10 Best Irish Movies to watch on St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is a great time to celebrate Ireland and all things Irish, including the country’s rich cinematic history! From romantic dramas to uplifting stories of courage and resilience, there are plenty of great movies out there that will help you get in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. Here are 10 of the best Irish films to watch on St. Patrick’s Day.

For more educational resources on St. Patrick’s Day, check out:

• Best St. Patrick’s Day Books for Kids
• 20 Best St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids
• 10 Popular Irish Songs for St. Patrick’s Day

1. Once, (2007),1 h 26 min, R

Once is a critically acclaimed 2007 drama film directed by John Carney and starring Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova . The film follows the story of a street musician, Glen Hansard, and a young mother, Marketa Irglova, as they discover each other’s talents and help each other to realize their dreams.

2. The Banshees of Inisherin, (2022), 1 h 53 min, R

The Banshees of Inisherin is a 2022 drama set in Ireland, directed by Martin McDonagh and starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Kerry Condon. The movie follows two lifelong friends, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, who find their friendship in jeopardy when one of them abruptly ends the relationship. The dramatic consequences of this decision soon become apparent to both men.

3. Brooklyn, (2015), PG-13

Brooklyn is a romantic drama directed by John Crowley and starring Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, and Emory Cohen. The movie was set in the 1950s based on the best-selling novel of the same name. It follows Saoirse Ronan as a young Irish immigrant who travels to New York City and finds love with two different men.

4. Belfast, (2021),1 h 38 min, 13+

Belfast is a 2021 film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh, featuring the story of a young boy’s life. Set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the movie follows its main character as he navigates childhood and experiences loss, family tensions, and friendship.

5. The Secret: Dare to Dream, (2020), 1 h 47 min, PG

The Secret: Dare to Dream is a 2020 movie directed by Andy Tennant and starring Katie Holmes, Josh Lucas, and Jerry O’Connell. This uplifting story follows a young widow named Katie and her family as they discover the power of positive thinking and transform their lives with the help of a mysterious man named Josh Lucas.

6. In the Name of the Father, (1994), 2 h 13 min, R

In the Name of the Father is a powerful drama, directed by Jim Sheridan and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Emma Thompson and Pete Postlethwaite. The movie follows the story of Gerry Conlon, an Irishman wrongfully convicted in an IRA bombing and his fight to overturn his conviction.

7. Calvary, (2014), 1 h 40 min, R

Calvary is a 2014 Irish film directed by John Michael McDonagh and starring Brendan Gleeson, Chris O’Dowd, and Kelly Reilly. It tells the story of a priest in a small Irish village who is given a death threat by an unseen parishioner during confession.

8. The Secret of Kells, 2016, 1 h 15 min, All

The Secret of Kells is a 2016 animated fantasy adventure film directed by Tomm Moore and starring Brendan Gleeson, Liam Hourican, and Evan McGuire . The movie follows the story of Brendan, a young boy living in a medieval Irish outpost, as he embarks on an exciting journey with a celebrated master illuminator to help him complete a magical book brimming with secret wisdom and powers. 

On his dangerous quest to do so, Brendan is accompanied by a mysterious wolf-girl named Aisling and must overcome his deepest fears in order to survive the enchanted forest. Along the way, he discovers that enlightenment can be the best form of protection against evil as he and his companions fight off hostile forces threatening their lands.

9. Red Dawn (1984), 1 h 53 min, PG-13

Red Dawn is a 1984 action-adventure war film which follows a group of high schoolers in their Colorado town as they witness Soviet and Cuban forces invading the area. The teens band together to fight off the intruders, defending their town and country against the hostile occupation. Directed by John Milius, the movie stars Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell and Lea Thompson, among others.

10. St Patrick: The Irish Legend, (2000), 1 h 32 min, 13+

St Patrick: The Irish Legend is a 2000 feature-length film starring Patrick Bergin, Malcolm McDowell, Alan Bates. The story of the movie is about the life of the Patron Saint of Ireland. Starring Patrick Bergin, Malcolm McDowell and Alan Bates, the movie follows Saint Patrick as he works to liberate Ireland.