Even though St. Patrick’s Day has passed, it’s still March so I though I’d share some of my favorite movies that I watch around this time of year. I’ve divided the list into three categories to making choosing what to watch a bit easier. Some of the movies are based on historical events, and those tend to be more violent. But others include sweet romantic comedies, musicals, and animated films perfect to watch as a family.
I will say that two of my all-time favorite movies on this list to watch with kids are The Secret of Roan Inish and The War of the Buttons. While not super-sappy movies, they are charming stories about younger kids who learn that magic exists in spite of the difficulties of the world around them. I hope you enjoy the movies on this list. While there were more that I could add, I didn’t want to make the list too long.
Blurbs and links courtesy of Amazon:
Family Friendly/Animated Movies
The Quiet Man ~ “John Wayne stars as Sean Thornton, a retired American boxing champion trying to put tragedy behind him by returning to Innisfree, the bucolic Irish village of his birth. He purchases his birthplace from its current owner, enraging the wealthy and bellicose Red Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen), who had designs on the property. On arriving at his cottage, Thornton finds it being swept out by Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O’Hara), a redheaded vision from whom he steals a not completely unwelcome kiss. After engaging in a subterfuge involving a horse race, some of the locals manage to get the disgruntled Red Will to allow his sister to be courted by the American. But the courtship ritual of the village is only the first of many local practices that the bewildered Thornton must endure if he is to have Mary Kate.”
I’ll be honest, I love this movie but it is anachronistic and I don’t think it could be made today. Maureen O’Hara’s character takes some physical abuse toward the end of the film that would never be filmed now. So if watching films with behavior that was once considered comedic (but no longer is now), you may want to skip this one. This film is beautifully shot, though, and this movie walked away with a ton of Oscars. Oh, and there is a great fight scene at the end of this movie between Sean and Red Will that is still considered a classic.
War of the Buttons ~ “The children of two Irish towns located on either side of an inlet in County Cork, form small armies and battle against each other in a neverending quest for supremacy.”
This is still one of my all-time favorite movies to watch with my kids. It’s a charming coming-of-age story about children in pre-war Ireland who battle every afternoon after school and where the battle trophies are buttons. Yet, in spite of the rivalry, these children form friendships which will save them all when they become young men who are forced to march off to a real war.
The Secret of Roan Inish ~ “Young Fiona lives with her grandparents in a small fishing village where she takes an active role to unravel the mysterious secrets.”
My other all-time favorite family movie on this list. This movie is about a young girl who lives on a very remote Irish island who decides to unravel the mystery of the Selkies (seals who turn into mysterious women) who supposedly stole her younger brother years earlier.
Darby O’Gill and the Little People ~ “The story of an Irish caretaker who manages to exact three wishes from Brian, king of the leprechauns.”
This is a Disney movie made in 1959. While it’s a bit silly, and the technology is a bit dated, it’s still a sweet story for the entire family.
Ondine ~ “A fisherman (Colin Farrell) hauls in an unexpected catch when a beautiful and mysterious woman gets tangled in his nets, in this charming and thrilling romance about fairy tales colliding with real life.”
This is a PG-13 romance that is a perfect movie for older kids. It’s a lovely story about the power of story and fairy tales and how love can save anyone.
Song of the Sea ~ “An Academy Award-nominated, hand-drawn masterpiece. The last seal-child, Saoirse, and her brother Ben, embark on an epic journey to save the world of magic in this enthralling fable for viewers of all ages.”
This is a new animated movie about a child Selkie (a seal-child) who is desperate to save the remaining magic left in this world. It’s a perfect move to watch with younger children.
The Secret of Kells ~ “In a remote medieval outpost of Ireland, young Brendan embarks on a new life of adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying a book brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the falry Aisling, a mysterious young wolf-girl, who helps him along the way. But with the barbarians closing in, will Brendan’s determination and artistic vision illuminate the darkness and show that enlightenment is the best fortification against evil?”
Another lovely animated film that weave Irish history and mythology into a story of a young boy who must face his greatest fears in order to save his world.
Thriller/War/Suspense/Detective Movies
In the Name of the Father ~ “Daniel Day-Lewis stars in this superb drama about an Irishman and his fight to overturn his wrongful conviction in an IRA bombing.”
Daniel Day-Lewis is such a great actor that I will watch any movie he’s in. But this movie, based on a true-life event, is one of my favorites. It’s tough to watch and quite gritty, but gives you a good feel for what life was like in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
Southie ~ “Three years ago when Danny Quinn left Southie, a tough Irish working-class neighborhood in South Boston, he left behind a world of crime and betrayal. Upon his return, Danny is forced to make a risky decision.”
This movie takes place in South Boston and is both a romance and a suspense movie. The romance is so subtle, yet so sweet, it helps take away the pain and hopelessness that all of these characters feel.
The Boxer ~ “Imprisoned for 14 years, a respected former IRA member returns home to open a boxing club – but rekindling an old romance and run-ins with militant friends threaten to derail his life.”
Another one of my favorite Daniel Day-Leis movies. This one is also both a romance and a suspense story where both storylines are so well intertwined, you really think—up to the very last minute of the movie–that things won’t work out. Until they do.
My Left Foot ~ “Daniel Day-Lewis won the 1989 Oscar(R) for Best Actor for his brilliant portrayal a physically challenged writer and painter Christy Brown.”
This story about an Irish artist with cerebral palsy will make you cry and cheer at the same time. It’s a great movie about the power of believing in oneself and how the human spirit can overcome any amount of suffering.
’71 ~ “Jack O’Connell (UNBROKEN) stars as a soldier caught behind enemy lines in this intense action thriller.”
This is a dark movie with a huge redemption arc about a young Protestant soldier working for the British who gets stuck in Belfast after dark in 1971, at the height of the Troubles. On the run from the IRA, he is saved by local Catholics who just want the war to end. Although it’s a violent, scary movie, it’s well worth watching.
Black ’47 ~ “One soldier’s ruthless pursuit of justice plays out against the darkest chapter of Irish history in this riveting revenge thriller.”
This is one of the darkest revenge movies I’ve ever seen. It’s violent and tragic and scary… but it’s so compelling I couldn’t turn it off. If you’re in the mood for a revenge thriller, this is the movie for you.
Michael Collins ~ “Michael Collins, the man and the movie, stands tall. The man is a hero whose fighting tactics became a model for other 20th-century struggles.”
A dramatic account of the real-life Michael Collins who fought for Irish independence and became a national hero.
The Wind that Shakes the Barley ~ “Legendary director Ken Loach’s epic tale of two brothers torn apart by the Irish revolt against the British. Cillian Murphy stars in this dramatic Cannes Palm D’Or winner.”
Another Irish revolutionary movie about two brothers who must go their separate ways. It’s tragic and sad but also compelling enough to keep you glued to the screen until the very end.
The Departed ~ “Martin Scorsese’s crime drama “The Departed” is set in South Boston where the state police force is waging an all-out war to take down the city’s top organized crime ring.”
Another film based in the Southie neighborhood in Boston. This is a classic Scorsese crime movie with lots of violence and bad guys and tough moral choices. It’s also great and if you’re in a crime drama mood, this is the one to watch.
Comedy/Romantic Comedy/Musicals
Waking Ned Devine ~ “A winning lottery ticket transforms the lives of the inhabitants of a rural Irish village.”
A super-cute comedy about a man who has a heart attack after he wins the lottery… and how his friends and neighbors seek to both honor his life and find his winning ticket.
Once ~ “An Irish street performer and a Czech pianist inspire harmonious music together in this film.”
This musical romance takes place in Dublin, with a true Dublin “busker” who falls in love and just wants to make beautiful music while he wins the girl of his dreams.
P.S. I Love You ~ “A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life.”
This romance, based on a book, will make you cry… until you stop and realize that true love never dies.
Leap Year ~ “An Irish leap year legend spurs a feisty Boston lass to follow her boyfriend to Dublin to propose marriage in this romantic comedy.”
Cute romantic comedy with lovely photography of Ireland. If you love RomComs, this is a great one to watch!
Intermission ~ “Cillian Murphy stars in this urban story about the journey in the search for true love. The film explores the nature of human lives, the damage of routines and the effects of having to change.”
This is a love story, but it’s also deeper than that. The characters are broken and tragic yet somehow find a way to heal themselves and each other in the midst of the turmoil of growing up.
The Commitments ~ “Jimmy Rabbitte aspires to manage the world’s greatest band, with only one music in mind: soul. By advertising for applicants in a newspaper and asking around to promising acquaintances, Jimmy holds auditions at his parents’ home and assembles a band together.”
This is an Irish musical movie about the power of friendship and how important it is to believe in yourself and those you love.
Sing Street ~ “Aiming to win the heart of the über-cool and beautiful Raphina, 14-year-old Conor forms a band with a few lads, and the group pours their heart into writing lyrics and shooting videos in 1980s Dublin.”
Another Irish musical movie that, so I’ve heard, may be coming to Broadway. It’s cute and sweet and snarky–just like fourteen-year-olds tend to be.
