Bourne, Bond, and Best Espionage Movies (Feat. Matt Gourley) | Bley’s Arcade
Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend co-host and espionage expert Matt Gourley joins Aaron Bleyaert, Andrew Gruss and Eduardo Perez to break down the best espionage movies of all time from James Bond, Jason Bourne, Tinker Taylor, and everything in between – and the boys debate whether or not Mrs. Doubtfire counts as espionage or not!
There were too many great honorable mentions in this episode – so in case you’re craving more spy action, here’s Matt Gourley’s full list:
The Third Man
The Lives of Others
Three Days of the Condor
Notorious
Marathon Man
Munich
The Day of the Jackal
The Deadly Affair
Red Sparrow
What great espionage flicks did we miss? Leave your faves in the comments below!
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0:00 – Intro with Matt Gourley
5:26 – The origin of “The Mole”
8:00 – Arcade rules: What counts as “Espionage”
15:15 – #3s: North by Northwest, Atomic Blonde, True Lies, Haywire
29:00 – #2s: Casino Royale, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Mr. & Mrs Smith, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
45:30 – #1: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Bourne Utimatium, Mission Impossible: Fallout, Ronin
59:00 Honorable mentions: Argo, Real Men, Spies Like Us, Austin Powers
1:04:30 – [Easter Egg]
@gfixler
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
This was a great mall walk.
@patrick5729
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Thinker Tailor is also a well regarded TV series.
@patrick5729
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Best episode so far. Interesting topic and guest.
@charlesedward5047
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
The best spy thriller ever ever, above all others in the history of the world is…Cloak & Dagger from 1984 with Dabney Coleman 😃😁
@Albaz616
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Bley, you know telling people about your technical difficulties makes us trust even less??
@thatguywillt
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
WHAT'S THE COLOR OF THE BOATHOUSE AT HEREFORD??????
@mohdnorazmil
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
It is shameful that the panel didn't mention the ONLY TRULY HOLLYWOOD Black spy movie.. UNDERCOVER BROTHER 😂😂😂😂
@patrick5729
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Make Gourley a permanent member of this podcast.
@PaulMcCannWebBuilder
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
I was going to start typing before they started talking about 'Sneakers'. Redford, Poitier, Kingsley. And River Pheonix.
@GuardianOwl
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
I agree Ronin, is great, a spy movie masquerading as a heist movie. They were all warriors of the Cold War, trained and paid to spy for their governments, but now that the Cold War is over, the state no longer needs so many spies. They are like the titular characters in the story that the film takes its name from, Ronin, masterless warriors of a sovereign power. What do you do with yourself now? It's the epidemy of show, don't tell. The movie doesn't tell you that (most) of the people are highly competent operators, it's just shows how they cleanly and professionally get out of a situation gone wrong. Pretty much its only big flaw is the male and female pairing have less than zero chemistry.
@mahadlodhi
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Haha "Social Network is a website movie." These guys😂😂
@LongIslandPizzaGuy
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
And what about Charlie Angel's
@thatguywillt
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
I'm so glad Sneakers got the mention! Absolutely love, love, love that movie.
@westudi
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
"Anything prior to 1995 can't hold up." – worst take ever. So bad it calls into question any opinion uttered by the same lips.
@thatguywillt
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Eduardo is definitely watching futbol while nobody is paying attention.
@ryanjapan
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
I kept waiting to hear a nod for Bill Murray's The Man Who Knew Too Little
@Nuumet
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
People crap on the comedy Casino Royale way too much. It’s British camp in the 60’s, absurd, pre-Monty python, spoof of the Bond franchise. David Niven, Peter Sellers, Orson Wells, Woody Allen etc. Good music and the Look of Love song.
@rocksedge2000
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Gourls, what are your thoughts on the game, 007 FIrst Light?
@LongIslandPizzaGuy
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Someone mention The last kiss Goodnight!
@TheRealHambone
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
The Wrong Guy – a young office worker goes on the run after he unwittingly stumbles upon the assassination of his boss. Chased by the hit man and an FBI task force, this innocent man only brings danger and intrigue to a sleepy, rural town.
@miggseye
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
So disappointed there was no mention of Three Days of the Condor
@ohotnitza
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Oh wow tower records. I forgot about them!! 📼
@Nieghorn
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Redford mentioned… and no Spy Game? (I will delete if they do mention it.) Our Man in Havana, The 39 Steps, Three Days of the Condor, The IPCRESS File are some older ones worth watching.
@geobert2024
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
The Ipcress File
@NorthernShrew
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Three Days of the Condor is the absolute best. Second choice, Hunt for the Red October.
@danchiappe
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
“The lives of others” is an incredible spy movie. 2007 movie set in East Germany. Highly recommended.
@Grumpy_Canadian1
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
How did you miss The Ipcress File? – Harry Palmer was the real anti-Bond and Caine and Connery were real life best friends
@mattyisinNJ
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Sneakers. Hasn't aged real well due to old technology, but it's a great cast and a hilarious, awesome movie that's gotten kinda overlooked.
@thenewclassic4
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
I LOVE THE MR AND MRS SMITH TV SHOW
@JW4815162342
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Superego is the greatest thing that has ever happened on this planet.
@christopher57475
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Cary Grant was a really engaging presence in his films. Not a spy movie but one of my favourite films is Operation Petticoat.
@willilucas1
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Would love to know what Gourley thinks about the new 007 video game.
@eralehm
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
You know, guys, there are films in other languages than English. Including some very good spy movies – better than most of the crap movies you mention.
@Wborogoal478
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
One of my favorite parts about Tinker tailor is the final song. Great cover.
And my tip for watching it is to watch with the subtitles on.
@zakimatienmuzix1064
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Would it be funny if this podcast is called Aaron Bleart Has a Friend? Or will it suit Jordan Schlansky better?
@danieljohanns1038
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
I don't think they are the same.
@danieljohanns1038
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Are assassin movies the same as spy movies?
@Gtomer
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
There is The Spy with Sasha Baron Cohen.
It's based on a true story.
I recommend it.
@Wborogoal478
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Tinker Tailor is a good one
@colinbowes7490
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Someone needs to give some love to Ronin (1998) with Robert DeNiro and Jean Reno.
@yosipcisneros7091
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
This is like a sandwich with no ham.
@spewp
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
I am surprised there was zero mention of any movie featuring Jack Ryan and the so-called "Ryanverse". Both Alec Baldwin & Harrison Ford were excellent versions of the character. Patriot Games, Hunt for Red October, Clear and Present Danger and even Ben Affleck's take on Ryan, Sum of All Fears, deserves consideration. 🤯
@mdnghtdesperado
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
As someone with very similar taste to Gourley I've never felt more ragebaited than "anything prior to 1995 just can't hold up"
@avimoneyy
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
I love you Aaron
@nithinlakshmanan328
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Your best episode.
@QuasarSniffer
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Anyone who says there aren't any good movies made before 1995 shouldn't be allowed to talk about movies.
@VP-ed7kk
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Gourley in his ELEMENT
@chadbettin9468
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Bley, I have to respectfully ask why Firefox is not in your top 3.
Literally the last spy film of it's era and Clint effing Eastwood playing against PTSD as well as the Russians… I could go on for hours about that film.
@ElderScrollsConceptArt
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
love it! this popping up on my feed made my day!!
@Adam.Buckley
October 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Quit yelling!