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Movies like Masterminds (1997)

The best movies like Masterminds (1997) are Swordfish (2001), Toy Soldiers (1991) and Live Free or Die Hard (2007). If Masterminds hooked you with its action and adventure, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.

Quick picks

  1. Swordfish (2001)

    Rogue agent Gabriel Shear is determined to get his mitts on $9 billion stashed in a secret Drug Enforcement Administration account. He wants the cash to fight terrorism, but lacks the computer skills necessary to hack into the government mainframe. Enter Stanley Jobson, a n'er-do-well encryption expert who can log into anything.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & thriller

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  2. Toy Soldiers (1991)

    After federal agents arrest a drug czar and put him on trial, the cartel leader's vicious son storms a prep school and takes its students hostage. They rebel against the armed intruders and try to take back their academy by any means necessary.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & adventure

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  3. Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

    John McClane is back and badder than ever, and this time he calls on the services of a young hacker in his bid to stop a ring of Internet terrorists intent on taking control of America's computer infrastructure.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & thriller

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  4. Hackers (1995)

    Along with his new friends, a teenager who was arrested by the US Secret Service and banned from using a computer for writing a computer virus discovers a plot by a nefarious hacker, but they must use their computer skills to find the evidence while being pursued by the Secret Service and the evil computer genius behind the virus.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & thriller

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  5. Agent Cody Banks (2003)

    Recruited by the U.S. government to be a special agent, nerdy teenager Cody Banks must get closer to cute classmate Natalie in order to learn about an evil plan hatched by her father. But despite the agent persona, Cody struggles with teen angst.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & adventure

  6. Bad Company (2002)

    When a Harvard-educated CIA agent is killed during an operation, the secret agency recruits his twin brother.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & adventure

  7. Spy Kids (2001)

    Carmen and Juni think their parents are boring. Little do they know that in their day, Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez were the top secret agents from their respective countries. They gave up that life to raise their children. Now, the disappearances of several of their old colleagues forces the Cortez' return from retirement. What they didn't count on was Carmen and Juni joining the "family business."

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & comedy

  8. The Paper Brigade (1996)

    A 14 year old boy named Gunther moves to a small town with his parents and little brother. He meets up with a group of overly charitable paper boys who want him to sub for their friend while he's out of town. Gunther agrees so he can get enough money for concert tickets to take his blonde and beautiful crush too, all the while dealing with Chad, her wannabe boyfriend and his bully friends. All in all, Gunther learns to respect himself and other people and to have fun during it all.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & adventure

  9. Big Fat Liar (2002)

    After one of his class papers is stolen and turned into a movie, a young student and his best friend exact a hilarious, slapstick revenge on the Hollywood hot shot who has taken credit!

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & adventure

  10. WarGames (1983)

    High school student David Lightman has a talent for hacking. But while trying to hack into a computer system to play unreleased video games, he unwittingly taps into the Department of Defense's war computer and initiates a confrontation of global proportions. Together with his friend and a wizardly computer genius, David must race against time to outwit his opponent and prevent a nuclear Armageddon.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both thriller

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  11. Snow Day (2000)

    When an entire town in upstate New York is closed down by an unexpected snowfall, a "snow day" begins when a group of elementary school kids, led by Natalie Brandston, try to ensure that the schools stay closed by stopping a mechanical snowplow driver by trying to hijack his plow truck. Meanwhile, Natalie's big brother Hal is using this day to try to win the affections of Claire Bonner, the most popular girl in his high school, while Hal and Natalie's father Tom, a TV meteorologist, faces off against a rival meteorologist for weather coverage of the day's events.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & adventure

  12. Sneakers (1992)

    When shadowy U.S. intelligence agents blackmail a reformed computer hacker and his eccentric team of security experts into stealing a code-breaking 'black box' from a Soviet-funded genius, they uncover a bigger conspiracy. Now, he and his 'sneakers' must save themselves and the world economy by retrieving the box from their blackmailers.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  13. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

    The scientist father of a teenage girl and boy accidentally shrinks his and two other neighborhood teens to the size of insects. Now the teens must fight diminutive dangers as the father searches for them.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & comedy

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  14. Offline: Are You Ready for the Next Level? (2016)

    Champion gamer Jan has to fight for his digital identity, winning back his real life as well.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & adventure

  15. Wild America (1997)

    Three brothers - Marshall, Marty and Mark dream of becoming naturalists and portraying animal life of America. One summer their dream comes true, they travel through America, filming alligators, bears and moose.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & comedy

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  16. Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004)

    With all-new gadgets, high-flying action, exciting chases and a wisecracking new handler, Derek (Anthony Anderson), Cody has to retrieve the device before the world's leaders fall under the evil control of a diabolical villain.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & adventure

  17. Airborne (1993)

    Good-natured teen surfer Mitchell Goosen finds himself staying with his aunt and uncle in Cincinnati, Ohio when his parents head to Australia for work. There he meets his cousin, Wiley, and together they try to navigate the perils of high school—avoid the bullies, get the girl, and win a little respect.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  18. Cloak & Dagger (1984)

    Davey Osborne is an average 11-year-old boy with an overactive imagination. He spends his days playing video games and pretending to be a spy with his imaginary father-figure, Jack Flack - a substitute for his real father, who is struggling with the recent death of Davey's mother. However, fantasy becomes reality for Davey after he witnesses the murder of an FBI agent, who in his dying breath, gives Davey a mysterious video game cartridge called Cloak & Dagger, which in actuality contains top-secret government information. With the help of his younger friend Kim, the tech savvy Morris, and even a little help from his fictional secret agent mentor, Davey must stay one step ahead of pursuers as he tries to survive a real-life game of espionage in the streets of San Antonio, Texas.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & action

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  19. Clockstoppers (2002)

    Until now, Zak Gibbs' greatest challenge has been to find a way to buy a car. But when he discovers an odd wristwatch amidst his father's various inventions and slips it on -- something very strange happens. The world around him seems to come to a stop, everything and everybody frozen in time. Zak quickly learns how to manipulate the device and he and his quick-witted and beautiful new friend, Francesca, start to have some real fun.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & thriller

  20. Thunderbirds (2004)

    Dangerous missions are the bread and butter of the Thunderbirds, a high-tech secret force employed by the government. Led by Jeff Tracy (Bill Paxton), the Thunderbirds are at the top of their game, but their nemesis, The Hood (Ben Kingsley), has landed on their island and is attempting a coup by using the team's rescue vehicles. He'll soon discover that the Thunderbirds won't go down.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & adventure

  21. The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1995)

    By accident, the content of a computer encyclopedia is transferred into the brain of Dexter Riley, a less than average college boy. Because of his newly acquired knowledge he competes in a quiz show between various universities, where he sweeps all the points. A wiz kid from another university finds out about his cheated wisdom and does everything to discredit Dexter.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy

  22. Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)

    Carmen's caught in a virtual reality game designed by the Kids' new nemesis, the Toymaker. It's up to Juni to save his sister, and ultimately the world.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & comedy

  23. 3 Ninjas (1992)

    Each year, three brothers Samuel, Jeffrey and Michael Douglas visits their Japanese grandfather, Mori Shintaro whom the boys affectionately refer to as Grandpa, for the summer. Mori is a highly skilled in the fields of Martial arts and Ninjutsu, and for years he has trained the boys in his techniques. After an organized crime ring proves to be too much for the FBI, it's time for the 3 brother NINJAS! To use their martial arts skills, they team up to battle the crime ring and outwit some very persistent kidnappers!

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & adventure

  24. Josh & S.A.M. (1993)

    Josh and Sam are two brothers facing change, their mother is about to marry a French accountant and the kids are sent to go live with their father in Florida. Meanwhile, Josh tells Sam that he is a "S.A.M." that is going to be sent to Africa to fight in a war and that Canada is a safe haven for any S.A.M. unwilling to fight. Will Josh & S.A.M. make it to Canada or will they wish they should have never left home?

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & action

  25. Anyone Can Quantum (2016)

    The game is real and the stakes are high as the future of humanity hangs in the balance. Can Paul Rudd, an actor, beat Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest minds of our generation, in a game of chess that will determine the future of humanity? Most likely not. Unless...

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy

  26. The Skulls II (2002)

    After joining the Skulls, Ryan Sommers (Robin Dunne) is warned not to betray any secrets about the organization or its high-powered members. However, when Ryan witnesses a murder within the Skulls' private chambers, he finds that the closer he gets to revealing the truth - the more dangerous life becomes.

    Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & thriller

  27. Commando (1985)

    John Matrix, the former leader of a special commando strike force that always got the toughest jobs done, is forced back into action when his young daughter is kidnapped. To find her, Matrix has to fight his way through an array of punks, killers, one of his former commandos, and a fully equipped private army. With the help of a feisty stewardess and an old friend, Matrix has only a few hours to overcome his greatest challenge: finding his daughter before she's killed.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  28. The Expendables (2010)

    Barney Ross leads a band of highly skilled mercenaries including knife enthusiast Lee Christmas, a martial arts expert Yin Yang, heavy weapons specialist Hale Caesar, demolitionist Toll Road, and a loose-cannon sniper Gunner Jensen. When the group is commissioned by the mysterious Mr. Church to assassinate the dictator of a small South American island, Barney and Lee visit the remote locale to scout out their opposition and discover the true nature of the conflict engulfing the city.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both thriller & adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  29. Tango & Cash (1989)

    Ray Tango and Gabriel Cash are two successful narcotics detectives who can't stand each other. Crime lord Yves Perret, furious at the loss of income they have caused him, plots an elaborate revenge against them.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & comedy

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  30. Rampage: Capital Punishment (2014)

    A man takes over a TV station and holds a number of hostages as a political platform to awaken humanity, instead of money.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & thriller

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this

Like Masterminds and something else?

Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best movies like Masterminds?

The closest matches to Masterminds are Swordfish (2001), Toy Soldiers (1991) and Live Free or Die Hard (2007). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.

What should I watch after Masterminds?

People who watched Masterminds most often go on to Swordfish (2001), Toy Soldiers (1991) and Live Free or Die Hard (2007).

What is the highest-rated movie like Masterminds?

WarGames (1983), rated 7.1/10 by 2,296 TMDB users.

What is the newest movie like Masterminds?

Anyone Can Quantum (2016) is the most recent release on this list.

Are there English movies like Masterminds?

Yes: Swordfish (2001), Toy Soldiers (1991) and Live Free or Die Hard (2007).

How are movies similar to Masterminds chosen?

First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Masterminds, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.

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