If you loved
Central Intelligence
Film · 2016
You loved Central Intelligence because it places an ordinary person into a high-stakes world where their mundane background becomes their greatest asset.
Books on the same thread
Spy School
Stuart Gibbs · Book
Explores: Coming of Age, Underdog Story, Espionage Training.
If Central Intelligence hooked you with the thrill of an underdog thrust into international espionage, you will enjoy this story of a boy mistakenly recruited into a junior agency training program.
Spy School
Stuart Gibbs · Book
Explores: imposter syndrome, competence porn, underdog hero.
Like the unexpected transition from accountant to spy in Central Intelligence, this narrative captures the same underdog appeal as a normal child navigates the complex world of covert intelligence operations.
Spy School
Stuart Gibbs · Book
Explores: undercover operations, mistaken identity, coming-of-age.
The transition from an ordinary life to a secret agent role mirrors the journey in Central Intelligence, making this tale of a boy entering a spy academy a natural next step.
Series on the same thread
SPY x FAMILY
Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Central Intelligence: Action Comedy.
Much like the unlikely partnership that drives the humor in Central Intelligence, this story finds comedy in the fish-out-of-water dynamic of people hiding their true identities to maintain a facade.
Chuck
Josh Schwartz · Series · 2007
Shares 2 threads with Central Intelligence: Spy Comedy, Action Comedy.
If you enjoyed the way Central Intelligence thrusts a regular person into international danger, you will find this story of a computer geek becoming a vital government asset equally entertaining.
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Explores: Artificial Intelligence, Surveillance State, Moral Ambiguity.
While Central Intelligence balances humor and action, this series explores a similar theme of an outsider utilizing specialized training to navigate a high-stakes world of justice and hidden government operations.
Slow Horses
Series · 2022
Explores: Underdog Story, Bureaucratic Incompetence, Redemption.
Central Intelligence thrives on the collision between mundane life and espionage, a feeling you will recognize in this portrayal of a dysfunctional team navigating the complexities of the British intelligence world.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Joe Rogan Experience
Joe Rogan · Podcast · 2026
Explores: intellectual curiosity, unfiltered dialogue, lifestyle exploration.
If Central Intelligence hit, The Joe Rogan Experience shares the thread.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
If Central Intelligence hit, Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Central Intelligence about an accountant?
Yes, Central Intelligence follows the life of Calvin Joyner, a mild-mannered accountant. His mundane routine changes when he reconnects with a high school friend and becomes involved in the world of international espionage.
How does Calvin Joyner get involved in espionage in Central Intelligence?
In Central Intelligence, Calvin Joyner is thrust into the world of international espionage after reconnecting with an awkward friend from his high school days through Facebook and meeting up with him in person.
Does Central Intelligence feature a high school reunion element?
Central Intelligence centers on the reconnection between Calvin Joyner and an awkward pal from his high school glory days. Their meeting after many years serves as the catalyst for the thrilling events that follow in the story.
What is the premise of Central Intelligence?
Central Intelligence tells the story of an accountant whose life takes an unexpectedly thrilling turn. After reconnecting with an old high school friend, he is pulled away from his mundane daily existence and into the dangerous world of international espionage.