Movies like Argylle: It’s common knowledge that “Argylle” was heavily panned upon its release. After baiting viewers with the sultry photos of Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa, the film didn’t do justice to its promise, even if it meant subverting the tropes of conventionally attractive spies. The script introduces multiple twists and turns throughout its duration that collectively make it incredibly shoddy. After a point, it becomes mind-numbing to experience its progress as a spy thriller, which becomes needlessly messy.
Despite its evident flaws, some viewers enjoyed “Argylle” as a silly, light-hearted spy drama featuring Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell as charming leads. Its unorthodox, whimsical nature, paired with Matthew Vaughn’s colorful, vibrant vision, appealed to a portion of viewers. Overall. though a mixed bag, “Argylle” must have left some viewers wanting more in the similar lane. Some of them may even want a signature Vaughn-style film with a better narrative. So, we’ve listed a couple of titles that would likely satisfy them.
Here are 7 movies to watch if you like “Argylle”:
1. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
A product of Matthew Vaughn’s imagination, “Kingsman: The Secret Service” is a fine mix of all of his usual sensibilities. Its frames are filled with fresh and vibrant colors. It follows an underdog who gets offered a chance to cross the class barrier and be a spy. This protagonist learns the ways of a new world under the mentorship of a veteran in his profession. He understands new things about himself and grows up to be a sophisticated version of himself as intended for the job.
“Argylle” tries to challenge and break the genre tropes associated with spy movies. “Kingsman: The Secret Service” follows a more-or-less conventional spy narrative through Vaughn’s usual style. It includes some unbelievable plot points that probably make sense only in his films. Still, it unabashedly wears those outrageous bits on its sleeve and offers a highly entertaining popcorn flick experience. So, if you’re looking for a more neatly designed spy thriller, you should check out this 2014 film.
2. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
Guy Ritchie’s “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” is as entertaining as one would expect a Ritchie film to be. This spy thriller, based on an eponymous MGM series, follows a story from the 1960s. CIA agent Napoleon Solo (played by Henry Cavill), Gaby Teller (played by Alicia Vikander), and KGB Agent Ilya Kurkyakin (played by Armie Hammer) are teamed up for an important global-scale task: to stop two Nazi sympathizers from building their nuclear weapon.
This 2015 film uses the spy genre conventions to its advantage. Unlike “Argylle,” its narrative shifts feel earned with sincerity and bound by logic. Yet, like any Matthew Vaughn film, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” is a witty thriller filled with bright-colored frames and a fun soundtrack. Besides Cavill, Vikander, and Hammer, the film also stars brilliant actors like Elizabeth Debicki, Jared Harris, and Hugh Grant. All of these should be enough reasons for you to watch this Guy Ritchie film after “Argylle.”
3. Layer Cake (2004)
Matthew Vaughn’s directorial debut, “Layer Cake,” is arguably his finest work to date. It revolves around a London cocaine distributor, XXXX (played by Daniel Craig), who values professionalism in his business. Although he hopes to leave the drug business, he gets pulled back for two difficult tasks. One is to find a drug-addicted daughter of a powerful entity who is possibly kidnapped. The second is to deal with a drug dealer who recently returned to London.
Unlike Vaughn’s later works with saturated and vibrant color palettes, “Layer Cake” is more subdued in its tonality – be it visual or narrative. Yet, it features some bold editing choices that are highly rewarding and impactful. The cast is stacked with talented actors like Michael Gambon, Ben Whinshaw, Sienna Miller, Sally Hawkins, and Tom Hardy. As a crime thriller revolving around drugs, “Layer Cake” can be a fantastic companion piece to Danny Boyle’s “Trainspotting.” So, after watching “Argylle,” if you want to know the roots of the filmmaker behind it, you should definitely check out “Layer Cake.
4. Atomic Blonde (2017)
“Atomic Blonde” is a riveting crime thriller starring Charlize Theron in the central role. Directed by David Leitch, it follows a top-level MI6 spy who is assigned a challenging task involving several high-stakes action sequences. In the film, she is required to find the double agents being smuggled after the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. During her journey across countries, she fights several excruciating challenges that cover a wider social climate.
Kurt Johnstad’s screenplay, based on the graphic novel The Coldest City by Antony Johnston, fills the film with much-needed narrative intrigue. Leitch’s taut direction makes the film’s thrilling action sequences work tremendously well. More than anything, it is Theron’s commanding presence as the lead that makes it an unforgettable watch. Besides Theron, the film stars James McAvoy, John Goodman, Til Schweiger, Eddie Marsan, and Sofia Boutella, who make it thoroughly captivating. If you liked “Argylle” and want to watch a grittier action thriller, you should check out “Atomic Blonde.”
5. Red Sparrow (2018)
Based on Jason Matthews’ novel, “Red Sparrow” is an American thriller starring Jennifer Lawrence in an exciting role. Besides her, the film stars Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Charlotte Rampling, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeremy Irons, and Ciarán Hinds. It is a stylish, slick spy thriller that follows a former ballerina (played by Lawrence) who becomes a spy after a horrifying accident. Her further journey as a ‘sparrow’ is filled with a lot of secretive work and violence.
“Argylle” touches upon similar themes of mysteries and identity struggles to follow its lead character, a book writer. Jennifer’s character goes through a whirlwind of transformative experiences that shape her to become a menacing spy. So, “Red Sparrow” becomes an apt, darker follow-up to Matthew Vaughn’s colorful spy thriller. Besides everything that Francis Lawrence achieves through his direction, Jennifer Lawrence’s engaging performance makes it worth viewing.
6. Ruby Sparks (2012)
“Argylle” follows a spy novel author who writes events that happen in reality, almost after she writes them in her book. The closest a movie plot has ever come to her story is “Ruby Sparks.” Written by Zoe Kazan, this 2012 film follows a writer (played by Paul Dano) who dreams about his fictional girlfriend, Ruby (played by Kazan). Based on those visions, he starts writing about her in detail. Lo and behold, she appears in his real life. He wonders if he is just imagining her and going through an unstable phase.
Once he realizes that his fantasy girlfriend has turned real, he starts shaping her the way he wants to. He changes things about her according to his convenience without worrying about how it would impact her personhood. Her behavior changes the moment he writes something new about her. Through their absurd love story, the film sheds light on the trope of a manic pixie dream girl that leads to a flawed and unrealistic relationship dynamic. Although not identical to Argylle’s action-packed thrill, it is a worthy follow-up to experience a writer’s creative process.
7. Adaptation (2002)
As explained before, “Argylle” begins as a story about a writer trying to understand the impact of her work. She tries to grapple with the enormity of it all, especially when things start happening almost exactly how she writes them. Throughout the history of film, there have been multiple films about writers and their internal conflicts. One of the finest portrayals of a writer’s never-ending anxiety is Charlie Kaufman’s “Adaptation.”
This Spike Jonze directorial perfectly encapsulates the bewildering state of mind of an overthinking writer who struggles to find a conflict to write stories. He lives with the feeling of being a failure and a burden on others. Due to his heightened fear of self-expression, he finds it hard to connect with other humans. While adapting a book for a screenplay, he gets in constant fights with his alter ego. If you resonated with Elly Conway’s struggle to proceed with her writing, you must watch “Adaptation.”
