If you loved Butterfly, these 9 spy thrillers should be on your watchlist next

Butterfly's audience prefers television series that are suspenseful, emotional, and ethically complex. The nine spy thrillers discussed below feature tense storylines, cliffhanger choices, and stillness that reflect the depth of Butterfly. Whether it involves covert activities, political plots, or other themes, these shows offer suspense alongside the drama of human struggle, which will hook you to your screens!

These 9 thrillers highlight heroes who face risks amid internal storms, demonstrating that valor comes in many forms. On the side of downfall and power, each story portrays the ongoing tension between weakness and strength, similar to Butterfly, making each one unforgettable!

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

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Here is the list of the 9 spy thrillers that should be on your watchlist if you loved Butterfly:

9. The Night Manager (2016)

The Night Manager is a British spy thriller that narrates the story of Jonathan Pine. Jonathan is a night manager at a hotel in Cairo who is recruited by intelligence to become part of a deadly operation involving a notorious arms dealer. This TV series features entertaining elements such as secrets, fear of betrayal, and demystification of love. Reviewers praise it for its succinct nature, and particularly performances of Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston. Rotten Tomatoes has given it a solid 91% rating.

A common moment and recurring theme from The Night Manager that resembles Butterfly is one where Pine is forced to maintain composure amidst the threat of being in Roper's closed-up world. The scenario illustrates a tense circumstance in which the protagonist manages to remain calm in the face of foes.

The spectator is reminded of Butterfly's finest moments in this series' quiet yet poignant handling of stress, which is why it makes a suitable sequel.

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8. Killing Eve (2018)

The plot of Killing Eve centers on MI5 operative Eve's pursuit of the stunning and lethal assassin Villanelle. As their relationship intensifies, the hunter and the pursued encounter various difficulties. The show received 80% on Rotten Tomatoes because it is intelligent, weird & exciting.

In Season 1 Episode 2 of Killing Eve, Eve secretly follows Villanelle at a party. She does not want anyone to notice her, yet she is interested. Such a similarity can be observed in Butterfly when the central figure follows another person in a crowded place, with palpable fear, acting composed upon making a scene. Both scenes depict the cool surface and storm inside the spy. Killing Eve has the same quiet yet somehow louder intensity of Butterfly, as well as a similar thread of symbolic tension.

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7. Slow Horses (2022)

Slow Horses is a TV series that follows the story of a group of MI5 agents who were unable to advance in their careers and were forced to work in the Slough House department. The job of the MI5 agents is not a high-ranking job. Jackson Lamb, who is both clever and messy, is their manager. The wit and innovative spy story of the series earned a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In Season 1 Episode 4 of Slow Horses, a weak agent gets lost during a mission, and in another episode, he suddenly becomes witty when he is in danger.

There is a moment in Butterfly where a character initially appears weak before surprising you with a cunning move. That change from anticipated failure to unexpected proficiency produces the same thrilling admiration. Slow Horses highlights Butterfly's concept, which is that heroes can begin damaged and yet emerge.

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6. The Night Agent (2023)

The Night Agent is an American action thriller about Peter, an FBI tech agent who makes a mistaken contact. Peter is involved in a fatal conspiracy related to the White House. Season 1 has a 75% Rotten Tomatoes score, and Season 2 is scoring even better with an 86% score. The critics refer to it as slick, tense, binge-able.

In Season 1, Episode 2, we see Peter in a safe house with a panicked civilian. Despite his heart pounding and the impending danger outside, he speaks calmly. In Butterfly, a similar scene was observed in a tight circumstance where the heroine holds the person who gets into danger while remaining focused on the mission. The intersection of demanding responsibilities and emotional attentiveness is what connects the two shows. The tense and emotionally filled nature of The Night Agent resembles Butterfly, so it is a good follow-up show to watch.

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5. 24 (2001)

24 tells the gripping story of Jack Bauer, a dedicated agent for Los Angeles' Counter Terrorism Unit. Throughout the series, we see Jack confront various terrorist threats as he works tirelessly, day and night, to keep everyone safe. The action unfolds in real time, with each episode covering one hour of his intense mission.

At the beginning of the series, there is a scene where Bauer desperately tries to rescue his family against the clock, aiming to prevent an assassination. It’s stressful and tense. In Butterfly, there is a silent but powerful bath scene after which young Max tells their father that they hate their willy and want it to fall off. Both scenes make you hold your breath and feel great panic in the pressed moments. This mix of urgency and raw emotion links 24 to Butterfly. In both shows, we see heroes who struggle with what’s truly important: whether to stop the force of violence or to protect what is real and valuable to them in the face of mortal danger.

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4. Designated Survivor (2016)

Designated Survivor starts with an explosion at the State of the Union in which the president and almost all further successors die. After being sworn in as president, Thomas Kirkman, a lower-level Cabinet official, attempts to find the perpetrator of the attack. He faces a tough choice between a risky SEAL raid and a lethal air strike, motivated by the need to save lives while staying moral.

On the same note, Butterfly is loaded with a tense scene between a counselor, where Max refers to being different, and parents have the choice to adhere to fear or love for the child. In both series, the leaders made decisions that impacted their lives and destiny. That shared moral weight makes Designated Survivor shine for fans of Butterfly.

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3. Jack Ryan (2018)

Jack Ryan is a gripping spy thriller penned by Paul Attanasio and helmed by Oscar-winning director Philip Noyce. The story follows a sharp CIA analyst whose investigation into suspicious bank transfers catapults him from desk duty into a globe-trotting whirlwind of danger and espionage. In one scene, he secretly checks financial records, suspecting a terror plan, and pieces together what’s happening.

In Butterfly, Max simply shares their feelings with their parents while bathing, delivering an emotional truth quietly but with remarkable strength. The core idea of the two scenes is that although the protagonists seem calm on the outside, they are experiencing a raging tempest inside. This combination of gentle intensity and deep passion also connects Jack Ryan to Butterfly. Both series are known for expressing inner determination under pressure, making Jack Ryan especially worth watching next.

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2. Bodyguard (2018)

Bodyguard revolves around David Budd, a war veteran who returns to London as a police sergeant and is assigned to guard a Home Secretary with whom he disagrees politically. Viewers have seen Budd and the Home Secretary trapped in a car where snipers have taken them under fire. The entire scenario is filled with silence and sheer anxiety.

There is a lot of intimate anxiety and silent panic in Butterfly, even in a scenario where Max ended up peeing their pants at school because they were afraid to use the boys' restroom. In each scene, there are daily threats, politics in the case of Budd, and emotions in the case of Max, and how bravery can take varying forms. This shared tension and heartfelt realism make Bodyguard a strong follow for fans of Butterfly.

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1. Homeland (2011)

Homeland begins with CIA agent Carrie Mathison fearing one of its recovered war heroes is a sleeper agent. After witnessing Brody return home in silence during the pilot episode, she concludes that he poses a threat. There is a nice tub moment in Butterfly in which Max tells their father how ill at ease they are with their body. The scene represents the truth emerging from the shadows.

Viewers have seen Max's muttered truth and Carrie's quiet mistrust in Butterfly. There is a tightness and a forced silence in both scenes. Homeland contains a common theme of underlying intensity and inward struggle, making it a particularly emotional and thought-provoking choice for people who were affected by Butterfly.

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We concluded that these nine thrillers carried the same emotional weight, tension, and moral dilemmas that defined Butterfly. Both adaptations were fitting for those captivated by the original plot, capturing its modest yet dramatic moments. They had provided suspense, depth, and the same heart tug that drew the audience.