11 Best movies on Netflix Ireland Worth Watching Tonight

We’d recommend that you take any guide to the best films on Netflix Ireland with a pinch of salt (even this one!).

What one person regards as great, another may think is shi… you get the picture.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up a mixture of what we think are the best movies on Netflix Ireland along with flicks that have racked up rave reviews on Rotten Tomatoes!.

The best movies on Netflix Ireland

Below you’ll find some of the best movies on Netflix Ireland in 2026.

There’s everything from comedies and dramas to horror movies, action flicks and everything in between.

1. The Godfather (97% on Rotten Tomatoes)

First up is, in our opinion, the best film on Netflix Ireland if you fancy an old-school movie that’ll keep you gripped from start to finish.

If you’ve never seen The Godfather, fix that. If you have, it’s worth another watch. This is one of those rare films that earns every bit of its reputation.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, it follows the Corleone family as power shifts from the old guard to the reluctant heir.

Marlon Brando is quietly menacing as Vito Corleone, but it’s Al Pacino’s slow transformation from outsider to cold-blooded decision-maker that really anchors the film.

There’s no wasted noise here. Every look, pause, and conversation matters. It’s not flashy, it’s not rushed, and it doesn’t explain itself. The tension builds patiently, and when violence lands, it lands hard.

Related read: Check out 12 of the best Irish movies on Netflix

2. Marriage Story (90% on Rotten Tomatoes)

If you’re looking for deep and touching drama movie, this is one of the best films on Netflix Ireland. It’ll make you laugh, cry and smile all at the same time.

Marriage Story is a drama directed by Noah Baumbach (also known for The Squid and the Whale). It stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver.

So, here’s the lowdown: Johansson and Driver play a couple going through a coast-to-coast divorce.

They love each other, but not enough to stay married, and lawyers make everything messier. It’s a tale of love, heartbreak, and who gets custody of the kid.

3. Uncut Gems (90% on Rotten Tomatoes)

Loosely based on actual events, this crime/drama story will have you gripping your seat in anticipation.

A co-directed film, by brothers Josh and Benny Safdie, it tells the tales of how a jeweller makes a high-stakes bet that could either secure or destroy his family; with hideous consequences for the latter.

Starring Adam Sandler (Howard), Julia Fox, and Idina Menzel, this 2h15m-long movie is highly entertaining, and perfectly showcases Sandler’s ability as a serious actor in a leading role; just how far will Howard go to win at all costs?

Related read: Have a nosey at the 17 best series on Netflix Ireland when you’re finished here!

4. The Irishman (90% on Rotten Tomatoes)

Another of the best films on Netflix Ireland review-score wise is the Irishman.

Almost a biopic, this engrossing film is a fascinating tale of 1950s Philadelphia, and a hitman who worked for the Bufalino mafia family.

Directed by Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese, and starring cinema big-guns Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino, it’s everything you could want in a crime-drama movie.

Critically acclaimed for its cinematography and direction, the stars do a fantastic job depicting the times and events that actually happened, including The Irishman’s time under the infamous mafia big-man, Jimmy Hoffa.

Related read: Have a nosey at the best documentaries on Netflix Ireland

5. 13th (90% on Rotten Tomatoes)

Using authentic and historic footage from the 1950s and 1960s, that features the likes of Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X, as the backdrop, filmmaker Ava DuVernay explores what has led to the industrialised prison system in America, and why it is disproportionately filled with African-Americans.

Long before the Black Lives Matter movement started, the 13th amendment ensured that the only justification for being enslaved or imprisoned was as punishment for a criminal conviction.

The Director explores the intersection of race, justice, and commercially profitable mass incarceration of Americans.

Related read: See our guide to the best Irish movies of all time

6. Dolemite Is My Name (97% on Rotten Tomatoes)

If you’re looking for good movies on Netflix Ireland that’ll give you a giggle, lash on Dolemite Is My Name.

Part comedy, part drama, this film will have you in stitches and tears as star Eddy Murphy (as real-life notoriety Rudy Ray Moore) lives a scandalous and sometimes hilarious life through the creation of a character, the outrageous Dolemite.

Born to the seedy underground the sensational character becomes a kung-fu star that rallies against the establishment, all whilst providing the audience with chuckles along the way.

Directed by Craig Brewer, and also starring Wesley Snipes and Snoop Dogg, this film is just what you need for a fun night in.

7. Oppenheimer (93% on Rotten Tomatoes)

Now, a warning – while Oppenheimer is one of the best films on Netflix Ireland, it isn’t a casual watch – you need to commit to it.

Christopher Nolan strips away spectacle and builds tension through dialogue, silence, and relentless momentum.

Cillian Murphy carries the film with a performance that’s all sharp edges and internal pressure, charting the rise and moral unravelling of the man himself.

It’s talky, dense, and demanding, but never dull. You come out of it feeling impressed, uneasy, and very aware that intelligence without restraint can be terrifying.

8. Good Will Hunting (97% on Rotten Tomatoes)

Few films balance heart and intelligence as well as the brilliant Good Will Hunting (Damon’s youthful appearance will make you feel your age!).

He plays a mathematical genius hiding behind bravado and self-sabotage, while Robin Williams delivers one of the most grounded, human performances in modern cinema.

It’s a film about potential, fear, and the comfort of staying small. Funny in places, quietly devastating in others. That park bench scene still lands like a punch, no matter how many times you’ve seen it.

9. Dead Poets Society (84% on Rotten Tomatoes)

Dead Poets Society is a classic that a surprising number of people have yet to watch.

Robin Williams plays an English teacher who teaches his students how to think, not what to think. It’s gentle, idealistic, and increasingly heavy as it goes on.

Yes, it’s famous for the quotes. Yes, it’ll make you feel things. And yes, it still holds up. If you’ve ever regretted not taking a chance, this one will sting a bit.

10. Saving Private Ryan (94% on Rotten Tomatoes)

The opening 20 minutes alone justify Saving Private Ryan’s place in this article. It’s… well… I won’t spoil it. But it’s something else!

Steven Spielberg doesn’t romanticise war. He throws you straight into the chaos and lets it unfold without mercy. The rest of the film slows things down, focusing on duty, sacrifice, and the weight of command.

It’s brutal, exhausting, and deeply respectful of the people it depicts. Defo not an easy watch, and it’s likely a movie you won’t watch again, but when the credits roll, it leaves a mark.

11. The Fugitive (96% on Rotten Tomatoes)

This is one of the best thriller movies on Netflix Ireland and, while it’s an oldie, it’s well worth a watch!

Harrison Ford spends most of the film on the run, wrongly accused of murder, while Tommy Lee Jones chases him with absolute conviction and zero patience for excuses.

It’s tight, fast, and relentlessly entertaining. No nonsense, no filler, just smart pacing and memorable lines. If you want a film that wastes none of your time, this is it.

The top films on Netflix Ireland: What have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant films on Netflix Ireland from the guide above. Let me know which ones in the comments!

If you’ve watched any of the movies above and thought they were shite (Irish slang for bad, for our non-Irish readers), let me know, too.