12 Best Irish Movies On Netflix In March 2023

First things first – this is a guide to the best Irish movies on Netflix.

It’s not a guide to the best Irish films ever.

Unfortunately, many of the greatest films to come out of Ireland, like Waking Ned, aren’t actually on Netflix. 

Now, with that being said, when it comes to brilliant Irish movies Netflix still has some that you can stream, and you’ll find the best of the bunch below!

The best Irish movies on Netflix

We’ve done our best below to bring together a mix of the best Irish movies Netflix has to offer. Unfortunately, you won’t find old-school favourites, like The Commitments, as it isn’t part of their catalogue.

You will, however, find a heap of movies that you (hopefully) haven’t watched/heard of that’ll keep you gripped from start to finish, like Bad Day For The Cut.

1. Redemption of a Rogue (100% on Rotten Tomatoes)

If you love Groundhog Day, you’re going to love Redemption of a Rogue. In the spirit of the biblical story of the prodigal son’s return, this is the story of Jimmy (Aaron Monaghan) and how he attempts to receive absolution for his guilt over his past sins.

Directed by Philip Doherty, and also starring Liz Fitzgibbon and Aisling O’Mara, filled with a series of humorous setups to try and test Jimmy, the dark and funny Redemption of a Rogue is easily one of the most entertaining films to come out in 2020. 

2. Deadly Cuts (94% on Rotten Tomatoes)

If you’re looking for Irish comedy films on Netflix, the very popular ‘Deadly Cuts’ is worth whacking on. Get set to laugh, and maybe pay your hairdresser a bit more respect.

When gang members and gentrifiers set their sights on a small working-class Dublin community, it’s these unlikely hairdressers that come to save the day, even if the methods are a little… deadly.

Meet Michelle (Angeline Ball), Chantelle (Shauna Higgins) and Pippa (Victoria Smurfit), the stars of this dark and funny movie directed by Rachel Carey.

It’s 94% review score on Rotten Tomatoes makes it one of the best reviewed Irish films on Netflix right now.

3. You Are Not My Mother (88% on Rotten Tomatoes)

You Are Not My Mother, which was released in 2021, is one of the lesser-known Irish movies on Netflix that’ll appeal to those fond of psychological horrors.

Written by Kate Dolan, You Are Not My Mother follows Char, played by Hazel Doupe, who’s mother Angela goes missing.

Angela returns and it’s immediately evident that she has experienced a radical shift in personality. What follows is both dark and disturbing as Char attempts to get bring her old mam back.

4. The Young Offenders Movie (100% on Rotten Tomatoes)

Next up is the Young Offenders – a flick that’s widely regarded as being one of the best Irish movies on Netflix.

Take two bumbling lads from Cork, Alex Murphy (Connor) and Chris Walley (Jock), add in some illicit contraband worth millions of Euros, and a desperate need to escape their impoverished homes, and you have yourself a recipe for a couple of hours of great watching.

Also starring Hilary Rose, and directed by Peter Foott, this film’s a wonderful exploration of the bonds of friendship, and the ingenuity of youth. Of course, nothing goes to plan, and there’s more than one slip-up along the way.

5. The Guard (94% on Rotten Tomatoes)

Starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle, The Guard is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

The Guard is set in a small village in the west of Ireland. The story follows Cheadle, a no-nonsense FBI agent and Gleeson, a bumbling Irish guard (police officer) as they attempt to foil a criminal gang operating in Ireland.

This is another great option if you’re on the lookout for funny Irish films on Netflix!

7. Once (97% on Rotten Tomatoes)

‘Guy meets girl’ on the streets of Dublin, and they begin a relationship that irrevocably changes both their worlds in one of the most popular Irish romance movies on Netflix

Through the familiar songs and lyrics the two create, we see them slowly fall in love, and with a touching soundtrack, this romantic-musical-drama movie is a real charmer that you can’t help but enjoy. 

Starring Glen Hansard as ‘Guy’ and Markéta Irglová as ‘Girl’, along with Hugh Walsh as Timmy Drummer, Director John Carney does a superb job of showcasing the couple’s romance through the touching selection of songs the pair create together.

Related read: 29 of the Best Movies on Netflix Ireland (with Rotten Tomatoes scores)

8. Pixie (76% on Rotten Tomatoes)

One of the newest Irish films to Netflix, Pixie is an easy watch with a star-studded cast that’s perfect for a Saturday night.

It stars Colm Meaney, Olivia Cooke, Alec Baldwin, Ben Hardy and Daryl McCormack.

In a nutshell, Pixie, played by Olivia Cooke, and her two ‘friends’ are on the run after a series of unfortunate events involving a heist and some very irate gangsters.

9. Here Are the Young Men (38% on Rotten Tomatoes)

On the brink of manhood, three young men (Dean-Charles Chapman, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo and Finn Cole) set off on what should be an unforgettable last summer of freedom.

Instead, it’s a rollercoaster ride of nihilism, excess, and utter insanity in the case of Kearney (Cole). 

Together, Matthew and Rez (Chapman and Walsh-Peelo) navigate their way through a series of disturbing events and shocking levels of debauchery that threaten their futures and the lives of those around them.

10. Wild Mountain Thyme (26% on Rotten Tomatoes)

Wild Mountain Thyme is one of the few romantic Irish movies on Netflix. Now, the reviews online aren’t great, but give the trailer above a bash to decide for yourself.

It stars Emily Blunt and Jamie Doran and the plot revolves around two introverts living in County Mayo living on farms next to each other. Christopher Walken is also randomly in there as well.

The best eh-they’re-only-kinda Irish movies Netflix has to offer

I define an ‘Irish movie’ as one that’s set in Ireland. If you disagree with that then fair enough! 

There’s an absolute clatter of movies on Netflix that are widely regarded as ‘Irish movies’, as they feature Irish actors or because they are partly set in Ireland.

Below, you’ll find three of the most popular Irish films on Netflix that are very debatably Irish.

1. The Foreigner (66% on Rotten Tomatoes)

The film follows Ngoc Minh Quan’s (Jackie Chan) search for answers and justice when his daughter is caught up in an IRA attack.

Quan ultimately decides to seek vengeance instead of waiting for the perpetrators to be caught. Travelling to Ireland, he pursues and attempts to confront former Provisional IRA member, Liam Hennessy (Pierce Brosnan) who is now the Deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland and knows more than he lets on. 

Director Martin Campbell has crafted a nail-biting action movie and also stars Charlie Murphy.

Related read: 23 of the Best Series on Netflix Ireland (that are worth watching)

2. P.S. I Love You (25% on Rotten Tomatoes)

P.S. I Love You is based on a book of the same name by Cecelia Ahern, who penned it when she was just 21, in 2004.

Now, if horrific Irish accents trouble you, avoid this one. Whoever gave the OK for Gerard Butler’s Irish accent needs a good kick up the backside.

Holly and Gerry are happily married. Then tragedy strikes and Gerry passes away. Holly discovers that Gerry has left her letters that she receives at random intervals. One takes her to Ireland.

This is arguably one of the most notable movies set in Ireland on Netflix, with many visiting Ireland every year to see the filming locations.

3. The Siege of Jadotville (64% on Rotten Tomatoes)

Set in 1961, during the United Nations Operation in the Congo, this action film is the story of how an Irish Army peacekeeping unit fends off an attack by a group of mercenaries hired by mining companies who support a new Congolese government.

Directed by Richie Smyth, and leading the charge is Jamie Dornan, as Commandant Pat Quinn, with Guillaume Canet as the mercenary Rene Faulques, and Mark Strong as zealous Conor Cruise O’Brien who try to prevent an escalation in the conflict.

Irish shows on Netflix

We’re going to deviate a little now and take a look at some of the handful of brilliant Irish shows on Netflix.

Now, there aren’t many of them, but Netflix does boast a few solid Irish shows that are well worth binging on.

If you’re in search of a great show and you’re not bothered about whether or not it’s Irish, dive into our guide to the 17 best series on Netflix Ireland.

1. Derry Girls

The hilarious Derry Girls is one of our favourite Irish shows on Netflix. It was created and written by Lisa McGee and is set in County Derry in Northern Ireland during the 1990s.

The show follows Erin and her friends as they battle the highs and lows of being teenagers in Derry in the 1990s.

2. Adrian Dunbar’s Coastal Ireland

If you fancy getting a good eyeful of Ireland has to offer, this docuseries staring Adrian Dunbar is well worth a watch.

It follows Dunbar as he reconnects with his Irish roots as he travels along Ireland’s coastline.

If you, like Adrian, plan on exploring a bit of Ireland, make sure to explore our ready-made Ireland itineraries (every length and type you can imagine).

FAQs about the best Irish movies on Netflix

We’ve had a fair few emails about this guide since it first went live, like ‘Why isn’t x movie included?’.

Below, we’ll attempt to answer the most FAQ, but shout in the comments if you have one that hasn’t been tackled.