Ex-CIA Officer Breaks Down Spy Movies
Former CIA intelligence officer John Kiriakou rewatches 16 spy movies and reveals just how accurate Hollywood’s take on the covert really is. From Sam Mendes’ first James Bond movie in _Skyfall_ to _Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol_ (yes, the one Tom Cruise climbed the Burj Khalifa for), Kiriakou breaks down scenes from the most popular spy movies.
Watch more from GQ | The Breakdown: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0hKMB1-xkc8bPJ_N9BoGNnPBOFG1ZSZf&si=JbPebbDNlaS34CJy
#CIA #Spy #JamesBond
00:00 – John Kiriakou breaks down spy movies
00:22 – The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
02:19 – The Night Manager (2016– )
04:20 – Spy Kids (2001)
05:29 – Skyfall (2012)
09:25 – Tenet (2020)
12:21 – The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
15:08 – Agent Cody Banks (2003)
17:09 – Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
18:29 – 24 (2001–2010)
19:59 – Burn Notice (2007–2013)
21:30 – Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
25:08 – Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (2018–2023)
26:50 – Argo (2012)
28:55 – The Good Shepherd (2006)
32:18 – Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
33:58 – Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
*Credits:*
Director: Jeremy Clowney
Director of Photography: Jack Belisle
Editor: Phil Ceconi
Talent: John Kiriakou
Senior Producer: Michael Beckert
Creative Producer: Camille Ramos
Production Manager: Jen Santos, Evie Roop
Talent Booker: Jenna Caldwell
Camera Operator: Miguel Zamora
Gaffer: David Djaco
Sound Mixer: Sean Paulsen
Production Assistant: Erica Palmieri
Post Production Supervisor: Jess Dunn
Post Production Coordinator: Stella Shortino
Supervising Editor: Rob Lombardi
Additional Editor: Gerard Zarra
Assistant Editor: Andy Morell
Global Head of Video: Leo Fernandez
Executive Producer: Cara Marceante
Director, Creative: Nick Collett
Director, Programming: Jeremy Clowney
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@Zdenek-r5d
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Źànītôr
@mirukosupreme1832
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
He needs to review burn after reading just for the lols
@joseph-ge5om
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
what is wrong with these idiots
Movies Films are for entertainment yes made to entertain and Film makers are allowed Artistic License to make the Movie More ENTERTAINING
@cristofmable3835
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
He’s 100% getting like 100K rates for these interviews Atp
@igotaction
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
No Spy Game??? Dinner Out is a go, helluva way to talk to your wife.
@protonemilia
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
FYI, this CIA officer, John Kiriakou, in this video actually went to federal prison for 30 months because he exposed a covert operatives identity making them vulnerable to being murdered. The fact that GQ used him (out of all CIA operatives they could've hired to do this interview) is shockingly unprofessional and poor choice making. This guy literally put another operative's life in mortal danger (and got convicted for it) and GQ just paid him to consult for this video. Insane.
@Marc42
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
This guys is a Russian shill btw… :/
@isaiahduran4213
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Genius idea for a video
@v-trigger6137
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
he mentioned the show The Americans being so accurate on this sleepercell idea.. So why didn't they breakdown that
@pericbowen4958
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
At 3:15… Tell that to the guys on Beirut… 😅🤣
@davisoaresalves5179
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Putin bot, this guy is.
@Komfortonset
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
21:29 bro definitely manufactured this relationship
@jimmydbarnes
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
disappointed tone Robert Redford was in Captain America?
@nestorperena8629
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
don't believe the CIA
@forsakenquery
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Armstrong was a test pilot's test pilot
@dvduwu
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Lol the way his face IMMEDIATELY darkened when he started explaining how Zero Dark Thirty violated the Espionage act is brilliant. The CIA flippantly violates this act themselves, and yet tried to ding John for it because he exposed their torture program. Perfectly understandable why he's be so bitter.
@mht525
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
24:00 bravo 👏
@LucyABCDCanadian
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Did I ever enjoy this 🕴️🙌
@brownnerd
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
John is on GQ now!!! Full circle!
@azizbekrayimjonov8312
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
CIA is cool if operates only in the US. Outside they're rats and terrorists as other counties spies working outside of their country! There's no USA outside USA!
@SKRUBL0RD
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
So basically RadioShack existed to supply intelligence services, and dads just happened to also enjoy the stuff there.
@Skargar
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
They are really milking that guy
@RealityBoat
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
make john kiraku react to the feds in gta5
@Jayblazey
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Whats weird about the first seen is that theres no women in the crowd. That woulda been a redflag
@michaelsawiress9214
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
What is the truth of the intelligence films? Does everyone in the intelligence have to do the same action or there are differences? and what about the other departments such as : Psychology? what do they do?
@julieannsarabia
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
No Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?
@tylerdebo2467
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
John is a patriot
@danmar007
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
I loved Burn Notice. It's a great series.
@garymoe6172
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
0:28 bro pulled the same thing when he played Moriarty
@CassieDavis613
May 22, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Ben Affleck was so handsome in Argo.
Comments are closed.