St. Patrick’s Day is a widely celebrated holiday in honor of the Catholic patron of Ireland and while good St. Patrick’s Day movies don’t need to include the very day, they should exemplify the nation, culture, people, attitude, and history in one way or another. Irish cinema has often examined its own history in films like In the Name of the Father but the country's actors and filmmakers have worked with a variety of genres. Colin Farrell, Martin McDonagh, Brendan Gleeson and his family, Stuart Townsend, Saoirse Ronan, Liam Neeson, and Barry Keoghan are just a few names of Irish film industry titans who have taken over Hollywood.
The best St. Patrick’s Day movies must feature Irish characters or actors, or be predominantly set in Ireland. These films range from sweeping epics to goofy comedies, but they are all unmistakably Irish cinema. Whether it’s the characters, landscapes, or writing, movies from and about Ireland hold a special position in the culture. The best St. Patrick’s Day movies have a sprinkling of everything that makes Irish films great.
15 Leprechaun (1993)
- Rent on Amazon Video or Apple TV
This 1993 comedy-horror starring a young Jennifer Aniston falls under the “so bad it’s good” category. When a man returns to the U.S. after stealing a pot of gold from a leprechaun in Ireland, trouble ensues. The leprechaun follows the man to the States, and after being locked up in the basement for 10 years, the Irish creature, who is more monster than jolly little fairy, is set free by the house’s new owners. Obviously a little peeved about being trapped in a basement for a decade, the leprechaun starts to kill and wreak havoc in search of his missing gold.
Leprechaun joins the ranks of strange and odd St. Patrick's Day horror movies and puts a unique twist on a classic character of the holiday. Warwick Davis is a commendable actor, and the makeup that transforms him into a ghoulish creature from Ireland is spot on. The movie gained a notable cult following large enough to spawn various low-budget sequels, including one where the leprechaun goes into space.
14 In Bruges (2008)
- Stream on Starz
One of the darker St. Patrick's Day movies, In Bruges is a black comedy with crackling dialogue and sympathetic characters. Hitmen Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are forced to lie low in Bruges after Ray botches their last job. While Ken loves taking in the sights, Ray couldn’t be more bored, and gets himself into trouble as a result. But Ray eventally starts to get a new appreciation for life, which is unfortunate, as Ken’s next assignment is to kill his partner and friend.
Written and directed by Martin McDonagh and starring frequent collaborator Farrell, In Bruges is charming and disturbing all at the same time. While it technically takes place in Belgium, it gets St. Paddy’s Day points for the hilarious hijinks of Irish leads Farrell and Gleeson. The pair’s chemistry is electric, with Gleeson’s love of the titular city clashing with Farrell’s ennui. It’s an unconventional pick for a St. Patrick’s Day movie, but one that is sure to delight.
13 Once (2007)
- Stream on Hulu
Set in Dublin, Once is a touching film about the budding romance between two unnamed musicians. The man is an aspiring singer-songwriter who plays on the Dublin streets at night for money and works at his father’s vacuum repair shop by day. The woman is a pianist who does odd jobs with her family but longs for something more. The two eventually meet and bond over their musical interests during a spontaneous jam session. They decide to collaborate on writing material and become inspired to create a demo. During this time they begin to form an emotional connection which they express through to one another through their songs.
This romance-turned-Broadway musical is refreshing and honest, filled with great performances and majestic tunes. The songs in the movie are fantastic, and the film even won the 2008 Oscar for Best Original Song with “Falling Slowly.” Once perfectly captures the street life of Dublin and is one of the St. Patrick’s Day movies that rewards multiple rewatches, both for the songs and the melancholy romance.
12 The Commitments (1991)
- Stream on Hoopla
Based on the Roddy Doyle novel of the same name, this 1991 comedy is witty, clever, and brutally honest concerning egotism and the social dangers it can lead to. Protagonist Jimmy Rabbitte is bored with all the mundane music acts in Dublin, so he decides to start a band with soul and funk influences. He recruits a group of working-class musicians, and with the help of seasoned trumpeter Joey Fagan, the group starts to work their way to the top of Ireland’s music scene. Their high is short-lived, however, as the various egos in the group threaten to collapse the band from the inside.
The Commitments is a rare movie that is side-splittingly funny at one moment, and then soul-crushingly heartbreaking the next. The various personalities in the band are constantly clashing over the spotlight, which inevitably leads to turmoil and hardships. While the acting is solid, the real star of the movie is the music itself, which is actually played by the actors in the film. This movie is not just for those who enjoy St. Patrick's Day movies, but for anyone who can identify with the agony and ecstasy that comes with being in a band.
11 Far And Away (1992)
- Rent on Amazon Video or Apple TV
Starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, this romance is a classic example of an old-fashioned melodrama, complete with charming performances and astonishing visuals. Cruise and Kidman play Irish immigrants Joseph and Shannon, who come to America in 1893 in search of a better life. They begin to save money in hopes of one day owning their own land. Joseph becomes a bare-knuckle boxer and despite some success, loses most of the pair’s money in a fight. Cold and starving, the two fight through poverty and various challenges and begin to fall in love with one another.
This Ron Howard-directed movie works thanks to the charisma and charm of its leads. Far and Away might not be the most accurate portrayal of immigrant life, and it might not boast the most original screenplay, but it makes up for it with attractive visuals and heartfelt appeal, a signature of many St. Patrick's Day movies.
10 The Boondock Saints (1999)
- Stream on Prime Video or Peacock
Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery play the MacManus brothers, two poor Irish immigrants living in the crime-infested city of Boston in The Boondock Saints. After killing some mafia thugs in self-defense, the brothers get a taste for eliminating the dregs and scum of their city. They recruit their Italian Mafioso buddy Rocco to their cause, and the three start killing big-name gangsters one by one. Right on their heels is a detective played by the wonderfully hammy Willem Dafoe, and with every step, he comes closer to catching the brothers, though he also starts to understand and even support their actions.
This black comedy variation of St. Patrick's Day movies blends the styles of Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie. The movie didn’t even get a theatrical run initially but picked up an enormous cult following when it came out on DVD and video. Some thought the movie gratuitous, overly violent, and derivative, but that’s part of the appeal. The Boondock Saints is a fantastic action-comedy inspired by the likes of Death Wish and Pulp Fiction and a great way to get into the Irish spirit.
9 The Quiet Man (1952)
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John Ford won a Best Director Oscar for this 1952 classic that features romance, drama, comedy, and a little action for good measure. Frequent Ford collaborator John Wayne plays American boxer Sean Thornton, who decides to retire to the village in Ireland where he was born. Sean becomes smitten with a lovely but poor maiden, Mary Kate (Maureen O'Hara), and the two quickly fall in love. Problems inevitably arise however when Mary Kate’s brother Will forbids the two from marrying each other. Will challenges Sean to a fight, which Sean declines because of a dark chapter of his past.
The Quiet Man shows what happens when Western filmmakers take on Irish and St. Patrick's Day movies. Instead of the Old West, this Ford movie takes place in rural Ireland, which showcases some beautiful visuals of the highland countryside. The whole cast is fantastic, especially Wayne as the troubled boxer. The Quiet Man is a cinematic classic that shouldn’t be missed.
8 The Secret Of Kells (2009)
- Stream on Kanopy
Visually stunning and appealing to both children and adults, The Secret of Kells is a testament to the wonders of animation. Brendan (Evan McGuire) is a young boy who resides in a medieval outpost in Ireland that is under attack from Viking raids. The young boy comes across an ancient book that holds the key to secret powers. The book, however, is unfinished, and Brendan must journey into the nearby enchanted forest to conquer his fears and triumph over evil.
The film is based on the book of the same name but has an identity all its own. St. Patrick's Day movies are generally live-action, so it's notable enough that this one is animated, and the fact that the entire movie is all hand drawn is astonishing. In a world where computer animation is the new standard, The Secret of Kells’ old-school approach is refreshing and visually arresting. The drawings and character designs are especially unique and varied, creating a breathtakingly mystical world. It’s a must-watch, not just for its Irish backdrop but for its mesmerizing animation.
7 Gangs Of New York (2002)
- Stream on Paramount Plus
Gangs of New York is Martin Scorsese’s ultra-violent tale of revenge, greed, redemption, and pride that stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Amsterdam Vallon, a young Irishman who sees his father murdered in a gang fight in New York. Years later, he returns to the city (circa 1863) to avenge his father’s death. The city is now run by gangs, the most powerful headed by Bill “the Butcher” Cutting, who believes that immigrants, especially the Irish, shouldn’t be allowed in New York. St. Patrick's Day movies often depict the Irish people being put down by the English, and Scorsese portrays a similar sentiment with these "native" Americans.
While the movie might not be the most historically accurate, it's still a thrilling epic. Scorsese proves himself as a cinematic master, and this production was his passion project of New York’s blood-soaked past. It’s worth watching for Daniel Day-Lewis’ remarkably method performance of Bill the Butcher alone. A movie about Irish pride and identity, it’s a must-watch for St. Patrick's Day.
6 The Guard (2011)
- Stream on Starz
John Michael McDonagh wrote and directed The Guard, a hilarious 2011 crime comedy. Brendan Gleeson plays the part of a confrontational Western Ireland cop who has problems indulging in alcohol, drugs, and sex workers. After uncovering a murder, his precinct is visited by an FBI agent played by Don Cheadle, who thinks the crime is tied to four Irish drug traffickers. The two characters then decide to team up on the case with hilarious mishaps quickly following.
The Guard is essentially Lethal Weapon in West Ireland. The buddy shenanigans of actors Gleeson and Cheadle are well-played here as mismatched cops, and the two have excellent chemistry on-screen. Gleeson is especially convincing as the grouchy Irish cop with a sympathetic sense of humor. The Guard works as many St. Patrick's Day movies do, as a clever comedy with situational humor about Irish culture.
5 Brooklyn (2015)
- Rent on Amazon Video or Apple TV
This Sundance hit racked up 3 Academy Award Nominations — Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress, and Best Picture. In one of Saoirse Ronan's best roles, she plays Ellis Lacey, who leaves Ireland in the 1950s to journey to Brooklyn, New York. Initially homesick, Ellis eventually finds comfort and happiness in the arms of an Italian-American plumber. However, after a family tragedy, Ellis travels back to Ireland and must decide which country truly has her heart.
Everything about this St. Patrick's Day movie is worth of praise, but the definitive highlight is Ronan’s brilliant performance as Ellis. The actress is able to convey powerful emotions with subtle expressive facial movements that say a thousand words. Director John Crowley successfully transports viewers back to the early '50s to weave this tale of romance and drama, which is a poignant, heartbreaking story of what life was like for Irish immigrants at that time.
4 In The Name Of The Father (1993)
- Rent on Amazon Video or Apple TV
Like many St. Patrick's Day movies, In the Name of the Father is based on a true story but still integrates rich characterizations. It's a superb film directed by Jim Sheridan and starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Gerry Conlon, a small-time thief who is falsely accused by the British police of an IRA bombing that killed several people in a London pub. When he and his friends are pressured by the police, they reluctantly confess to the crime. Conlon spends the next 15 years in prison while his father desperately tries to prove his innocence with the help of a British attorney.
Some elements of this true story have been overlooked or altered, as is often the case when transposing a factual tale to the realm of cinema. In the Name of the Father is still an impressive piece of movie-making with a great ensemble cast and almost flawless direction.
3 My Left Foot (1989)
- Stream on Paramount Plus
Another Sheridan and Day-Lewis collaboration, this 1989 drama is based on a true story. My Left Foot tells the remarkable tale of Christy Brown, a man who lives with cerebral palsy, and battles its challenges, becoming an accomplished writer. The movie is told through flashbacks that chronicle Christy growing up with his poor Irish family and struggling to connect with the outside world. With some determination and courage, Christy eventually learns to write and paint with his only functional limb, his left foot.
Day-Lewis earned himself his first Best Actor Oscar for encapsulating everything endearing about the human spirit in My Left Foot. His performance as Christy Brown is riveting, as he takes viewers on his life journey from struggling to write one word with a piece of chalk to writing entire books of poetry. It's an inspiring St. Patrick's Day movie that should not be missed.
2 The Departed (2004)
- Rent on Amazon Video or Apple TV
Martin Scorsese’s 2006 thriller The Departed is about two Irish-American Massachusetts police officers that live on opposite sides of the law. DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan, who is working undercover in the Irish mob to nail head boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) while Matt Damon plays Colin Sullivan, who works with the state police but is also Costello’s informant, feeding the mob boss inside information. Both Costigan and Sullivan have the task of uncovering the identity of who the other “rat” is.
Scorsese won his first Best Director Oscar for The Departed, with many considering this to be among his best work. St. Patrick's Day movies aren't always as fast-paced as this but Scorsese's direction and the wonderfully built ensemble cast including the three leads, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, and Mark Wahlberg make it breathtaking to watch. A gritty take on the Irish mob of South Boston, The Departed is the rare sort of movie that's as entertaining as it is infinitely rewatchable.
1 Michael Collins (1996)
- Stream on Tubi
Liam Neeson stars in Michael Collins as the eponymous character, the man who led the IRA against the United Kingdom in the 1920s. Collins is consumed with the thought of an independent Ireland. After a string of disastrous defeats, he comes up with the tactic of assassinating Irish citizens who are working as informers for the UK government. With a series of brutally violent attacks, Collins gains independence for his country, only to see it engulfed in a consequent civil war that he must contend with.
Michael Collins is a viciously realistic look at the non-conventional tactics and strategies of the Ireland freedom movement. It works in large part thanks to Neeson’s brilliant performance. Fantastic talents like the late Alan Rickman and the always-lovely Julia Roberts also put in noteworthy performances. The film's cinematography is flat-out gorgeous, perfectly capturing the look of tension and turmoil taking place in Ireland at the time. Michael Collins is a powerful biopic that effectively captures the Irish struggle for a free nation and shows that St. Patrick's Day movies can also examine darker aspects of the nation's history.