12 Best Irish Films On Netflix (March 2026)

This is a guide to the best Irish movies on Netflix. And, I’ll level with you… while there are some good ones, Netflix’s catalogue leaves a lot to be desired!

In years past Netlflix had some of the best Irish films ever made available to watch but, in recent months, it’s been pretty slim pickings.

However, there are some decent Irish films on Netflix, including ‘In the Land of Saints and Sinners’ and the comedy ‘Hard Times’.

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 ‘Waking The Titanic’.

1. In the Land of Saints and Sinners

Hands-down the best Irish film on Netflix at the moment is In the Land of Saints and Sinners. A brooding, slow-burn thriller set in a remote Donegal village where a man with a murky past is doing his best to stay out of trouble.

Naturally, trouble finds him anyway. The film leans heavily on atmosphere, moral tension and a strong sense of place, letting unease build rather than rushing to a payoff.

It’s measured, quietly bleak and far more thoughtful than the title suggests. If you like your thrillers moody, restrained and splattered with Irish scenery, this one’s worth your time.

The need-to-knows about the movie:

• Genre: Action thriller
• Release date: 2023
• Starring: Liam Neeson, Kerry Condon, Jack Gleeson, Colm Meaney and Ciarán Hinds
• Plot in a nutshell: A retired hitman living quietly in a Donegal village is forced back into his old life

2. Hard Times

One of the few Irish comedy films on Netflix is ‘Hard Times’. The film is set in the fictional village of Kilcoulin’s Leap – an area that’s down on its luck.

A group from the village decide the best way to bring prosperity back to the town is to steal a consignment of ‘blue pills’ and then sell them in Amsterdam.

However, things take a turn when they store the stolen pills in the village’s Holy well. I watched this recently and very much enjoyed it!

The need-to-knows about the movie:

• Genre: Comedy-drama
• Release date: 2009
• Starring: John Lynch, Linda Hamilton, Cornelius Clarke and Lochlainn O’Mearain
• Plot in a nutshell: In an attempt to bring prosperity to their town, villagers steal a consignment of ‘blue pills’

3. 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.

4. Beat The Lotto

One of the more overlooked Irish movies on Netflix is the documentary Beat The Lotto. This is a about ambition outrunning common sense – and Ireland briefly cheering it on.

A group of people decide to take on the National Lottery using spreadsheets, printers, and sheer nerve, and the film calmly documents the chaos that follows.

Rather than leaning on misty-eyed nostalgia, it focuses on momentum: the planning, the stress, the waiting, and the strange confidence that builds when an idea refuses to collapse under scrutiny.

The need-to-knows about the movie:

• Genre: Documentary
• Release date: 2025
• Starring: Stefan Klincewicz, Pat Kenny, Mark Little and Lise Hand
• Plot in a nutshell: A syndicate attempts to exploit a loophole in Ireland’s National Lottery by purchasing every possible ticket combination

5. The Irish Wish

One of the newest Irish movies on Netflix, ‘The Irish Wish’, starring Lindsay Lohan was recorded in Dalkey, Temple Bar, Wicklow and in parts of Clare.

It follows a book editor, played by Lohan, who’s set to be a bridesmaid at her friends wedding. However, a few days before the big day, she wishes she was the bride.

She wakes up the next day and, Voilà, she’s the bride.

The plot is as good as it sounds and the movie isn’t great, but it showcases the scenery in Ireland beautifully.

The need-to-knows about the movie:

• Genre: Romantic-comedy
• Release date: 2024
• Starring: Lindsay Lohan
• Plot in a nutshell: A book editor, played by Lindsay Lohan, wishes to be the bride at her friend’s wedding and wakes up the next day to find her wish magically granted

6. Waking The Titanic

This is not a documentary about the Titanic – it’s so much more! ‘Waking The Titanic’ tells the story of 14 people from the village of Addergoole in County Mayo who sought a better life.

Out of the 14 boarded the Titanic, only 3 survived. The movie tells the tale of the loss experienced by those who’s loved ones were lost to the sinking of the Titanic.

The need-to-knows about the movie:

• Genre: Docu-drama
• Release date: 2012
• Starring: Rachel Duffy, Caroline Hegarty and Miriam Kelly
• Plot in a nutshell: The documentary tells the story of 14 people that left a small village in Ireland in search of a better life

7. Black Ice

One of the older Irish movies on Netflix is ‘Black Ice’, starring Killian Scott and Jane McGrath. It’s set in Donegal but the movie was filmed in Leitrim and Sligo.

It looks at the world of underground car racing in rural Ireland. The story follows siblings Alice who’s brother lost his life during a race. She is in a relationship with Jimmy (Scott) who is well-known on the car racing scene.

The pair attempt to break into the legitimate rally scene, but things aren’t as straightforward as they may seem

The need-to-knows about the movie:

• Genre: Drama
• Release date: 2013
• Starring: Jane McGrath, Killian Scott, Dermot Murphy and Marian Quinn
• Plot in a nutshell: Siblings Tom and Alice escape small town boredom by rallying around rural Irish roads

8. Joyride

Joyride is a 2022 coming-of-age drama directed by Emer Reynolds, starring Olivia Colman and Charlie Reid.

The film follows a young lad and a reluctant mother who embark on a spontaneous road trip, forming an unexpected bond while dealing with their personal issues…

…Oh, and a stolen stash of cash!

The need-to-knows about the movie:

• Genre: Comedy-Drama
• Release date: 2022
• Starring: Olivia Colman and Charlie Reid
• Plot in a nutshell: A woman trying to give up her baby ends up on an unexpected road trip

9. The Wonder

This is a quiet, unusual period drama that leans more on atmosphere than plot twists.

Set in rural Ireland after the Famine, it follows an outsider arriving in a tight-knit community where faith is taken very seriously and questions aren’t especially welcome.

It’s slow, yes, but in a deliberate, watchable way rather than a punishing one. The film is more about tension and observation than misery, with a steady sense of intrigue ticking along underneath.

The need-to-knows about the movie:

• Genre: Psychological drama
• Release date: 2022
• Starring: Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Niamh Algar and Elaine Cassidy
• Plot in a nutshell: A nurse is sent to a rural Irish village to monitor a young girl whose survival without eating raises uncomfortable questions about belief and truth

Entertainment beyond the Irish films on Netflix

As you’ve likely gathered from the list above, there aren’t many great Irish films on Netflix. In fact, it’s the Irish shows where Netflix really comes up trumps!

Below, you’ll find three Irish shows that are well worth a watch (or a rewatch!).

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

If you’ve spent any time on Netflix over the last few years, chances are you’ve already stumbled across Derry Girls. If not, you’re in for one of the funniest Irish shows ever made.

Set in 1990s Derry during the final years of the Troubles, the series follows five teenagers navigating school, family chaos and the usual teenage drama.

The difference here is that all of it unfolds against the backdrop of political tension, army checkpoints and a good dollop of stress and anxiety.

Despite the heavy setting, the show is almost relentlessly funny. The writing is sharp, the characters are brilliantly ridiculous and the cast bounce off each other perfectly.

The need-to-knows about the show:

• Genre: Comedy
• Release date: 2018
• Starring: Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell and Dylan Llewellyn
• Plot in a nutshell: A group of teenagers cause chaos while growing up in Derry during the final years of the Troubles

2. Kin

If you’re in the mood for an Irish crime with plenty of tension, betrayal and family drama, Kin is worth sitting down to.

Set in Dublin, the story follows the fictional Kinsella family as they become embroiled in a brutal gangland feud. What begins as a small dispute quickly spirals into a full-blown criminal war, forcing the family deeper into a world they’re struggling to control.

The show leans heavily into family loyalty, power struggles and revenge. It’s often compared to Love/Hate, although Kin takes a slower, more character-driven approach.

The need-to-knows about the show:

• Genre: Crime drama
• Release date: 2021
• Starring: Charlie Cox, Aidan Gillen, Clare Dunne, Ciarán Hinds and Emmett J. Scanlan
• Plot in a nutshell: A Dublin crime family becomes locked in a violent gangland feud that threatens to tear them apart

3. How to Get to Heaven From Belfast

If you fancied watching some Irish films on Netflix that showcased Ireland’s magnificent scenery but couldn’t find any, this may do the job!

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is a dark comedy thriller that blends mystery, chaos and sharp humour. The story follows three childhood friends who reunite after hearing that a fourth member of their old group has died unexpectedly.

Their trip to a wake in Donegal quickly spirals into something far stranger. Secrets from their teenage years begin bubbling back to the surface and, before long, the trio find themselves attempting to investigate the suspicious death themselves.

The need-to-knows about the show:

• Genre: Dark comedy / crime thriller
• Release date: 2022
• Starring: Roisin Gallagher, Sinéad Keenan, Caoilfhionn Dunne, Michelle Fairley and Natasha O’Keeffe
• Plot in a nutshell: Three Belfast friends investigate the mysterious death of a former friend and uncover secrets best left buried

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.