9 Best Irish movies on Netflix
There’s a wide range of Irish films on Netflix to check out. Odds are you’ll recognize a few award-winning Irish actors that tend to lend their talents to the big screen in Ireland, including Daniel Day-Lewis and Cillian Murphy. Aside from just dreamy stars, with that Irish accent no less, these flicks offer something for everyone – from historical heart breakers, to gothic dramas and witty comedies.
Don’t wait for St. Patrick’s Day to roll around – you can now celebrate this iconic country at any time. So stock up on snacks and settle in for a show on the best streaming service available with any of these nine best Irish movies on Netflix now.
Rebellion
Though dramatized, Rebellion is based on a true story, revolving around ordinary people in extraordinary times, the era that paved the way for the Ireland War of Independence. It’s technically a mini series, but still garners a watch as an impeccable example of cinematic skill.
A fictional group of friends live through the Easter Rising in 1916 when Irish soldiers and nationalists plot to overthrow harsh British rule. It’s an impressive, theatrical take on a long and bloody conflict in Irish history.
Genre – Drama
Release date – 2016
Starring – Charlie Murphy, Jordanne Jones
Filmed in – Dublin, Ireland

Handsome Devil
Handsome Devil is a touching tale about an unlikely friendship above all else, written and directed by John Butler. A loner and a star athlete are selected to live together at their sports-obsessed, all-boys boarding school. The authorities test their bond, and one is bullied for being different.
It’s so much more than the typical portrayal of good and evil with moustache-twirling villains. It’s more of a coming-of-age story tackling homophobia and conformity in a way that feels reminiscent of a modern-day Dead Poets Society.
Genre – Dramedy
Release date – 2016
Starring – Nicholas Galitzine, Fionn O’Shea
Filmed in – Castleknock College, Ireland

Dating Amber
Two closeted teens decide to pretend to be in a relationship together in Dating Amber. It’s set during the 1990s in a rural Irish town where homophobic abuse runs rampant. Eddie struggles to accept himself and feels obligated to join the Irish army.
Amber dreams of a lesbian punk lifestyle and is saving up to escape the small, close-minded town. There are plenty of moments of both joy and sadness in this emotional rollercoaster that’s one of the best Irish films around.
Genre – Comedy
Release date – 2020
Starring – Lola Petticrew, Fionn O’Shea
Filmed in – Ireland

Brain on Fire
This is considered to be one of the best movies on Irish Netflix, written and directed by Gerard Barrett. A young woman writer develops a new neurological disease. As the symptoms scarily begin to take over her life, she struggles to be diagnosed.
Based on a book of the same name, it’s a true story of the journalist Susannah Cahalan. This film changed the lives of many by creating mass awareness, as most people who had the same affliction were living either misdiagnosed or entirely undiagnosed.
Genre – Drama
Release date – 2016
Starring – Chloe Grace Moretz, Richard Armitage
Filmed in – British Columbia, Canada
The Siege of Jadotville
Some of the best Irish movies on Netflix are known for capturing the true harrowing events of the country, and the Siege of Jadotville is no exception. It’s a revenge thriller based on a book about a UN peacekeeping mission that was sent to Congo to protect the residents of a small mining town.
It depicts the subsequent standoff between IRA members, Irish rebels, and French and Belgian mercenaries before the Bloody Sunday Massacre and after World War II. It’s both historically accurate and action-packed.
Genre – War Thriller
Release date – 2016
Starring – Jamie Dornan, Mark Strong
Filmed in – South Africa