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The best Irish movies of all time - SEE VIDEOS

Be sure to add these to your Netflix queue!

By
MEGHAN SWEENEY,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Saturday, July 9, 2011, 7:15 AM
Updated Saturday, July 9, 2011, 7:16 AM

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The hardest working band in the world - The Commitments
The hardest working band in the world - The Commitments


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Read more: The worst Irish movies ever made - SEE VIDEO

10. "Waking Ned Devine"

Charming comedy set in a tiny, rural Irish town. When lottery winner Ned Devine is found dead - lottery ticket in hand and all - the townsfolk ban together to fool the authorities into thinking Ned is alive so they can receive the cash and share it. Starring Ian Bannen and Fionnula Flanagan.

9. "Once"

A beautiful, romantic, original musical set in the streets of Dublin. Glen Hansard of The Frames plays a street musician who meets fellow musician and Czech immigrant (Marketa Irglova). Together they work through pain, the past and new love through captivating music. Hansard and Irglova won the Oscar for Best Original Song (2007).

8. "The Crying Game"

The controversial film that put Irish director/screenwriter Neil Jordan on the map. Set in rural Ireland and bustling London, IRA member Fergus (Stephen Rea) develops a friendship with his captive, Jody (Forest Whittaker), and the kidnapping goes horribly wrong. Fergus then flees to London, where he seeks out Jody's girlfriend, Dil. An intense and thorny plot ensues.

7. "The Snapper"

Endearing Roddy Doyle novel-turned-screenplay. An unwed 20-year-old named Sharon Curly shakes up a working class Irish community when she becomes pregnant and refuses to name the father. Though full of quick wit and sarcastic banter, the dramedy has its touching, "family values" moments. Starring Colm Meaney and Tina Kellegher.

6. "Intermission"

A dark comedy with an Irish star-studded cast. "Intermission" follows the lives of a handful of dysfunctional characters whose choices all unwittingly affect each other's lives. Set in Dublin, the film takes on the grand themes of life, love and the law. Starring Cillian Murphy and Colin Farrell.

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23 Comments

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edmundburke | Jul 11, 2011, 12:04 PM EDT
Agree that Rising of the Moon (John Ford, 1957) & Wind that Shakes the Barley should be on the list. Honorable mention for Into the West and Wind that Shakes the Barley. However, I strongly think Michael Collins and Man of Aran (Flaherty documentary 1930s) should be on the list. To accomodate them, I would bump Once, The Snapper, and Crying Game. Also, I think when the list is meant to encompass "Irish" films, it means films directed and produced by Irish people, about Irish themed subjects or material, and clearly a product of Ireland. I think a big exception had to be made for The Quiet Man given the heavy involvement of Irish in the film and the enormous impact the movie made worldwide. But folks should understand that Angela's Ashes, Ryan's Daughter, and This is My Father, all good movies, were largely, if not exclusively, American or British films. That said, there are a number of American and British films that are great representations of Ireland and Irish themes. I would include in this group, from America, John Ford's The Informer (early '30s) and Shake Hands with the Devil (with James Cagney, late '50s), and from England, Odd Man Out (late '40s, with James Mason) and Captain Boycott (late '40s, with a cameo of Robert Donat playing Charles S. Parnell). Don't recall whether the excellent movie Young Cassiday (early 60s, meant to be the life of Sean O'Casey) was American or English. I recently saw an interesting English film from 1947 on TCM starring the late Jean Simmons entitled "Hungry Hill", on the theme of landlord and tenant conflict in the 19th Century. Unfortunately, not on DVD.

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Redrusty66 | Jul 10, 2011, 06:21 PM EDT
I agree with irish22usofa, where the heck is Angela's Ashes on this list. One of the best overall movies period, and when listing Irish themed movies in particular, tis almost a crime to not include it in the top 10, tis a bit daft of you Meghan Sweeney

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alab7777 | Jul 10, 2011, 04:06 PM EDT
One of my all time favorites "Ryan's Daughter"

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irish22usofa | Jul 10, 2011, 12:26 PM EDT
Also, did you give any thought to Angela's Ashes? Despite being a very sad movie, it too, is one of my personal favorites.

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irish22usofa | Jul 10, 2011, 12:16 PM EDT
Once again, in your effort to be politically correct, your near-sightedness has even blurred your views when it comes to the cinema. The Wind That Shakes the Barley should have been among the Top 10 - if not #1. I enjoy many of your articles but grow weary of your liberal slant.

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luckysusan | Jul 10, 2011, 11:14 AM EDT
Of course The Commitments is the best - But where is The Secret of Roan Inish - one of the most magical, lyrical movies of all? Great performances, story, music..

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JBRAFTREE | Jul 10, 2011, 12:22 AM EDT
Don't recall ever having the opportunity to see "When Brendan meets Trudy", it looks enjoyable.

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JBRAFTREE | Jul 10, 2011, 12:17 AM EDT
I wonder what ever happened to the lead singer of the "Commitments"??

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Switman2 | Jul 10, 2011, 12:01 AM EDT
All good choices but maybe next year there should be a top 20 film list.

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OrenTruitt | Jul 09, 2011, 09:44 PM EDT
The Rising of the Moon by John Ford should have been on the BEST MOVIE list.

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OrenTruitt | Jul 09, 2011, 09:43 PM EDT
I've seen nearly all of these and the should have put The Crying Game on the WORST movies list. How about INTO THE WEST?

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EileenL | Jul 09, 2011, 09:36 PM EDT
How about INTO THE WEST with Gabriel Byrne and Ellen Barkin and two little Boys that had me crying and cheering them on , The Horse was fantastic too ,please watch it with your children great movie

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teddybear | Jul 09, 2011, 05:44 PM EDT
My very, very favorite movie of all time is "The Quiet Man".

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Irishjule | Jul 09, 2011, 05:06 PM EDT
I submitted a comment five minutes ago and it is not here. Why?

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Irishjule | Jul 09, 2011, 05:01 PM EDT
I LOVED Waking Ned DeVine. I have watched it 3 times...so funny. Why isn't The Quiet Man on the list? The Field is one of my favorites as is The Wind that Shakes the Barley and In the Name of the Father. American TV ran a series called A Garden of Herbs...excellent. It is on DVD.

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