Bridge of Spies (2015)
Kernel Score: 82% · 7,188 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Thriller, Drama
Released: 2015-10-15
Runtime: 141 minutes
Is Bridge of Spies worth watching?
Worth watching. Spielberg's Cold War drama is a patient, well-acted story about a lawyer trying to do the decent thing. Tom Hanks is solid, and Mark Rylance is superb. It's calm and talky, but it holds together.
Watch it if you
- like grown-up historical dramas
- enjoy Tom Hanks as an ordinary man in a big situation
- like courtroom and negotiation tension over action
Skip it if you
- want fast pacing or action
- dislike long dialogue scenes
Best for: Quiet night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Bridge of Spies
- Buy: Apple TV
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union captures U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers after shooting down his U-2 spy plane. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, Powers' only hope is New York lawyer James Donovan, recruited by a CIA operative to negotiate his release. Donovan boards a plane to Berlin, hoping to win the young man's freedom through a prisoner exchange. If all goes well, the Russians would get Rudolf Abel, the convicted spy who Donovan defended in court.
Bridge of Spies parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Bridge of Spies is a PG-13 Cold War thriller involving espionage and courtroom drama.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Involves Cold War tension and a spy plane shootdown, with minimal graphic violence.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Bridge of Spies
If you liked Bridge of Spies, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Catch Me If You Can (2002) — 93%: Spielberg and Hanks again, with a lighter touch on a true story.
- Three Days of the Condor (1975) — 82%: Tense Cold War era spy thriller about people inside the system.
- The Courier (2020) — 80%: True-story Cold War spy drama about an ordinary man.
- The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) — 85%: Spy thriller with higher action but similar intrigue.
- Witness for the Prosecution (1957) — 89%: Classic courtroom drama built on clever twists.
- The Insider (1999) — 83%: Serious true story of a man pushing against powerful institutions.
Director
Cast
- Tom Hanks as James B. Donovan
- Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel
- Amy Ryan as Mary Donovan
- Alan Alda as Thomas Watters Jr.
- Sebastian Koch as Wolfgang Vogel
- Austin Stowell as Francis Gary Powers
- Billy Magnussen as Doug Forrester
- Michael Simon Hall as Reporter
- Edward James Hyland as Chief Justice Earl Warren
- Stephen Kunken as William Tompkins
Bridge of Spies FAQ
Is Bridge of Spies worth watching?
Worth watching. Spielberg's Cold War drama is a patient, well-acted story about a lawyer trying to do the decent thing. Tom Hanks is solid, and Mark Rylance is superb. It's calm and talky, but it holds together.
Where can I watch Bridge of Spies?
In the US you can buy it from Apple TV.
Is Bridge of Spies OK for kids?
Bridge of Spies is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Bridge of Spies is a PG-13 Cold War thriller involving espionage and courtroom drama.
What movies are like Bridge of Spies?
If you liked Bridge of Spies, try Catch Me If You Can, Three Days of the Condor, The Courier and The Bourne Ultimatum.