10 Best Spy Thrillers Similar To The Night Manager

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The popular British spy series The Night Manager has returned with a strong second season, now available on Prime Video. It’s been 10 years since the show first aired on the BBC, and Tom Hiddleston’s performance as Jonathan Pine is a welcome return that highlights how much viewers have missed it.

This stylish and well-paced spy series gets almost everything right in its portrayal of British intelligence work in today’s Egypt and Colombia. Even before the new season, it was considered one of the best dramas the BBC has ever produced, and the recent episodes have only solidified that reputation.

If you’ve already watched all 12 episodes of Tom Hiddleston’s hit series, there are still lots of exciting spy shows to enjoy. The Night Manager isn’t the only TV adaptation of a John le Carré novel, so there’s plenty more to discover.

While other spy series also take place in glamorous hotels, The Night Manager stands out thanks to its incredible cast – including Hugh Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, and Camila Morrone. Though many excellent shows exist, both modern and classic, they paved the way for The Night Manager’s success.

10. Bodyguard

2018

The action-packed series Bodyguard launched Richard Madden into the spotlight as a potential James Bond successor, much like Tom Hiddleston before him. Madden delivers a remarkably calm and cool performance as David Budd, a security professional caught up in a high-stakes counter-terrorism plot, in this thrilling limited series by Jed Mercurio.

While Budd isn’t as polished as Pine, he’s incredibly capable when the stakes are high. Though Bodyguard has more intense action than The Night Manager, the main characters in both shows share a lot of similarities.

9. Killing Eve

2018–2022

From the very beginning, the spy thriller Killing Eve grabs your attention with its captivating dynamic between two rivals. Their connection is reminiscent of famous on-screen pairings like those in The Night Manager, falling somewhere between a fierce competition and a dangerous attraction.

Killing Eve is a thrilling and unpredictable cat-and-mouse game. Villanelle stands out as one of the most compelling villains ever seen on television. While the ending wasn’t perfect, the show remains a standout espionage thriller with strong female leads, and was remarkably well-made for most of its run.

8. Black Doves

2018–Present

Considered one of the top TV thrillers of 2024, Black Doves boasts an incredible cast, exceeding what most spy shows typically offer. Keira Knightley and Ben Wishaw star as agents of a secretive mercenary organization hidden within London’s criminal world.

The first season of Black Doves gives each member of its talented cast a moment to stand out, including lead actress Sarah Lancashire and the renowned Tracey Ullman. However, these appearances by well-known performers aren’t just for show; they serve a compelling and uniquely crafted modern thriller that’s been expertly made.

7. The Night Agent

2023–Present

If the US remade The Night Manager, it would likely be very similar to The Night Agent. Though Jonathan Pine and Peter Sutherland have different official roles, neither of them are actually doing what their job titles suggest.

While The Night Agent is more fast-paced than The Night Manager, the two shows complement each other perfectly on television. The Night Agent doesn’t build suspense as slowly as The Night Manager, but it’s still incredibly gripping and exciting.

Now that season 3 is almost here, Netflix has confirmed that another season of The Night Agent is already planned. Because the action series has become so popular, we can expect even more seasons in the future. It’s a show that continues to deliver exciting content.

6. Grand Hotel

2019

Led by Demián Bichir – known recently for his role in the hit 2025 horror film Black Phone 2 – this limited series is a slow-burn mystery centered around strange events at a family-run resort in Miami Beach. While it feels very different from The Night Manager, the two shows explore similar themes and ideas.

Fans of The Night Manager will likely recognize many of the shady characters appearing in the Florida beach scenes of Grand Hotel. While the drama isn’t quite as intense and has a more colorful look, it’s still a very captivating show.

5. A Perfect Spy

1987

This British TV series is based on one of John le Carré’s most famous novels and served as the inspiration for The Night Manager. The main character, Jonathan Pine, is similar to the complex and unreliable antihero of the novel, Magnus Pym, though Pym is more openly deceitful.

Fans of The Night Manager will likely enjoy this show’s similar atmosphere of dark, stylish suspense and its uniquely British take on the world of espionage. The story of Magnus Pym, inspired by author John le Carré’s own time as a spy, is particularly compelling.

4. The Little Drummer Girl

2018

Unlike the adaptation of A Perfect Spy, The Little Drummer Girl takes a very different approach to John le Carré’s novel. This often-overlooked spy thriller, featuring Florence Pugh, is beautifully made. The miniseries deliberately revels in its complex plot, yet always feels completely in control of the narrative.

Like the acclaimed series The Night Manager, The Little Drummer Girl is a visually stunning and incredibly tense spy thriller that deserves to be considered one of the best in television history. Hopefully, the creators will revisit the series for a tenth-anniversary revival in 2028, similar to how David Farr and Susanne Bier have brought it back through Prime Video.

3. Babylon Berlin

2017–Present

Babylon Berlin is a stunning spy drama and one of the greatest neo-noir TV series ever made. The show is set in 1920s Berlin, during the turbulent Weimar Republic, and follows a police inspector who goes undercover to stop a dangerous blackmail scheme.

If you enjoy shows like Peaky Blinders or classic spy dramas in the style of John le Carré, Babylon Berlin is definitely worth seeking out – if you can find it streaming outside of Germany. It’s become a long-running series – the second longest on our list – with a fifth season coming soon.

2. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

1979

While the movie with Gary Oldman and Colin Firth is excellent, the original 1979 miniseries starring Alec Guinness as George Smiley is the definitive screen adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. This series essentially created the modern British spy show and remains the gold standard for all other adaptations of John le Carré’s work.

Tom Hiddleston is incredibly charming as Jonathan Pine, but he hasn’t quite reached the legendary status of Alec Guinness for those who grew up loving classic spy stories. This adaptation of Le Carré’s famous novel is as good as – and just as sleek as – any modern spy thriller you’ll find.

1. Slow Horses

2022–Present

Even a beloved classic like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has to acknowledge that Slow Horses is the best spy show currently on television. Based on Mick Herron’s Slough House novels, the series follows a group of MI5 agents who’ve been relegated to the most insignificant jobs.

I have to say, it’s amazing how the team of misfits at Slough House ended up handling the most gripping, high-pressure cases in the entire UK intelligence world! While it feels a little different in style than The Night Manager, Slow Horses absolutely nails everything that makes a John le Carré story so brilliant. Honestly, it’s become the benchmark for spy thrillers on TV – it’s just that good.

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2026-02-15 03:03