The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad is one of the most secretive and feared spy agencies in the world, known for its bold rescues and secretive operations. Over the years, Hollywood and foreign filmmakers have attempted to dramatise some of Mossad’s most compelling real-life missions. These movies explore the cost of justice, sacrifice, and secrecy as they delve deeply into the murky world of espionage.
Here is a list of ten highly regarded, compelling movies/series—based on or inspired by real Mossad missions—that is perfect for anyone who enjoys spy dramas or political thrillers.
1. Munich (2005)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Synopsis: After 11 Israeli athletes were massacred during the 1972 Munich Olympics, Mossad began a covert operation to find and kill the perpetrators. The story centres on Avner Kaufman, a Mossad agent who oversees the operation but battles the emotional and moral burden of the mission.
2. Operation Finale (2018)
Director: Chris Weitz
Synopsis: The real-life Mossad mission to apprehend Adolf Eichmann, a major architect of the Holocaust, who was hiding in Argentina in 1960, is the basis for this gripping historical drama. Agent Peter Malkin, played by Oscar Isaac, is in charge of a nerve-wracking effort to bring Eichmann to justice.
3. The Red Sea Diving Resort (2019)
Director: Gideon Raff
Synopsis: Chris Evans plays an undercover agent who sets up a phony resort as a front for a humanitarian mission in this movie, which is loosely based on the actual Mossad operation to smuggle Ethiopian Jews to Israel in the 1980s. It’s a wild blend of spy thriller and humanitarian story.
4. Fauda (TV Series, 2015–present)
Created by: Lior Raz, Avi Issacharoff
Synopsis: Fauda is a must-watch for Mossad-themed content, even though it is technically a TV series. It chronicles the intricate operations of an Israeli counterterrorism unit inside the West Bank. The show is realistic, gritty, and full of moral and emotional dilemmas.
5. The Spy (2019, Netflix Miniseries)
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen
Synopsis: The real-life tale of Eli Cohen, one of Mossad’s most renowned spies, who broke into the Syrian government in the 1960s, is told in this compelling miniseries. In a role that is very different from his typical comedic work, Sacha Baron Cohen delivers a strong performance.
6. The Angel (2018, Netflix)
Director: Ariel Vromen
Synopsis: Based on the true story of Ashraf Marwan, an Egyptian official who became one of Israel’s most valuable assets during the Yom Kippur War. This Netflix thriller dives into his double life, espionage, and the politics of the Middle East during a tense period in history.
7. Entebbe (2018)
Director: José Padilha
Synopsis: A retelling of the daring 1976 rescue mission by Israeli commandos (including Mossad support) to free hostages from a hijacked Air France plane in Uganda. The movie focuses on both the Israeli government’s decisions and the hostage-takers’ motivations.
8. The Debt (2010)
Director: John Madden
Synopsis: This gripping thriller follows three Mossad agents who, in the 1960s, are assigned to capture and bring a Nazi war criminal to justice. Decades later, a secret about the mission resurfaces, threatening their legacy and sense of morality. The Debt is a tightly-wound, character-driven story with espionage, deception, and psychological weight.
9. Tehran (2020–present) – Apple TV+ Series
Created by Moshe Zonder, Dana Eden and Maor Kohn, and directed by Daniel Syrkin.
Synopsis: Tehran follows Tamar Rabinyan, a young Mossad hacker-agent sent undercover to Iran. The series mixes high-tech espionage with intense emotional stakes as she navigates a dangerous mission in enemy territory.
10. Ghosts of Beirut (2023) – Showtime Series
Director: Greg Barker
Synopsis: The show follows the 20-year search for senior Hezbollah operative Imad Mughniyeh, based on actual CIA and Mossad operations. The show brings Mossad’s complex role to life through dramatised scenes and docu-style storytelling.
Moviemakers have frequently capitalised on Mossad’s dramatic potential, and his real-life exploits have become the subject of legend. These movies provide an insight into the dangerous field of espionage, where it’s frequently difficult to distinguish between good and evil. They all draw attention to the intricate moral framework in which intelligence agents function, whether dramatic, humorous, or intensely emotional.
Which ones have you already watched or intend to see next? Let us know in the comments below!
