Several CIA-oriented action thrillers likeThe Recruitare available to stream across various platforms. Following theseason 2 finale ofThe Recruit, which was notably only six episodes compared to season 1’s eight, viewers will likely be looking for other comparable series to watch next.The Recruitseason 2 foundNoah Centineo’s CIA lawyer Owen Hendricksin the middle of another graymail situation, which leads him yet again into a dangerous international conflict followingThe Recruitseason 1 finale’s cliffhanger ending.
Series likeThe Recruitmay seem quite common but truly successful shows in the action-thriller genres are much harder to come by.The Recruit’sblend of comedy, espionage, and romancecreates an addictive blend of subgenres enhanced by an outstanding cast. This gives everyone something to enjoy aboutThe Recruit, whether it be Owen’s various love interests or the intense CIA missions and threats that emerge throughout.The Recruit’s78% Rotten Tomatoes score proves that it’s one of the best original spy thrillers on the platform, setting up the likelihood ofThe Recruitseason 3.
The Night Agentis right next toThe Recruitas one of the best action-thriller series on Netflix. Even thoughThe Night Agentseason 1 premiered months afterThe Recruitseason 1, season 2 was released just weeks beforeThe Recruitseason 2 in January 2025, making them the perfect action-thriller Netflix companion pieces.The Night Agentstars Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland, who starts as a low-level FBI agent working at the White House until he becomes involved in a conspiracy that leads him directly to the Oval Office.
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WhileThe Recruitfocuses on the CIA andThe Night Agentis centered around the FBI, both series follow similar structures of political thrillers that make them uniquely different but similar enough to inspire crossover fans. WithThe Night AgentandThe Recruitholding the number 2 and 3 spotson Netflix at the time of writing, it’s clear that they are meant to be side-by-side counterparts appealing to the same audience.
Bodyguardis one of the best conspiracy thrillers available on Netflix. Starring Richard Madden and Sophie Rundle,Bodyguardtells a gripping story of survival fueled by political intrigue and the persistent threat of danger via terrorism. Like Owen inThe Recruit, Richard Madden’s David Budd finds himself thick in the web of a politically charged conflict inThe Night Agentthatforces him to choose between his values and his sense of duty.
Released in 2018,Bodyguardreceived an impressive 93% on Rotten Tomatoes andwas nominated for two Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. While there has long been speculation about aBodyguardseason 2, nothing has been confirmed. Creator Jed Mercurio has also written other great police procedurals, likeLine of Duty.
Based on the books by Lee Child,Reacheris one of the most popular streaming series not only on Prime Video but on all streaming platforms.Reacherhelped catapult Alan Ritchson to fame as the titular Jack Reacher, a former military policeman who solves crimes and employs his own brand of vigilante justice.Reacheris celebrated for itshighly-bingeable story and outstanding leading performance from Ritchson, who feels like he was born to play the part.
WithReacherseason 3just around the corner with a release date of June 29, 2025, now is the perfect time to catch up onReacherseasons 1 and 2 or to start the series for those who haven’t had the chance yet.Reacher is more of a one-man army type of protagonist, while Owen constantly stumbles into predicaments only to magically get let off the hook every time inThe Recruit. While the characters are quite different, there’s something equally compelling about each of the action thriller series.
Lionessis one of multiple Taylor Sheridan shows at Paramount+, which also includes the recently released popular modern WesternLandman. Lioness has a more gritty and realistic tone thanThe Recruitand is more focused on the military and armed combat forces than the popular Netflix series. That being said,Lionesshas an outstanding cat featuring Zoe Saldaña, Nicole Kidman, Michael Kelly, and Morgan Freeman, andsimilarly portrays several CIA operatives.
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For viewers who enjoyedThe Recruitbut may have become frustrated by some of the farfetched scenarios and unanswered questions in the series,Lionessseeks to offer a more authentic portrayal of the CIA, which makes it deeply engaging but also more dense. SinceThe Recruitis more action-packed and funny, viewers may findLionessa bit too mature or serious but it is still one of the best current CIA shows out there.
It’s remarkably been seven years sinceTom Clancy’s Jack RyanstarringThe Office’sJohn Krasinski first premiered on Amazon Prime Video. Considered a sort-of genre precursor toReacher’ssuccess,Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryanis an adaptation of the classic novels by the celebrated author Tom Clancy.Krasinski delivers a career-altering performanceas Jack Ryan, a CIA operative whose intelligence and earnestness, like Owen Hendricks inThe Recruit, gets him into hot water.
For fans ofThe Recruitwho haven’t seenTom Clancy’s Jack Ryanyet, all four seasons are available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, meaning viewers won’t have to wait years at a time to see what happens next. Similar to Owen,Jack Ryan starts behind the desk at the CIA but is thrown into the fieldfor essentially being too smart for his own good.
All ten episodes ofThe Agencystarring Michael Fassbender are now available to stream on Paramount+ with Showtime. The series is tonally and narratively opposite toThe Recruit, aimed at an older demographic and packed with so much exposition and contextual information that viewers may have to take notes to keep up with its plot. That being said,The Agencyis intensely gripping, mostly due to Fassbender’s stunning performanceas Martian, a seasoned CIA operative pulled out of a mission to help find a compromised agent.
Fassbender is joined by a stellarcast inThe Agency, which includes Richard Gere, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, Katherine Waterson, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, and John Magaro.Fassbender gives one of his career-best performances on the heels of David Fincher’sThe Killer, which is reason enough to check out the no-nonsense high-concept CIA series.
Paradiseis a newly released political conspiracy thriller now streaming on Hulu. Released just two days beforeThe Recruitseason 2,Paradisemade its series debut on July 27, 2025. Starring Sterling K. Brown andcreated byThis Is Uscreator Dan Fogelman,Paradiseblends political drama with futuristic sci-fi similar to the popular Apple seriesSilo. Brown plays Xavier, a Secret Service member who is sworn to protect the United States President, played by James Marsden.
The 8-partParadisereleases new episodes every Tuesday, exclusively on Hulu. Its season 1 finale will be released on July 29, 2025. While not so much of a CIA thriller asThe Recruitis,Paradiseoffers more of an intellectual investigation into a post-apocalyptic “paradise” following a cataclysmic, world-ending event.Similar to series likeWestword, part of the intrigue ofParadiseis discovering the futuristic story world and figuring out how it operates.
Prime Targetis a conspiracy mystery seriesthat draws comparisons to heady thrillers such as Sherlock. While not intertwined in the world of elite government agencies and espionage groups,Prime Targetoffers a complex and intriguing premise that is wrapped in a major international conspiracy rooted in world-class academia. AlthoughPrime Targetdoesn’t have the best reviews, it’s still enjoyable to watch another rising actor, Leo Woodall, in a sophisticated leading role.
Despite the mixed reception,Prime Targettells a compelling story that offers a lot of suspense and unexpected twists, similar toThe Recruit. It’s not a perfect series, and neither isThe Recruit, which makes them more or less in the same category of action thriller.Prime Targetleaves viewers with lots to think abouteven if it doesn’t wrap up all of its loose ends.
Keira Knightley leads a stellar cast inBlack Doves, which combines MI5 and CIA agents along with a covert agency known as the Black Doves. Knightley’s Helen Webb feels like a character written specifically with its lead actress in mind, showcasing her signature charm while giving her ample opportunities to kick some a** as well. Supported by Ben Whishaw, Sarah Lancashire, and Andrew Buchan,Knightley madeBlack Dovesone of the best new shows on Netflixin late 2024.
The Black Doves are a group of spies who don’t work for any particular agency or nation but rather for the highest bidder. Knightley’s Helen Webb is assigned to gather intel on her husband, Buchan’s Wallace Webb, which Lancashire’s Reed then sells to various officials, even those that may be considered enemies of the United Kingdom and the United States. It’sone of Knightley’s most infectious and fun rolesin recent years.
Even thoughThe Recruithas become quite popular on Netflix,The Diplomatremains the streaming platform’s most prestigious political drama that is currently in its rotation.Starring Keri Russell as U.S. Ambassador Kate Wyler,The Diplomatfollows Kate as she tries to maintain peaceful negotiations with a hotheaded Prime Minister, Nicol Trowbridge, who may be up to foul play. Russell delivers a grounded performance despite the political scale of the series, making it one of her best career roles.
WithThe Diplomatseason 3already on the way in 2025, it’s a great option for a quick binge that exists in the realm ofThe Recruit. While not necessarily focused on spycraft or the CIA,The Diplomatdigs into the formal positions of the executive branch, portraying Presidents, Vice Presidents, and other influential government officials. Derivative of series such as The West Wing and House of Cards,The Diplomatis arguably a step aboveThe Recruitand is the best ongoing political drama on Netflix.
