Parents' Guide to The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

Movie NR 1965 112 minutes
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold movie poster: Richard Burton sits slumped on the floor of a cell

Common Sense Media Review

Alistair Lawrence By Alistair Lawrence , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Cold War spy drama; mild violence, discriminatory language.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

  • The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Trailer
  • The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: Richard Burton stands in doorway wearing overcoat
  • The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: A young White woman puts book on shelf
  • The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: A White man in a cap sits by a window while holding pen to his lips

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all

What's the Story?

THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD tells the story of Alec Leamas (Richard Burton), a stubborn British Cold War agent who embarks on one final dangerous mission.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Adapted from the breakthrough work from British spy fiction icon John le Carré, this tense, gritty drama bears the author's hallmarks. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold shows espionage to be as dangerous as it is frustrating. Burton's MI6 agent Alec Leamas is engaged in a constant struggle to make himself useful throughout. While the movie's 1960s mannerisms and lack of diversity might date it for modern audiences, Burton's portrayal of Leamas as an angry, desperate man is a timeless contrast to the slick, action-driven spy movies that play to fans of blockbusters. His verbal sparring about belief systems with East German antagonists and his unlikely love interest -- a British Communist he meets during a mundane stint working in a library -- gives the movie a distinctive voice and its strongest scenes. This is an espionage drama that despairs about a conflict it judges to be both pointless and inevitable. So anyone looking for James Bond-esque dinner jackets and car chases will leave disappointed,. But beneath its harsh exteriors there is a thoughtful tale of double-crossing and deceit.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the Cold War setting in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. How much did you know about this period in history? Did it make you want to find out more about it?

  • Discuss the violence in the film. How did it make you feel? Do some types of media violence have different impact than others?

  • How did this film compare to other spy movies you've seen?

  • This movie is adapted from a novel. What other movies based on books have you seen? What do you think some of the challenges of adapting a book are?

  • How did the film represent drinking and smoking? Were they glamorized? Do you think attitudes toward drinking and smoking have changed?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold movie poster: Richard Burton sits slumped on the floor of a cell

What to Watch Next

See all

Spy Movies for Kids

See all

Movies Based on Books

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate