28 of the Best Irish Movies to Watch for an Escape

Ireland is a country known for its rich oral tradition. For 2,000 years, Celtic myths were kept alive through designated storytellers called seanchaí, who traveled from village to village with their tales. Today, Ireland's filmmakers, actors, playwrights, novelists, and poets continue that storytelling tradition (as do a few remaining Seanchaí).

While some of the best Irish movies feature folktales (Ondine), most look at Irish life through the eyes of ordinary people, from the Revolution in the '20s (The Wind that Shakes the Barley) to the Troubles in the '90s (The Crying Game). Biopics like My Left Foot and Hunger are riveting portraits of the individuals who made Irish history. We've also included coming-of-age movies like Circle of Friends, and comedies such as Maeve Higgins's Extra Ordinary and Waking Ned Divine—actually, just play that one right now if you need a pick-me-up.

Ranging from classic to modern, take a peek at some of the best Ireland-set and Irish-themed movies that you can stream on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu.