If you loved
Get Smart
Peter Segal · Film · 2008
You loved Get Smart for the hilarious tension between over-the-top espionage stakes and the endearingly incompetent heroes caught in the middle.
Start with the source
The source
Get Smart
Buck Henry · Series · 1965
Books on the same thread
The Recovery Agent
Janet Evanovich · Book · 2022
Explores: treasure hunting, high-stakes pursuit, unlikely partnership.
If you enjoyed the chaotic partnership in Get Smart, you will appreciate this high-stakes hunt that mirrors the blend of wild adventure and unlikely character dynamics found in Maxwell Smart's world.
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover
Ally Carter · Book · 2009
Explores: Secret identity, Friendship, High school.
Like the secret agent world in Get Smart, this story features a protagonist navigating the high-pressure life of a spy while balancing a cover identity against the threat of being exposed.
Catch-22
Joseph Heller · Book · 1961
Explores: Bureaucratic absurdity, Existential dread, The insanity of war.
Get Smart fans will recognize the bureaucratic absurdity here, as both stories use satire to highlight the overwhelming and often illogical nature of high-level institutions and their failing missions.
To the Nines
Janet Evanovich · Book · 2004
Explores: Bounty Hunter, Female Protagonist, Mobsters.
Much like the humorous action found in Get Smart, this book delivers a fast-paced mystery where a capable protagonist must navigate dangerous underworld figures while managing wild, unpredictable personal situations.
Series on the same thread
Chuck
Josh Schwartz · Series · 2007
Shares 2 threads with Get Smart: Spy Comedy, Action Comedy.
This show captures the exact fish-out-of-water dynamic of Get Smart, featuring an ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances who must rely on wits and luck to survive the spy game.
SPY x FAMILY
Series · 2022
Shares 2 threads with Get Smart: Action Comedy, Parody.
Fans of Get Smart will enjoy this satirical take on espionage, where a makeshift family must protect their secret identities while navigating the same absurd dangers Maxwell Smart faced daily.
Psych
Steve Franks · Series · 2006
Explores: Fake Psychic, Incompetent Detective, Father-Son Relationship.
If you loved the incompetent hero trope in Get Smart, you will enjoy this series, which focuses on a quirky character using a ruse to navigate high-stakes investigations with humor.
MacGyver
Lee David Zlotoff · Series · 1985
Explores: Ingenuity, Problem-solving, Non-violence.
Much like Maxwell Smart, MacGyver relies on his own unique brand of resourcefulness to thwart world-threatening plans, proving that a clever mind is often more effective than standard spy equipment.
Podcasts on the same thread
SmartLess
Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett · Podcast · 2026
Explores: camaraderie, spontaneity, shared life experiences.
The camaraderie and spontaneous banter found in this podcast mirror the chemistry between the partners in Get Smart, offering a similar sense of organic hilarity and shared connection.
Stugotz and Company
iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: absurdism, unfiltered opinion, camaraderie.
If the irreverent spirit of Get Smart appealed to you, this podcast provides a similar dose of absurdist commentary and unfiltered personality that keeps the tone light and unpredictable.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the 2008 Get Smart movie a direct sequel to the 1965 TV series?
The 2008 Get Smart film is an adaptation of the original 1965 television series rather than a direct sequel. It features the same premise of the spy agency Control and its conflict with the crime syndicate KAOS, but it functions as a standalone cinematic reimagining of the source material.
What is the premise of the 2008 Get Smart movie?
In Get Smart, the U.S. spy agency Control is attacked by the crime syndicate KAOS. Because the identities of all secret agents are compromised, the Chief promotes analyst Maxwell Smart to field agent. He partners with Agent 99 to thwart the world-domination plans of KAOS.
Do I need to watch the 1965 Get Smart series to understand the 2008 movie?
You do not need to watch the 1965 Get Smart series to understand the 2008 film. The movie establishes its own narrative regarding the promotion of Maxwell Smart to field agent and his partnership with Agent 99, allowing viewers to follow the plot without prior knowledge of the original show.
Who is Maxwell Smart partnered with in the 2008 Get Smart movie?
In the 2008 Get Smart movie, Maxwell Smart is partnered with Agent 99. She is a veteran and capable spy who is the only operative whose identity remains intact after the nefarious crime syndicate KAOS attacks the U.S. spy agency Control and compromises the identities of other secret agents.