What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSpy
Simeon Goulden · Series · 2011
If you loved Spy, start with Spy (Paul Feig, 2015) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 2 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Spy across media.
If you loved the way Spy balances high-stakes espionage with the messy, relatable pressures of family and personal life.
Books on the same thread
Spy x Family, Vol. 1
Tatsuya Endo · Book · 2020
Shares a thread with Spy: secret identity.
Like the protagonist of Spy, the characters here must expertly navigate the tension between intense secret government missions and the daily demands of maintaining a domestic family life.
Spy School
Stuart Gibbs · Book
Explores: imposter syndrome, competence porn, underdog hero.
This story mirrors the underdog spirit found in Spy, as an unlikely character is thrust into a world of covert operations where they must learn to survive immediately.
Spy x Family, Vol. 5
Tatsuya Endo · Book · 2021
Shares a thread with Spy: secret identity.
Similar to Spy, this volume highlights the humor found in the intersection of espionage and domesticity, proving that even a master spy struggles with the chaos of family.
Spy X Family, Vol. 12
Tatsuya Endo · Book
Shares a thread with Spy: secret identity.
The stakes feel just as personal as they did in Spy, focusing on the vulnerability that comes with keeping a double life hidden while managing complex personal relationships.
Films on the same thread
Spy
Paul Feig · Film · 2015
Shares a thread with Spy: Fish Out of Water.
This film captures the same fish-out-of-water energy that defined Spy, following a desk-bound worker as they suddenly find themselves deep within a high-stakes, dangerous undercover mission.
My Spy
Peter Segal · Film · 2020
Shares a thread with Spy: Fish Out of Water.
Just as the father in Spy had to balance his job with his precocious son, this film features an operative struggling to manage a relationship with a clever child.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Rest Is Classified
Podcast
Explores: Cold War, Intelligence agencies, Covert operations.
While Spy uses comedy to explore the intelligence world, this podcast offers a grounded look at the real-life covert operations and secrets that inspire such entertaining spy stories.
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
This investigative journey echoes the character-driven focus of Spy, highlighting how one person's eccentric life can unexpectedly unravel into a complex mystery that demands immediate and total attention.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Spy a comedy about a single father?
Yes, Spy follows an underachieving single father who accidentally becomes an MI5 agent. He must balance his new government responsibilities with his personal life while attempting to win custody of his son from his ex-wife.
What is the main conflict in Spy?
The main conflict in Spy involves the protagonist trying to keep his secret MI5 employment hidden while simultaneously navigating a difficult legal battle with his ex-wife to maintain custody of his precocious son.
Does Spy feature an MI5 agent?
Yes, the plot of Spy centers on an underachieving single father who inadvertently becomes an MI5 agent. He is forced to manage his secret life as a government operative while dealing with his family obligations.
How does the protagonist in Spy handle his family life?
In Spy, the protagonist struggles to manage his family life while working for MI5. He must keep his government job a secret from his ex-wife as they compete for custody of their son throughout the series.