What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThis Means War
McG · Film · 2012
If you loved This Means War, start with The Agency: Central Intelligence (Jez Butterworth, 2024) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to This Means War across media.
If you loved This Means War, you will enjoy these stories that thrive on high-stakes competition, hidden identities, and romantic tension.
Books on the same thread
The Secret War with Iran
Ronen Bergman · Book · 2008
Explores: Covert Operations, Terrorism, International Relations.
While This Means War uses the CIA as a backdrop for romance, this book explores the reality of international espionage and covert operations that define the agency lifestyle.
War
Bob Woodward · Book
Explores: Executive Power, International Conflict, Crisis Management.
If the geopolitical stakes of the CIA operatives in This Means War intrigued you, this investigation provides a deeper look into the actual global conflicts shaping our modern world.
Atonement
Ian McEwan · Book · 2007
Explores: Guilt and Atonement, Childhood Trauma, Class Conflict.
Though far more dramatic than the comedy of This Means War, you will find a similar focus on how personal choices and perceptions alter the course of intimate relationships.
City on Fire
Don Winslow · Book
Explores: loyalty and betrayal, intergenerational conflict, criminal empire.
Just as the two protagonists in This Means War turn their professional skills toward a personal feud, this saga centers on rival families engaged in an escalating, high-stakes war.
Series on the same thread
The Agency: Central Intelligence
Jez Butterworth · Series · 2024
Explores: Secret Identity, Forbidden Love, International Intrigue.
This series mirrors the central conflict of This Means War by forcing a secret agent to navigate the dangerous intersection of his professional mission and his romantic history.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
Series · 2019
Explores: Tsundere, Intellectual Competition, Pride.
The high-stakes dating competition found in This Means War is perfectly captured here, as two brilliant rivals use their intellect to outmaneuver one another in matters of the heart.
SPY x FAMILY
Series · 2022
Explores: Found Family, Secret Identity, Fish Out of Water.
You will appreciate how this show balances the espionage thrills of This Means War with a comedic focus on characters who must maintain elaborate secrets from one another.
NCIS
Don McGill · Series · 2003
Explores: Team Dynamics, Justice, Loyalty.
If you enjoyed the procedural element of the CIA operatives in This Means War, this series offers a consistent look at how special agents handle complex investigations and loyalty.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Rest Is Classified
Podcast
Explores: Cold War, Intelligence agencies, Covert operations.
This podcast peels back the curtain on the real espionage world that inspired the life of the characters in This Means War, focusing on actual covert operations and intelligence.
Story Warz
Podcast
Explores: deception, storytelling, wit.
This show captures the competitive spirit of This Means War by pitting comedians against each other in a game of wit, deception, and storytelling for the ultimate victory.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is This Means War a spy movie?
Yes, This Means War features two top CIA operatives as the primary protagonists. The plot centers on these agents using their professional skills and resources to wage an epic battle against one another after discovering they are both dating the same woman.
What is the premise of This Means War?
The premise of This Means War involves two top CIA operatives who become rivals. Their professional relationship turns into an epic battle when they realize they are both romantically involved with the same woman, leading them to compete for her attention.
Who directed This Means War?
This Means War was directed by McG. The 2012 film follows two CIA operatives who engage in a conflict against each other after discovering they are dating the same woman, utilizing their unique skill sets to outmaneuver one another.
Is This Means War about two CIA agents?
Yes, the plot of This Means War focuses on two top CIA operatives. The conflict arises when these agents discover they are dating the same woman, which triggers an epic battle between them as they compete for her affection.