Whether they end in a happily ever after or not, love stories are almost always present in spy dramas. The most noteworthy of all spies, James Bond, almost always gets the girl in the films, and the writing often uses her to service the titular character's plot in ways that are both big and small. For instance, Casino Royale (2006) is inarguably not only one of the best Bond and spy films, but it also features one of the most memorable romantic relationships, making Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) the catalyst for the type of spy Bond becomes. Still, the heartbreaking ending doesn't make the film a romance, and in recent years, so few place romance at the center. That is, until Steven Soderbergh's Black Bag (2025).
Black Bag is, without a shadow of a doubt, a romance, and for the viewers who want a guaranteed happy ending in the relationships they fall in love with, we've curated a specific list of unconventional spy dramas that effectively center on romance, as well as where to find them on streamers like Prime Video, Disney+, and more.
Black Bag (2025)
Deception and the absence of trust are fundamental themes within the spy drama, often leading characters to act on their own through decisions that negatively impact those they supposedly care about. Black Bag challenges this cliche by fully flipping it around to prove why Michael Fassbender's George Woodhouse and Cate Blanchett's Kathryn St. Jean are better spies because of their marriage and unwavering loyalty to each other. In every way, Black Bag is an original spy drama that's especially perfect for viewers who watched films like Clue (1985) and wondered, "Now what if they were coupled up?"
The film itself is a thrilling good time with a deliciously fun premise, but it's the romance that makes it so utterly fascinating. The romance sets a different standard and explores what happens when two people know one another so well that there's absolutely nothing they wouldn't do to protect each other. And while there are beats throughout the film where the writing makes us question the authenticity of the trust and adoration, the film subverts expectations in an admirable way to showcase that trust can and does exist in this field.
The Americans (2013-2018)
In every way where it matters, The Americans is a romance. Full of betrayals, a plethora of heartache, and one challenge after another, but still at its core, it's a story about an arranged marriage that becomes something more. It's a thorough and breathtaking exploration of what happens when two people are not only forced together, but they're forced out of their country to play pretend, and how the ever-growing challenges in their careers as spies only make them a stronger pair.
The Americans is significantly darker and more brutal on all fronts than Black Bag, but the marriage between Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell's Phillip and Elizabeth Jennings is as enticing as the one between Kathryn and George, if not more. It's especially well-suited for viewers who want an authentic showcase of the marriage-of-convenience trope, and the type of series that shines for its decision not to kill off main characters in the end. The Americans is heartbreaking and profoundly heavy at times, but the romance makes every beat of it worth watching as it deep dives into what love, trust, and complex characters look like in a field that's dark by default.
Charade (1963)
Starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant, Charade is a bit more like Black Bag in the sense that there are lighter beats to combat the heavy subject matter. While the respective stars aren't in a marriage story, Charade is still an intriguing spy drama with a civilian that's chock-full of fun disguises, adventures in Paris, deception, joy, and a delightfully anticipated happy ending.
Charade is a must-watch because of the performances Hepburn and Grant bring to the forefront, but more importantly, because it's an all-around good time. Spies, in general, come with a sea of darkness, but the film cloaks a lot of it with distinct humor, sharp writing, and great chemistry that bounces off the screen. It's a lighter approach, but it's still equally excellent in its storytelling as all the properties in this list are.
Agent Carter (2015-2016)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is too long and too extensively complex for people who generally aren't fans of the superhero genre, but Agent Carter is the type of spy drama that viewers can hop right into, having only seen Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). And while a good chunk of the lore changes by the time Avengers: Endgame (2019) releases, romance fans can still watch it, let it end, and believe in the fact that the canon happy ending is one that will last. If you don't watch the rest, then who's to say it doesn't?
Agent Carter brilliantly follows Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter after Steve Rogers' "death" and thrusts her into a world where the men around her don't take her seriously. Set in the '40s, post-World War II, the period piece explores a woman's place in a predominantly male-dominated field, all while subtly and carefully proposing a second chance at love with Enver Gjokaj's Daniel Sousa. Though the series was tragically canceled after the second season, the two share a kiss at the end, signaling that she's found an equal in a person who respects and values her. Fans of slow burn romances are especially bound to appreciate Agent Carter.
Alias (2001-2006)
Perfect for fans of procedurals and early 2000s nostalgia, Alias is a top-tier, brilliantly clever, and thoroughly engrossing spy drama that shines with one of the best slow burns to date. Yes, still. For five seasons, Alias keeps viewers on their toes, making us wonder whether Jennifer Garner's Sydney Bristow and Michael Vartan's Michael Vaughn will finally get their happy ending after years of heartbreak, drama, and questionable decisions. With shows and movies in the early 2000s, character deaths were inevitable. Viewers would invest in seasons only to lose their favorite by the end, resulting in a distrust that made watching certain dramas harder. It's still prevalent today with procedurals, but Alias at least manages to give viewers a bit of joy after all the pain.
It's an incredibly fun series despite the heavy subject matter, and there are beats throughout that are still fantastic pop culture moments for romance fans like Sydney and Vaughn's first kiss. For viewers who loved the level of trust in Black Bag, Alias is the next best thing.
Get Smart (2008)
There are very few movies and TV shows starring Steve Carell that aren't fantastic, and pairing him with a show-stopping actress like Anne Hathaway was a guaranteed way of making Get Smart a hit. Based on the ‘60s sitcom of the same title, Get Smart is, inarguably, a romance. A bonkers one, but a romance nevertheless. While the romantic relationship between Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 is a bit more prevalent in the series, the movie delivers the type of light-hearted comedy that brings undeniable levity to the spy drama.
For viewers wanting a full escape without the heavy subject matter, then Get Smart is the best way to go. Carell and Hathaway's chemistry is delightfully perfect, funny, and genuinely captivating from start to finish, making the whole film an absolute blast.
