The Only Spy Franchise With Zero Bad Movies

by

Spy films have been a popular part of cinema almost since the beginning, appearing even in early silent movies. They quickly evolved with films like The 39 Steps, and then World War II and the Cold War created a golden age for fictional spies. Among them, James Bond, created by Ian Fleming, has remained remarkably popular and relevant over the years, outlasting most other spy characters.

James Bond has starred in 25 official films, and many unofficial ones, but he’s not the only famous secret agent. Characters like Ethan Hunt, Austin Powers, and several versions of Jack Ryan have also gone on numerous missions, all hoping to capture some of Bond’s popularity. However, only one spy series can truly say it doesn’t have a single weak film.

The Bourne Series Is The Only Spy Franchise Without A Single Bad Movie

As a huge fan, I think it’s safe to say the first three Bourne movies are just incredible. Doug Liman’s The Bourne Identity back in 2002 really changed things – not just for spy films, but for action movies in general! Even James Bond seemed to be taking notes! Paul Greengrass took over directing for The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum in 2004 and 2007, and thankfully, they kept up the amazing quality. If I had to pick a favorite, though, I’d probably go with Ultimatum – it’s just that good.

The film’s action was more intense than anything audiences had experienced before, putting them right in the middle of the fight and making them feel every impact. The rich backstory of Matt Damon’s character created a compelling sense of mystery that set it apart from other action series, constantly keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. Even with all the fighting and shooting, the first three Bourne films still made time to develop the characters and explore their personal lives.

The idea that every Bourne movie is good starts to fall apart with the fourth film, 2012’s The Bourne Legacy. Directed by Tony Gilroy and starring Jeremy Renner taking over from Matt Damon, it’s often compared to the standalone James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. While it didn’t initially receive a great reaction – many viewers simply didn’t like that Renner wasn’t Damon – The Bourne Legacy has aged well, and the complaints about it being different have become less common over the last 14 years.

People wanting to see Jason Bourne and Aaron Cross work together shows that The Bourne Legacy has actually gained a better reputation over time. While Jeremy Renner’s film doesn’t quite reach the level of the original three Bourne movies—which is why it wasn’t initially well-received—it’s still a solid spy thriller.

Surprisingly, the biggest disappointment in the Bourne series is actually the 2016 film, Jason Bourne. While it has a strong cast and reunited Matt Damon with director Paul Greengrass, it’s the least original movie in the franchise. It’s almost a typical action thriller, but still manages to be an enjoyable two hours. The story isn’t as strong as previous installments, but Matt Damon’s performance and Greengrass’s exciting action scenes make it better than most similar movies.

If Jason Bourne is as bad as the series gets, that’s an impressive claim indeed.

Other Spy Franchises Lack The Consistency Of The Bourne Movies

As a fan of these spy films, I have to say that James Bond has stumbled a few times. There are definitely some 007 movies that don’t hold up – I always thought A View to a Kill, Die Another Day, and Quantum of Solace were particularly weak. While Mission: Impossible has generally been so strong, even it had a misstep with its second film. Mission: Impossible 2 just didn’t quite click; the story felt all over the place, the tone was off, and honestly, some of that dialogue… I can only imagine Thandiwe Newton cringes when she remembers it!

Michael Caine launched a successful spy series with The Ipcress File in 1965, but the character of Harry Palmer became less appealing over time. Similarly, his Kingsman movies started well, but later installments became increasingly over-the-top and the 2021 prequel was particularly disappointing.

After some initial success, Jack Ryan films like The Sum of All Fears and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit weren’t as strong. Shadow Recruit felt particularly formulaic compared to the Jason Bourne series. At their worst, Matt Damon’s performance as Bourne was comparable to Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Jack Ryan.

Comedies like Austin Powers, Johnny English, and Spy Kids were funny at first, but the jokes didn’t stay fresh as the series continued. They struggled to maintain their comedic momentum over time.

Read More

2026-01-29 19:49