships formed in the business, particularly those fractured by differing beliefs and business practices, as seen with Muir's view of citizens as assets.

9 The Good Shepherd (2006)

Directed by Robert De Niro

Starring Matt Damon as the lead, The Good Shepherd tells a fascinating story about the consequences of extreme dedication to the job. The film, loosely based on the life of James Jesus Angleton, explores the life of Damon's Edward Wilson, from his college years to his CIA recruitment.

The Good Shepherd doesn't have the excitement or action scenes seen in other spy films, but it paints a realistic and harsh picture of the cost of working as a dedicated member of the field of intelligence.

The Good Shepherd doesn't have the excitement or action scenes seen in other spy films, but it paints a realistic and harsh picture of the cost of working as a dedicated member of the field of intelligence.

8 The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Directed by Paul Greengrass

The third installment in the Jason Bourne film series, The Bourne Ultimatum continues the action-packed quest of Matt Damon's Jason Bourne. While the film does contain the non-stop thrills often associated with the Bourne series, there is also a sense of dread that lingers throughout as Jason is determined to uncover his identity, evading those who wish to kill him. The Bourne Ultimatum highlights how the former CIA assassin remains a target, showing a resignation is not a guaranteed departure from the risky job title.

7 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Directed by John Frankenheimer

Released during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, The Manchurian Candidate earned high levels of acclaim and award nominations. The film is based on Richard Condon's 1959 novel and follows a group of U.S. brainwashed soldiers at the end of the Korean War, with one soldier, Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), becoming an assassin.

The Manchurian Candidate depicts a real-life paranoia felt by American citizens during the time but isn't tied to an exact event in history, which extends the years of its relevancy.

6 The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1965)

Directed by Martin Ritt

John le Carré's international bestseller The Spy Who Came in from the Cold was adapted into a film starring Richard Burton as Alec Leamas - an agent on the brink of retirement fulfilling one final mission.

Without giving anything away, the film shows just how easy it is to unwittingly get caught up in a dangerous mission. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is also realistic because of how it questions the morality of a spy long associated with the business.

5 The Hunt For Red October (1990)

Directed by John McTiernan

Adapted from Tom Clancy's novel of the same name, The Hunt for Red October is an effective submarine spy film and one of Sean Connery's best non-James Bond movies.

Throughout the film, chilling suspense builds as CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) must get to the bottom of Soviet submarine captain Marko Ramius' (Sean Connery) motives. The film emphasizes the risk that comes with the job and stresses the importance of taking one's time to build a case to avoid a destructive confrontation that harms others.

4 The Lives Of Others (2006)

Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

There are some exciting action scenes in the German film The Lives of Others, but the strongest aspect of the film is its personal story. The movie follows agent Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe) after he's hired to spy on a famous couple.

The inability to separate oneself from a target is among the more challenging parts of the job and The Lives of Others explores these conflicting feelings with an absorbing story.

However, Gerd soon finds himself to be too involved in their lives, threatening the results of his mission. The inability to separate oneself from a target is among the more challenging parts of the job and The Lives of Others explores these conflicting feelings with an absorbing story.

3 Three Days Of The Condor (1975)

Directed by Sydney Pollack

Returning to work after a lunch break only to discover one's colleagues have been killed is not a situation anyone would want to find themselves in. However, this is what happens to CIA analyst Joe Turner (Robert Redford) in Three Days of the Condor.

Suspicious of the involvement of higher-ups within the CIA, Joe attempts to unveil the truth. The realistic film was released during a time when the public was already distrusting the U.S. government, which resulted in high praise for Sydney Pollack's film.

2 Bridge Of Spies (2015)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Many spy films make the job look like a thrilling ride, but Bridge of Spies takes a milder approach. The movie focuses on a lawyer (Tom Hanks) tasked with getting a U.S. pilot released from prison, exchanging with the Soviet Union a captured spy whom Hanks' character had previously defended.

Bridge Of Spies (2015) has a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Still, the film is riveting in its storytelling and works so well, much like the other spy films listed, because of its realistic and considerate examination of its character's motives.

1 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Directed by Tomas Alfredson

Based on one of John le Carré's most popular novels of the same name, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is one of the more realistic spy movies. Though its plot may not be as action-packed as other films in the genre, the story is gripping and gives some insight into what it's like to scope out a Soviet double agent within the British Secret Service.

With Carré's personal link to the business, the story accurately lays out the complicated and risky relationships questioned within the agency.