Slick suits, high-octane stunts, and fiery explosions are all must-haves for any good spy movie hoping to compete with the James Bond franchise. In fact, if these elements aren’t in an espionage film, it's probably not worth watching in the first place. Specific aspects of plot, dialogue, and character portrayal further fuel the intensity of these super-charged cinematic feats. However, the staples of the spy genre must be in place for such things to land.

For decades, the James Bond Franchise has capitalized on a formula that proves successful over and over. Bond is the center of this enterprise, but many contenders have rolled up to the party with their own license to thrill. Boasting everything from gritty realism to ridiculous gadgets (even more outrageous than James Bond's toys), films like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Atomic Blonde have stolen the spotlight from 007.

The Bourne Identity (2002) The James...