Ireland is among the many nations to have contributed to the rich tapestry of international film.
As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Friday, it’s worth looking at some of the relatively recent Irish films that have been released and point you in the right direction of where to watch them.
From very recent Oscar nominees to crowd-pleasing favorites set in Ireland, these recent Irish films are more than worthy of a St. Patrick’s Day viewing.
All of these films listed are available right at home for streaming or home rental, so you won’t have to travel to the Emerald Isle to catch these Irish film favorites.
1
The Banshees of Inisherin
Irish actor Colin Farrell’s 2023 Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards came from playing down-on-his-luck Irishman Pádraic Súilleabháin in Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin.
Farrell reunites with Brendan Gleeson for a tragic dramedy about two friends who hit a snag when one of them decides that he wants to be left alone.
The film garnered Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and in a handful of acting categories, including for Farrell’s perhaps career-best performance.
The Banshees of Inisherin is available to stream on HBO Max.
2
Belfast
Kenneth Branagh’s moving ode to his Irish childhood during the The Troubles won Best Original Screenplay at last year’s Academy Awards.
The lively dramedy features Jamie Dornan, Caitríona Balfe, Dame Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds.
Belfast is available to stream on HBO Max.
3
Sing Street
Irish filmmaker John Carney has always taken fascination with the way music intersects with film, and his 2016 Sing Street is set in Dublin during the heyday of bands like Duran Duran.
This one is a heartfelt coming-of-age tale with a fantastic performance from Irish actor Jack Reynor.
Sing Street is available to stream on Tubi.
4
Brooklyn
Irish actress Saoirse Ronan has become one of her country’s most prominent actresses, and her role in 2015 film Brooklyn told the story of an Irish immigrant making her way in America.
Irish filmmaker John Crowley saw his film earn three Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actress for Ronan.
The film is available or rental on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+ and other video services.
5
Once
Carney’s first film, Once, took the movie world by storm during its release in 2007.
Musicians Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for their in-film tune “Falling Slowly,” and the two have continued performing together as folk rock duo The Swell Season.
Carney’s Once and Sing Street are both Dublin-set music dramedies with plenty of heart to go around.
