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How do you like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Some folks pull out every green thing they own and dress the part from head to toe. Others head straight to the kitchen and start planning a menu full of festive green foods for their St. Patrick’s Day party. But after the food is eaten and the celebrations start to wind down, settling in with a good movie always sounds like a pretty great idea. Whether it’s a story rooted in Irish history or a film that simply captures a bit of that Emerald Isle charm, there are plenty of options worth adding to your watchlist. That’s why we rounded up some of the best St. Patrick’s Day movies, complete with beloved Irish actors, beautiful scenery, and stories that stay with you long after the credits roll.
If you gravitate toward movies based on true stories, there are some powerful picks here. (My Left Foot is a classic for a reason.) Looking for a romance instead? Brooklyn and Ondine bring plenty of heart along with gorgeous coastal views. And for anyone who loves an Oscar favorite, Belfast absolutely belongs on the list. Not every film here was actually shot in Ireland, but each one captures a little of that St. Patrick’s Day spirit in its own way!
So pour yourself something cozy to drink, grab a blanket, and queue one up. These St. Patrick’s Day movies make the perfect excuse for a relaxed movie night.
Make it a St. Paddy’s Day movie night:
Brooklyn
Saoirse Ronan stars as Eilis Lacey, a young Irish woman who leaves home for a new life in 1950s New York. As she begins to settle in and build a future for herself, unexpected circumstances bring her back to Ireland and force a difficult decision about where she truly belongs.
The Banshees of Inisherin
On a small island off Ireland’s west coast, longtime friends Pádraic and Colm suddenly stop speaking when Colm decides he wants nothing more to do with the friendship. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson lead this darkly funny story as the fallout ripples through their quiet community.
The Wind That Shakes the Barley
This gripping historical drama starring Cillian Murphy takes place during the Irish War of Independence. It follows two brothers who end up on opposite sides of the conflict—and as the fight deepens, they begin to see the future of Ireland very differently.
My Left Foot
Daniel Day-Lewis won his first Academy Award for portraying Irish writer and painter Christy Brown. Born with cerebral palsy and able to control only his left foot, Brown learned to write and paint while growing up in a lively Dublin household.
Boondock Saints
Irish American brothers Connor and Murphy MacManus decide to take on Boston’s criminal underworld after a violent run-in with mobsters. Their vigilante mission quickly spirals into a citywide hunt led by an eccentric FBI agent played by Willem Dafoe.
Wild Mountain Thyme
Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan star as the residents of two neighboring Irish farms in this movie based on the play Outside Mullingar by John Patrick Shanley.
Ondine
Colin Farrell was bound to make more than one appearance on this list. In this romantic flick, he plays a fisherman who accidentally catches a woman in his fishing net. This might be the most strange way for a romance to begin, but it makes for an interesting watch!
Dancing At Lughnasa
Meryl Streep plays the eldest of five sisters who live together in a small house in Ireland in 1936. The beautiful scenery paired with the women’s tales of love and loss make this film worth a watch!
Calvary
Fans of dark comedy will get a kick out of this movie about an Irish priest who receives a death threat from a mysterious parishioner, and has one week to figure out if it’s real.
Belfast
Nominated for seven (!!!) Oscars, Belfast tells of the story of a young boy’s childhood against the backdrop of Catholic and Protestant conflicts in 1969.
Once
When a wannabe musician meets another aspiring singer-songwriter on the streets of Dublin, they give each other the push they need to chase their dreams.
Michael Collins
This popular war drama shows Liam Neeson as Michael Collins, a real-life leader in the Irish War of Independence who fought against the British in the early 20th century.
Intermission
If you’re looking for romance, comedy, crime, and drama, then this is the movie for you. Another fan favorite starring Colin Farrell, Intermission shows him as a small-time criminal with a vision for a big bank robbery.
Finian’s Rainbow
Sing along to this star-studded movie musical based on the Broadway show by the same name. It was directed by Francis Ford Coppola—the director of The Godfather—so you already know it’s good!
Waking Ned Devine
Someone in a rural Irish village scores a winning lottery ticket—and drops dead from the shock. Desperate to claim the prize, the townsfolk band together to convince the claim inspector that one of them is the real winner.
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