Ireland is a country that has produced a lot of fantastic movies, whether on its own, using its own landscape as the backdrop for many beautiful stories, or, as is the case with many films, in co-production with other countries and studios. Per Stage32, an international co-production involves producers from two or more countries coming together to co-produce a movie. In such cases, the film can rightfully be deemed as belonging to the producer’s native cinema, even if the story itself is set elsewhere. That’s the beauty of film, really!
Irish movies, actors, directors, and other professionals have always made waves in international markets. From actress Saoirse Ronan to the hit series Derry Girls, there’s no shortage of Irish representation on the global stage. Here are the best Irish movies of the 2010s, ranked.
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7 Good Vibrations
The Works International
Based on the true-life story of Irish record store owner Terri Hooley, Good Vibrations follows the story of the development of the Belfast punk scene in the midst of The Troubles. With a fantastic performance from Game of Thrones star Richard Dormer and an energetic soundtrack (including iconic punk track “Teenage Kicks” by The Undertones) that helps the movie chug along, this is truly one of the greatest films from the emerald isle.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
6 Song of the Sea
Cartoon Saloon
The animated fantasy film Song of the Sea follows the tale of 10-year-old Irish boy Ben, who discovers that his sister is a selkie (a creature in Irish mythology) tasked with freeing faerie creatures from Macha, a Celtic goddess. It’s part of director Tomm Moore’s Irish folklore trilogy and carries a sense of childlike wonder throughout. It’s beautifully animated and is guaranteed to transport you to a completely different and magical world — one that is very distinctively Irish.
5 The Favourite
Fox Searchlight Pictures
The Favourite focuses on the relationship between the Duchess of Marlborough (portrayed by Rachel Weisz) and Abigail Marsham (portrayed by Emma Stone). These women are trying to become the favorite of Queen Anne, portrayed by acting superstar Olivia Colman. The main women characters are complex, and the actresses chosen capture that aspect of them beautifully and with sensitivity towards the sexual aspect of the story. The Favourite was adored by critics and audiences alike, due to its cast and the writing, and it should definitely be on your watchlist!
4 Handsome Devil
Icon Productions
Handsome Devil is a coming-of-age drama, set in the fictional all-boys boarding school Wood Hill. The story is told through the lens of Ned, portrayed by Fionn O’Shea, the only student in the whole school who doesn’t seem to be obsessed with rugby. When star player Conor is assigned to be his roommate, the two don’t get along at first, but they grow closer over the course of the film. Handsome Devil is a fantastic film, which tells an important story of friendship between two boys who seemingly have nothing in common. It challenges traditional expectations of masculinity in a very important way, making it one of the best Irish films.
3 The F Word / What If
No Trace Camping
Released in some countries as What If, this film tells the tale of a young man named Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) and a young woman named Chantry (Zoe Kazan) who meet and decide to be friends, due to the young woman, Chantry, already having a boyfriend. Despite everyone around them trying to tell them they can’t just be friends, the two try it anyway and begin their friendship by talking about the classic sandwich, the Fool’s Gold. The trials of being friends while Wallace has feelings for Chantry are hilarious to watch, with a tinge of bitter-sweetness as the viewer is convinced the two can never be together. The F Word is a charming film with a great cast, and should be on your watch list.
2 Brooklyn
BBC Films
Based on the novel of the same name, Brooklyn follows the story of a young Irish woman who emigrates to Brooklyn and ends up being forced to choose between her old life in Enniscorthy, Ireland or her new life in Brooklyn. Starring Saoirse Ronan as Ellis Lacey, our protagonist, and Emory Cohen as her love interest Tony, the film is beautiful and heart-breaking, and tells an important story that home is not always where you happen to be born. Brooklyn is often considered the best film of 2015, and for good reason: this should be on your watch list.
1 Sing Street
TWC
Sing Street is a musical coming of age story about a young Irish boy trying to impress a girl in the 1980s. When he is removed from his expensive fee-paying school and moved to a non fee paying school, Conor meets Raphina, the girl he wants to impress. The two start a band along with some other people from school and chaos ensues. With a beautiful soundtrack, featuring 80s alternative classics from the likes of The Cure and Duran Duran, along with original songs, this film is brimming with charm and heart. It tells a simple story, but in a complex way. It really is one of the greatest Irish films of all time.
