Animals were harmed in these films
Directed by Martin Scorsese, this epic crime drama tells the story of Irish-American hitman Frank Sheeran who looks back at the secrets he kept as a loyal member of the Bufalino crime family. Starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci.
In this romantic comedy, Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan play a pair of star-crossed lovers who get caught up in their family's land dispute in the Irish countryside.
This Irish romantic comedy and musical follows two aspiring musicians who decide to collaborate and end up falling for each other during the process.
Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography, this film follows the life of a young boy who moves from New York City to Limerick in Ireland with his family.
A retired American boxer (John Wayne) returns to the village of his birth in 1920s Ireland, where he falls for a spirited redhead (Maureen O'Hara ) whose brother disapproves of their union.
Starring then-newcomer Minnie Driver, the film follows three childhood friends who meet at university in Dublin in 1957. It explored themes of love, friendships, and betrayal.
An unemployed young man from Dublin decides to put together an R&B band made up entirely of the Irish working class. But fame and fortune are more difficult to navigate than they may have thought.
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Emma Thompson, 'In the Name of the Father' is a historical courtroom drama charting the aftermath of a coerced confession to an IRA bombing.
This 1968 Francis Ford Coppola-directed musical has everything Ireland related, from leprechauns to pots of gold and rainbows. Another plus is Hollywood legend Fred Astaire.
Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise star in this period drama about two people who flee from Ireland to America. They both face a lot of struggles in their new land.
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, this biographical comedy-drama tells the story of an Irish man born with cerebral palsy, and the ways he overcomes his setbacks in life.
In this historical biopic, Liam Neeson plays the revolutionary Michael Collins, who leads the Irish Republican Army in a battle against Britain for Ireland’s independence.
Two Irish Catholic brothers seek to clean up the streets of Boston with their own vigilante methods. However, one FBI agent wants them gone.
After a wild night out, an Irish woman discovers she’s pregnant. Her small town wastes no time trying to figure out who the father is.
'The Crying Game' is a thriller that follows a British soldier kidnapped by IRA terrorists. The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1992.
'The Magdalene Sisters' follows three young Irish women who try to escape the dehumanizing abuse as inmates of a Magdalene Sisters Asylum.
German-Irish actor Michael Fassbender plays an imprisoned IRA officer in Northern Ireland's Maze Prison, who initiates a hunger strike. The film is by renowned director Steve McQueen.
Saoirse Ronan plays a young Irish immigrant in 1950s New York. She eventually has to decide between two continents and love interests.
Starring Colin Farrell, this film follows a group of losers in Dublin and their interconnected stories of love, violence, and greed.
This semi-autobiographical film follows an Irish immigrant family who adjust to life in New York while also grieving the death of a child.
Set during the Irish War of Independence, this film tells the story of two brothers who were torn apart when fighting against British forces in the 1920s.
In this comedic thriller, an Irish cop (Brendan Gleeson) and his FBI partner (Don Cheadle) uncover corruption in the police department while investigating a drug ring.
In this film, a young man befriends an Irish family who happen to be his uncle's worst enemies due to their love of music and constant practices. Starring James Stewart and Paulette Goddard.
Set in 1980s Dublin, this coming-of-age film follows a young boy who escapes his strained family life by starting a band to impress the girl he likes.
A political journalist (Steve Coogan) picks up the story of a woman's (Judi Dench)search for her son, who she put up for adoption. The journalist ends up convincing her to help with the search.
This military thriller takes you to the bloody streets of 1971 Belfast, where a British soldier (Jack O'Connell) fights to stay alive after a being accidentally abandoned by his unit.
Starring Meryl Streep and Michael Gambon, this 1998 film follows the lives of five close-knit unmarried sisters in rural Ireland in the 1930s.
Hilary Swank stars as a young widow who discovers that her late husband has left her messages intended to help her move on with her life. You will need plenty of tissues for this one!
In this film, Amy Adams plays a woman who chases her boyfriend around Ireland to propose to him. But what she didn’t expect was to meet a handsome stranger there.
This film is a cat-and-mouse game about an undercover cop and the Irish mob he's infiltrating. Directed by Martin Scorsese, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg.
From rom-coms to criminal dramas, there are plenty of cinematic gems themed around Ireland, Irish people, and their descendants. Check out this gallery for some of the best Irish-themed films ever made. Click on!
Lindsay Lohan continues her comeback in this Netflix rom-com released just in time for St. Patrick's Day! Lindsay Lohan is heartbroken when her best friend gets engaged to the love of her life, but a wish for true love sends her on an unexpected adventure (in Ireland, of course).
Sources: (Harper's Bazaar) (Country Living) (Den of Geek)
See also: Spectacular movies shot in Spain
The best Irish-themed films to watch this St. Patrick's Day
Raise a glass of green beer and press play!
MOVIES Cinema
From rom-coms to criminal dramas, there are plenty of cinematic gems themed around Ireland, Irish people, and their descendants. Check out this gallery for some of the best Irish-themed films ever made. Click on!