funny safari movies

19 Inspirational Safari Movies

Watch a classic safari movie before you go.

Getting excited about an upcoming African safari holiday? Hollywood has a long history of creative safari movies about all things Africa and wildlife – dating back to 1932’s “Congorilla” documentary of jungle and savannah wildlife activity in Belgian Congo (now D.R. Congo).

The genre has evolved over the decades, meaning there is now a good choice of films available to bring the magic of the safari experience into your living room. Check out our list below of the most inspirational safari movies to watch before you go – the first section of the list features traditional movies, and the latter section focusses on documentary safari movies. All are highly recommended and well worth viewing!

Out of Africa

A Hollywood classic, Out of Africa is one of those rare films that you can’t fail to fall in love with. Whether you’re watching it for the dazzling scenery of the Kenyan landscapes or the drama and romance, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford make for compelling viewing in this tale of Africa, war, and wildlife.

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Gorillas in the Mist

Like Out of Africa , the movie is based on a true story, but here the similarities end. Instead of a romantic interest, Gorillas in the Mist tells the tale of naturalist Sigourney Weaver’s touching relationship with the group of primates she studies in the Rwandan jungle . With the threat of poachers hovering in the background and strife all around in Rwanda, there’s high drama as well as some magnificent footage of real gorillas in their natural habitat.

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The Lion King

When you think of safaris and big game, it’s hard not to immediately imagine the Circle of Life scene from the beginning of Disney’s epic African adventure, The Lion King. It might be animation and talking lions rather than real-life nature scenes, but adults and kids alike can’t fail to be inspired to take a safari holiday after watching Simba on screen!

Lion King fan? Read our take on Hakuna Matata meaning .

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The African Queen

An old fashioned tale of action, romance, and daring exploits in the wilds of the jungle, The African Queen is a fantastic romp with two of the era’s best-loved actors – Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. Shot in Uganda and the Congo, it was one of the first movies to use real locations and backgrounds which adds an unparalleled realism to the story.

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White Hunter Black Heart

Clint Eastwood’s film is based loosely on the experiences of writer Peter Viertel and director John Huston on the set of The Africa Queen. But whilst love triumphs over all in the 1950s classic, this movie is much darker and explores the morality of hunting wild animals. When filmmaker John Wilson becomes obsessed with the safari and elephants, disaster begins to stir. White Hunter Black Heart is a must watch!

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This interesting film starring the legendary John Wayne removes the cowboy from his favourite setting and transports him to a vast African landscape. Filmed in Tanzania , it’s a dramatic story about a group of hunters, a female wildlife photographer and the race to save a group of baby elephants from a terrible fate – life in a zoo. With exhilarating wildlife chases and magnificent Mount Meru providing a dramatic backdrop, Hatari! is a thrilling romp of a safari movie.

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Road to Zanzibar

After the success of contemporary films in the safari genre, Bob Hope parodies African adventures with this comic farce. Involving love triangles, races through the jungle, swimming with leopards and plenty of jewels, the fast-paced comedy is a fun trip set in 1940’s Africa.

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The Naked Prey

Set in the veld of South Africa, The Naked Prey is an eerie movie starring Cornel Wilde in a dark tale that switches the traditional roles of a hunting safari. The guide (Wilde) leads a troop of hunters through an African tribe to start the hunt, but when the group offends the locals, he finds himself in the role of the animals – naked and being chased through the landscape by warriors from the tribe.

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Everyone’s favourite African jungle hero has been the subject of many films over the Hollywood years, but in 1999 Disney gave him a 3D makeover and plenty of animated jungle action before the happy ending with Jane. Featuring a paranoid elephant and a smart-mouthed gorilla, Tarzan   is a family film that brings the jungle to life with sweeping scenes.

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Married couple George Adamson and Joy Adamson live in northern Kenya for George’s work as a senior game warden. After George’s team have to kill a man-eating lion and its lioness, their three young female cubs being orphaned. Although difficult to begin with, George and Joy wean and take care of the three cubs, who they adopt as pets. Born Free is a classic film about safari life in Africa, heartwarming, and with stunning human – big cat interaction.

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To Walk With Lions

To Walk With Lions follows the later years of the life of George Adamson who was featured saving a lion cub in the safari movie Born Free . His life was transformed with this action, and he went on to become a lifelong animal activist. Well worth a watch in tandem with Born Free .

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Something of an amusingly naff found footage film set in the South African bush. In a wild corner of the country, a young Zulu girl teams up with an American tourist group on safari. The group enters an uncharted area where they are forced to face the untamed wild.

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Documentary Safari Movies:

The six-part mini-series, narrated by David Attenborough, takes an in-depth look at various African habitats and the wildlife that inhabit them. Each episode is wonderful, and the highlights for pre-safari viewing are on the African deserts – the Kalahari, Namib, and Sahara, the savanna of East Africa, and the rainforests of the Congo Basin.

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The Last Lions

This is a feature-length National Geographic documentary filmed in Botswana’s Okavango Delta region  and narrated by Jeremy Irons. It focusses on one lioness raising her cubs and protecting them against the many threats they face, including poaching. Whilst the film is about this one mother, it deals more broadly with the decline of the African lion from a population of many millions in the 20th century to just 20,000 today.

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The Ivory Game

This 2016 documentary examines the global ivory trade and the various actors sustaining and fighting it, examine the actions of governments, environmental preservationists, poachers, and ivory merchants. The film takes viewers from the elephant’s home ranges in Tanzania, Kenya, and Zambia to China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam where ivory is seen as a status symbol, and demand is rife. As with so many other movies on this list, it’s one that’s well worth watching if you hope to see elephants on your next safari.

Watch now on Netflix

Battle at Kruger

OK, we know it’s not actually a safari move, but no list of this nature would be complete without reference to the most epic homemade safari video ever! If you’ve not yet seen it, set aside eight minutes right now to watch this confrontation between a herd of buffalo , a pride of lions and a crocodile . (Read up on battle at Kruger .)

Any classic safari movies we’re missing from the list? Please let us know in the comments below! Made it to the end of our safari film list and still have itchy feet? Check out these 50 movies to inspire wanderlust .

Other significant African movies

Whilst not specifically safari movies, these films listed below are all set – and filmed – in Africa, where the landscape and culture play a significant part. All well worth adding to your ‘to watch’ list before you take a safari!

Blood Diamond (2006)

Leonardo DiCaprio stars in a  war thriller smuggling diamonds, set against the backdrop of the Sierra Leone civil war.

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Hotel Rwanda (2004)

This moving drama is based on the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, the hotel manager of  Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali during the Rwandan civil war.

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The Last King of Scotland (2006)

A historical drama about Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan who becomes the personal physician and close confidante of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

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BORN FREE should also be included in this list. One of the best African / Kenya / Safari movies ever!!

Great shout Vince – added!

My candidate for the single best safari film of all time is King Solomon’s Mines, the one with Debra Kerr and Stewart Granger (it made him an international star). It was the third of five filmings of H. Rider Haggard’s novel.

It had the most authentic tribesmen, and its iconic drum music was recycled in countless safari “B” movies as well as in John Ford’s Mogambo, another good African movie.

I’m going to have to check that one out David, thanks for the recommendation!

Nowhere in africa

Safari movies: Mogambo, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, The Ghost and the Darkness

All around Africa movies: The Power of One,Tarzan: The Legend of Greystoke, Cry Freedom, Hotel Rwanda, Sometimes in April, Blood Diamond

Hey Mark – some excellent choices there, and a couple I haven’t seen yet. Will check them out, thanks!

Pls I want to know the name of a comedy movie in Africa jungle where in one occasion in the movie African man was squatting then a helicopter with rope hanging catched his pants and continue flying then the man eventually got his head straight into a hippopotamus’s anus.

One I enjoyed from my childhood was A Far Off Place, starring Reese Witherspoon.

Thanks for the tip – I’ve not heard of that one, will check it out!

Oh, and George of the Jungle and Sahara. I realize they’re not Safari films, but set in Africa, at least.

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Top 18 Safari Movies to watch before your African Safari

• January 29, 2020
• Author & Photographer: Teri Didjurgis

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. ( Disclosures )

Films to inspire your African Safari

My earliest memory of opening up a National Geographic magazine was seeing elephants, lion, zebras, rhinos and other animals in Africa along with tribes and cultures so distant to mine.

Going on safari has been a dream to have a unique experience of seeing this wildlife adventure, experiencing different cultures and spectacular scenery! 

Until my first trip to Africa, I explored through these safari films featuring the breathtaking landscapes, historical events of locals and human interactions with wildlife and the stars of the savannah featuring conservation programs and struggles to preserve them.

Out of Africa (1985)

• Available on Amazon

The movie, Out of Africa , inspired many a traveler to take a trip to Africa and specifically Kenya. The movie features breathtaking scenery of Kenya including the areas around Nairobi and the Maasai Mara.

The movie, based on the book by Karen Blixen , is a memoir of her life in the early 1900’s in Kenya, then known as British East Africa to colonists. Meryl Streep and Robert Redford play the lead characters for this romance, though I believe the true romance of the film is Karen falling in love with the land and people of Kenya.

Karen writes and reveals in the movie her own personal experience as a woman in this time period running a coffee plantation in spite of her absent husband and interactions with locals many of which were part of the infamous Happy Valley Set of the Kenya Colony in the 1920’s. The story touches on events of the time including colonialism, World War I, shooting safaris and her interactions with the local Kikuyu tribe. A distance time.

On a trip to Kenya, you can visit her home and conversations with the locals will reveal that the love went both ways. Karen introduced Kenya to many in the world both through her 1937 book and the subsequent 1985 Academy Award winning film.

Gorillas in the Mist (1988)

Gorillas in the Mist is another true story based on the life of Dian Fossey. The story tells the tale of the naturalist, played by Sigourney Weaver, and her relationship with the group of primates she studies in the Congo.

Studying them at close quarters, Fossey develops a means of communicating with the gorillas, and in so doing becomes obsessed with the beasts’ well-being. Appalled by the poaching of the gorillas for their skins, Fossey complains to the Ugandan government, which dismisses her by explaining that poaching is the only means by which some of the Ugandan natives can themselves survive.

With the threat of poachers hovering in the background and strife all around in Rwanda, there’s high drama as well as some magnificent footage of real gorillas in their natural habitat.

BBC Africa (2013)

The BBC created this incredible six-part mini series, BBC Africa , on Africa’s wild places and wildlife.

Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, he takes us on an awe-inspiring journey through on of the most diverse places on earth including the Kalahari desert, the Sahara Desert, the savannah of East Africa, and jungles of the Congo as well as diverse wildlife including black rhinos, mountain gorillas, and much more of Africa’s amazing wildlife.

The Last Lions (2012)

From the lush wetlands of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, this documentary focuses on one lioness, named Ma di Tau (“Mother of Lions”), as she tries to protect her cubs against the many threats they face in the wild including poaching.

The Last Lions is a documentary film about the heartbreaking decline of the lion population in Africa. Fifty years ago there were close to 500 million lions in Africa. Today there are around 20,000.

Lions, unlike elephants which are far more numerous, have virtually no protection under government mandate or through international accords. The safari eco-tourist industry brings in over 200 billion dollars per year with lions being a top “must-see” and yet little is done to protect the lions. In addition, big cats are at the very top of the food chain and their elimination would wreak havoc on all species below them in ecosystem collapse.

The documentary was made in collaboration between National Geographic and their Explorers-in-Residence, Dereck and Beverly Joubert, who are filmmakers from Botswana. The film is narrated by Jeremy Irons.

The Ivory Game

• Available on Netflix

It takes 2 seconds seeing a parade of elephants in the wild to be enthralled by these highly intelligent and emotional beasts. The interactions between the young bulls and then groups of mothers and their calves show the complexity of their family relationships.

The movie, Ivory Game , is a documentary revealing the Ivory Trade industry endangering the elephants. The filmmakers show all side of this Ivory industry from the insatiable Chinese market and the local poachers to the wildlife conversationalists and government programs to save the elephants.

I watched this movie on the night before I went on a week long safari in Tanzania where the documentary is partially filmed. As a tourist, I just in awe of seeing these animals, but the documentary provided the rich context of ecosystems in Africa where local poachers living in poverty are enticed to sell off the expensive ivory by dealers and also local people are losing crops when the elephants migrate.

The filmmakers looks at all sides working on solutions to save both the elephants and locals interests while stopping the Ivory Trade.

Born Free (1966)

Born Free  is a 1966 British drama film starring Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers as Joy and George Adamson, a real-life couple who raised Elsa the Lioness, an orphaned lion cub, to adulthood, and released her into the wilderness of Kenya.

At a national park in Kenya, English game warden George Adamson (Bill Travers) and his wife, Joy (Virginia McKenna), care for three orphaned lion cubs. The lion cubs parents were killed after attacking villagers.

After the two larger lions are shipped off to a zoo in the Netherlands, the smallest of the three, Elsa, stays with the couple. When Elsa is blamed for causing an elephant stampede in the nearby village, head warden John Kendall (Geoffrey Keen) demands the young lion either be trained to survive in the wilds of the Serengeti or be sent to a zoo.

The making of the film was a life-changing experience for actors Virginia McKenna and her husband Bill Travers, who became animal rights activists and were instrumental in creating the  Born Free Foundation .

To Walk with Lions (1999)

To Walk with Lions  is a 1999 film directed by Carl Schultz and starring Richard Harris as George Adamson. 

It follows the later years of wild game preserver/naturalist Adamson whose life was transformed into an animal activist after his experience saving a lion cub shown in the movie Born Free .

After his marriage to Joy Adamson ended, Adamson spent the latter part of his life protecting the lions and other wildlife in the Kora National Reserve, Kenya. His program helps ease zoo-bred lions into their natural habitat. The fact-based film focuses on his struggle against poachers and government corruption blocking his quest for wildlife preservation.

The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)

Set in 1898 and starring Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas, The Ghost and the Darkness is based on the true story of two lions in East Africa that killed dozens of people working on a railroad.

Sir Robert Beaumont (Tom Wilkinson) is behind schedule on a railroad in Africa. Enlisting noted engineer John Henry Patterson (Val Kilmer) to right the ship, Beaumont expects results. Everything seems great until the crew discovers the mutilated corpse of the project’s foreman (Henry Cele), seemingly killed by a lion. After several more attacks, Patterson calls in famed hunter Charles Remington (Michael Douglas), who has finally met his match in the bloodthirsty lions.

Don’t let this movie put you off safaris. This true story will highlight the struggles in Africa between local populations, development and wildlife that has been a part of their story for over a hundred years.

The Lion King (1994)

When you think of safaris and big game, it’s hard not to immediately imagine the Circle of Life scene from the beginning of Disney’s epic African adventure,  The Lion King . It might be animation and talking lions rather than real life nature scenes, but adults and kids alike can’t fail to be inspired to take a safari holiday after watching Simba on screen.

The Disney imagineers definitely did their homework. On safari, you will find many of the names of the animals are Swahili and the characteristics of the animals is spot on. I especially saw it in cranky old bachelor lions and the Pummba.

The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

Everyone’s favorite jungle hero has been the subject of many films over the Hollywood years.

In The Legend of Tarzan , it’s been nearly a decade since Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgård), also known as John Clayton III, left Africa to live in Victorian England with his wife Jane.

Danger lurks on the horizon as Leon Rom (Christoph Waltz), a treacherous envoy for King Leopold, devises a scheme that lures the couple to the Congo.

Rom plans to capture Tarzan and deliver him to an old enemy in exchange for diamonds. When Jane becomes a pawn in his devious plot, Tarzan must return to the jungle to save the woman he loves.

Other Disney Animated versions

• Tarzan (2014)
• The Jungle Book (2016)
• The Jungle Book (1967)

I will always be partial to The Jungle Book (1967) for the music.  You can’t help but hum “The Bare Necessities”  or “I wanna be like you” after hearing it.

Road to Zanzibar (1941)

Road to Zanzibar is a trip back to old Hollywood. 

After the success of contemporary films in the safari genre, Bob Hope parodies African adventures with this farce.

The movie is classic Hollywood with ridiculous scenarios including love triangles, races through the jungle, swimming with leopards and plenty of jewels, the fast-paced comedy is a fun trip.

The African Queen (1952)

Another one from old Hollywood, Th e African Queen focuses on life in Africa during World War II.

After religious spinster’s (Katharine Hepburn) missionary brother is killed in WWI Africa, dissolute steamer captain (Humphrey Bogart) offers her safe passage. She’s not satisfied so she persuades him to destroy a German gunboat. The two spend most of their time fighting with each other rather than the Germans. In true Hollywood fashion, time alone on the river leads to love.

The movie, shot in Uganda and the Congo, was one of the first movies to use real locations and backgrounds.

White Hunter Black Heart (1990)

Clint Eastwood’s film is based loosely on the experiences of writer Peter Viertel and director John Huston on the set of The African Queen . 

Love trumps in the 1950s classic The Africa Queen, but White Hunter Black Heart is much darker and explores the morality of hunting wild animals.

Hard-living, macho movie director John Wilson (Clint Eastwood) arrives in 1950s Zimbabwe to prepare for his next film. Accompanied by screenwriter Pete Verrill (Jeff Fahey), Wilson becomes far more interested in shooting an elephant than getting ready for the shoot.

Determined, Wilson moves production to a village where a native hunter helps him in his quest. Obsessed with this goal even as filming grows ever more chaotic, the director begins to question the ethics and origins of his fixation.

King Solomon’s Mines (1950)

King Solomon’s Mines , based on H. Rider Haggard’s novel is about a rescue party that sets out to find an explorer who has disappeared on an African treasure hunt.

The search leads the party across the continent and through the terrors of jungle, swamp, and desert.

Their ultimate destination is the fabled lost mine of Solomon, a source of unimaginable wealth and deadly danger.

There is also a 1985 version of King Solomon’s Mines starring Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone, which has a more Indiana Jones feel.

Mogambo (1953)

In M ogambo , Victor Marswell (Clark Gable) is a big-game hunter in Kenya. After Eloise Kelly (Ava Gardner) is stood up by a friend there, she falls in with Marswell.

Shortly thereafter, the Nordleys (Grace Kelly, Donald Sinden) arrive for a gorilla safari. Mrs. Nordley, disillusioned with her husband, takes a liking to Marswell, and the two have a brief affair. Kelly grows jealous, and the two women engage in a battle of wills over the hunter, while Mr. Nordley remains oblivious to it all. 

This is an old classic Hollywood triangle filmed in Kenya and Uganda. The music featured in the film was mostly performed by local native tribes.

Hatari! (1962)

Hatari , meaning “Danger” in Swahili , stars the legendary John Wayne takes the cowboy from the Old West to the African landscape. Filmed in Tanzania in the Ngorongoro Crater, this old Hollywood film is about a group of who traps animals for zoos. While not an activity I endorse today, this was the historical reality at the time.

A female wildlife photographer joins the group to document and finds herself the mother of baby elephants she tries to save.

The movie features the amazing scenery and wildlife of Tanzania and I recognized many of the places still from my recent safari.

The Naked Prey (1966)

The Naked Prey is set in the South African veld. This eerie movie starring Cornel Wilde is a dark tale that switched the traditional roles of a hunting safari.

The guide leads a troop of hunters through a tribe’s colony to start the hunt, but when the group offends the locals, he finds himself in the role of the animals – naked and being chased through the landscape by warriors from the tribe.

Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Passion for Life

The Young Indiana Jones is a TV series, created by Steven Spielberg, featuring a 10 and later 17-year-old Indiana Jones on his adventures in his early year.  The set includes 3 seasons and 24 episodes

The “Passion for Life” episode focuses on a 10-year-old Indiana Jones as he goes on safari with his parent in British East Africa in September 1910.

Young Jones befriends a Massai boy named Meto who helps him in his search for the rare Fringe-Eared Oryx for former US President Teddy Roosevelt.

The scenery is spectacular and in typical Indiana Jones style, an adventure ensues as Indy finds himself in the middle of it all.   The episode is one hour, but the DVD set also has a complimentary disc with documentaries exploring the themes in each episode with historical clips and commentary.

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Safari Movies

In the top there are new films of 2021, a plot description and trailers for films that have already been released.

In the not-too-distant future: after a global catastrophe has wiped out nearly all of humanity on Earth, an elite astronaut from Space Colony Kepler must make a decision that will seal the fate of the people on both planets.

An American family on holiday in Africa becomes lost in a game reserve and stalked by lions.

When her husband abruptly ends their marriage, empty nester Kate embarks on a solo second honeymoon in Africa, finding purpose and potential romance.

An American web designer inherits an animal reserve in South Africa. A no-nonsense ranger takes her on a safari in hopes that she will fall in love with the land, the animals and him.

Writer Harry Street reflects on his life as he lies dying from an infection while on safari in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Victor Marswell runs a big game trapping company in Kenya. Eloise Kelly is ditched there, and an immediate attraction happens between them. Then Mr. and Mrs. Nordley show up for their gorilla documenting safari. Mrs. Nordley is not infatuated with her husband any more, and takes a liking to Marswell. The two men and two women have some difficulty arranging these emotions to their mutual satisfaction, but eventually succeed.

The ReZort, a post apocalyptic safari, offers paying guests the opportunity to kill zombies in the wake of an outbreak.

Richard Dacier owns a tour agency specialized on organizing safaris for European tourists eager to confront the African wild life. Actually, he took the job after his father and never went into the savanna by himself. As he owes big money to some mobster, he is compelled to convey a fake tourist, with a suspicious suitcase, toward Mozambic. To avoid suspicion from the authorities, he is supposed to tour a group of tourists as usual. The only problem - he is completely unexperienced as a guide!

Inspector Rizzo in Napoli gets a message from a policeman from South Africa who wants to meet him. Immediately before this meeting the south African policeman is killed. Dying he shows Rizzo a picture of his little son Bodo. Rizzo travels to Johannesburg to find out what the policeman was working on and to find Bodo.

Against all the odds, a thirteen year old boy in Malawi invents an unconventional way to save his family and village from famine.

The extraordinary story of three Rwandan children who attempt to realize the dream of their life: to attend the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2010 at Johannesburg.

Out of Africa tells the story of the life of Danish author Karen Blixen, who at the beginning of the 20th century moved to Africa to build a new life for herself. The film is based on the autobiographical novel by Karen Blixen from 1937.

Corporate billionaire Edward Cole and working class mechanic Carter Chambers are worlds apart. At a crossroads in their lives, they share a hospital room and discover they have two things in common: a desire to spend the time they have left doing everything they ever wanted to do and an unrealized need to come to terms with who they are. Together they embark on the road trip of a lifetime, becoming friends along the way and learning to live life to the fullest, with insight and humor.

During World War One an English adventurer, an American elephant poacher and the latter's attractive young daughter, set out to destroy a German battle-cruiser which is awaiting repairs in an inlet just off Zanzibar. The story is based on a novel by Wilbur Smith, which in turn is very loosely based on events involving the light cruiser SMS Königsberg, which was sunk after taking refuge in Rufigi delta in 1915.

Scouring the ocean depths for treasure-laden shipwrecks is business as usual for a thrill-seeking underwater adventurer and his wisecracking buddy. But when these two cross paths with a beautiful doctor, they find themselves on the ultimate treasure hunt.

An orphaned cheetah becomes the best friend and pet of a young boy living in South Africa.

An ex-mercenary turned smuggler. A Mende fisherman. Amid the explosive civil war overtaking 1999 Sierra Leone, these men join for two desperate missions: recovering a rare pink diamond of immense value and rescuing the fisherman's son conscripted as a child soldier into the brutal rebel forces ripping a swath of torture and bloodshed countrywide.

Based on the true story of Robin, a handsome, brilliant and adventurous man whose life takes a dramatic turn when polio leaves him paralyzed.

Young Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan decides it's time for an adventure after he finishes his formal education, so he decides to try his luck in Uganda, and arrives during the downfall of President Obote. General Idi Amin comes to power and asks Garrigan to become his personal doctor.

Two westerners, a priest and a teacher find themselves in the middle of the Rwandan genocide and face a moral dilemna. Do they place themselves in danger and protect the refugees, or escape the country with their lives? Based on a true story.

Inspired by true events, this film takes place in Rwanda in the 1990s when more than a million Tutsis were killed in a genocide that went mostly unnoticed by the rest of the world. Hotel owner Paul Rusesabagina houses over a thousand refuges in his hotel in attempt to save their lives.

A tough female reporter and her cameraman boyfriend team up with a four-man commando unit in the New Guinea jungle whom are fighting flesh-eating zombies. NB: Not to be confused with the 1981 American-made film with the same title.

Tells the story of Rainbow Randolph, the corrupt, costumed star of a popular children's TV show, who is fired over a bribery scandal and replaced by squeaky-clean Smoochy, a puffy fuscia rhinoceros. As Smoochy catapults to fame - scoring hit ratings and the affections of a network executive - Randolph makes the unsuspecting rhino the target of his numerous outrageous attempts to exact revenge and reclaim his status as America's sweetheart.

Sir Robert Beaumont is behind schedule on a railroad in Africa. Enlisting noted engineer John Henry Patterson to right the ship, Beaumont expects results. Everything seems great until the crew discovers the mutilated corpse of the project's foreman, seemingly killed by a lion. After several more attacks, Patterson calls in famed hunter Charles Remington, who has finally met his match in the bloodthirsty lions.

A girl, Carola, whose vacation in Kenya takes an interesting turn when she becomes infatuated with a Masai. Carola decides to leave her boyfriend to stay with her lover. There, she has to adapt to the Masai's way of life and get used to their food which includes milk mixed with blood. She also has to face her husband's attitude towards women and what he expects from a wife. Nonetheless, Carola is welcomed warmly into the tribe she has chosen to join.

Laura has spent years looking for her sister Sara who went missing in the depths of the jungle in the Congo. Neither the NGO she works for, nor the embassy, have news on her whereabouts until a photo appears of Sara in a mining town. Apparently, Sara is being held captive by The Hawk, the fearsome rebel leader who controls the mafias behind the prized mineral coltan.

Along the Atlantic coast, a soon-to-be-inaugurated futuristic tower looms over a suburb of Dakar. Ada, 17, is in love with Souleiman, a young construction worker. But she has been promised to another man. One night, Souleiman and his co-workers leave the country by sea, in hope of a better future. Several days later, a fire ruins Ada’s wedding and a mysterious fever starts to spread. Little does Ada know that Souleiman has returned.

Navy SEAL Lieutenant A.K. Waters and his elite squadron of tactical specialists are forced to choose between their duty and their humanity, between following orders by ignoring the conflict that surrounds them, or finding the courage to follow their conscience and protect a group of innocent refugees. When the democratic government of Nigeria collapses and the country is taken over by a ruthless military dictator, Waters, a fiercely loyal and hardened veteran is dispatched on a routine mission to retrieve a Doctors Without Borders physician.

King T'Challa returns home from America to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country's new leader. However, T'Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne by factions within his own country as well as without. Using powers reserved to Wakandan kings, T'Challa assumes the Black Panther mantel to join with girlfriend Nakia, the queen-mother, his princess-kid sister, members of the Dora Milaje (the Wakandan 'special forces') and an American secret agent, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.

Chronicles a single day in the summer of 1989 when the future president of the United States, Barack Obama, wooed his future First Lady on an epic first date across Chicago's South Side.

Miguel, a heroic Spanish doctor, puts himself in harm's way to deliver medical treatment to the victims of military uprisings in Africa.

The story of humankind's last stand against a cataclysmic alien invasion. Set in the war-ravaged African countryside, a U.S. soldier and a French foreign aid worker team up to survive the alien onslaught. Their bond will be tested as they search for refuge across a crumbling world.

African Cats captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna. The story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a once banished lion.

After a bad blind date, a man and woman find themselves stuck together at a resort for families, where their attractions grows as their respective kids benefit from the burgeoning relationship.

From his childhood in Poland to his adolescence in Nice to his years as a student in Paris and his tough training as a pilot during World War II, this tragi-comedy tells the romantic story of Romain Gary, one of the most famous French novelists and sole writer to have won the Goncourt Prize for French literature two times.

Ginger Baker is known for playing in Cream and Blind Faith, but the world's greatest drummer didn’t hit his stride until 1972, when he arrived in Nigeria and discovered Fela Kuti's Afrobeat. After leaving Nigeria, Ginger returned to his pattern of drug-induced self-destruction, and countless groundbreaking musical works, eventually settling in South Africa, where the 73-year-old lives with his young bride and 39 polo ponies. This documentary includes interviews with Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Carlos Santana and more. Beware of Mr. Baker! With every smash of the drum is a man smashing his way through life.

Irish Commandant Pat Quinlan leads a stand off with troops against French and Belgian Mercenaries in the Congo during in the early 1960s.

A 25 year old young man with dreams of becoming a dancer despite the fact that he's paralyzed from the waist down. His dreams are shattered when his uncle falls seriously ill. To save him, he decides to go work for petrol traffickers.

The 10 Best Safari Movies to Watch Before Traveling to Africa

Accommodation , Wildlife

Africa is home to some of the most beautiful and exotic wildlife in the world. Going on a safari is an experience of a lifetime, but it can be even more exciting if you have an idea of what to expect. Watching safari movies is a great way to prepare for your trip and get excited about all the animals you’ll see.

In this article, we’ll be looking at the 10 best safari movies to watch before traveling to Africa. From classic Hollywood movies to documentaries, we’ve got you covered. 

1. Out of Africa (1985).

Out of Africa is a classic romantic drama film set in Kenya during the early 20th century. It follows the story of a Danish baroness who falls in love with a big-game hunter while on safari. The movie features stunning landscapes and wildlife, and it’s a great way to get a sense of what life was like in colonial Africa.

2. The African Queen (1951)

The African Queen is a classic adventure film set in East Africa during World War I. It stars Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn as two people who team up to take down a German warship. The movie features beautiful scenery and some thrilling action sequences, and it’s a great way to get a sense of the excitement of safari life. 

3. Gorillas in the Mist (1988).

Gorillas in the Mist is a biographical drama film based on the life of Dian Fossey, a scientist who devoted her life to studying and protecting mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The movie features stunning footage of these amazing creatures and the beautiful African landscape, and it’s a must-watch for anyone interested in wildlife conservation. 

4. Hatari! (1962).

Hatari! is a classic adventure film set in Tanzania. It stars John Wayne as the leader of a group of big-game hunters who capture wild animals for zoos. The movie features some exciting action scenes and beautiful landscapes, and it’s a great way to get a sense of the excitement of a safari.

5. The Ghost and the Darkness (1996).

The Ghost and the Darkness is a historical adventure film set in Kenya during the late 19th century. It follows the story of two man-eating lions that terrorize a group of workers building a railroad. The movie features stunning scenery and some intense action scenes, and it’s a great way to get a sense of the dangers of safari life. 

6. The Lion King (1994).

The Lion King is a classic animated film set in the African savanna. It follows the story of a young lion named Simba who learns about life and leadership from his father, the king of the Pride Lands. The movie features stunning animation and a memorable soundtrack, and it’s a great way to get a sense of the beauty. 

7. Blood Diamond (2006).

Blood Diamond is a political thriller set in Sierra Leone during the late 1990s. It follows the story of a smuggler who finds a rare pink diamond while working in the country’s civil war. The movie features stunning landscapes and powerful performances, and it’s a great way to get a sense of the political and social issues that affect African countries. 

8. The Last King of Scotland (2006).

The Last King of Scotland is a historical drama film set in Uganda during the 1970s. It follows the story of a Scottish doctor who becomes the personal physician of the country’s dictator, Idi Amin. The movie features stunning scenery and powerful performances, and it’s a great way to get a sense of the political turmoil that has affected many African countries.

9. Born Free (1966).

Based on the true story of George and Joy Adamson, this movie tells the story of their efforts to raise and release a lioness named Elsa back into the wild. Filmed on location in Kenya, the movie features stunning landscapes of the African savannah and offers a unique glimpse into the challenges of wildlife conservation. 

10. The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980).

The Gods Must Be Crazy is a comedy film set in Botswana. It follows the story of a bushman who finds a Coca-Cola bottle and tries to return it to the gods. The movie features beautiful scenery and some hilarious moments, and it’s a great way to get a sense of the humor and everyday life in rural Africa. 

Conclusion .

Watching safari movies before traveling to Africa can enhance your safari experience by familiarizing you with the African wildlife and landscapes, preparing you for your journey, and inspiring you for the adventure ahead. From the classic romance of Out of Africa to the thrilling action of The Ghost and the Darkness, the movies on this list offer a diverse and captivating glimpse into the beauty and complexity of Africa.

Are these movies suitable for children?

Most of the movies on this list are suitable for children, but some, such as Blood Diamond and The Ghost and the Darkness, may contain violence and adult themes.

Where can I find these movies?

Many of these movies are available for streaming on popular platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. They can also be rented or purchased on DVD or Blu-ray.

Do I need to watch all of these movies before my safari?

No, you don’t need to watch all of these movies before your safari. You can pick and choose the ones that interest you the most.

Are there any other safari movies you would recommend?

Yes, there are many other great safari movies out there, including Hatari!, The Lion in Winter, and The Naked Prey, to name a few.

How can I make the most of my safari experience?

Be sure to follow the guidance of your safari guide and respect the wildlife and their natural habitats. Bring plenty of sunscreen, insect repellent, and comfortable clothing and shoes, and most importantly, enjoy the adventure of a lifetime!

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Safari Movies To Watch Before You Travel To Africa

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Since the genre has developed over the years, there are now a number of films that can recreate the magic of a safari in your living room.

See our selection of the most inspirational safari movies to watch below; the first portion of the list focuses on classic safari movies, and the latter section is devoted to movies. All are quite advisable and definitely worth watching!

I Dreamed Of Africa

Although it didn't merit any Oscars, this movie nonetheless managed to make me want to travel to Africa. The movie is based on the true story of an Italian woman, Kuki Gallman, who moved to Africa to manage a farm. similar to Under the Tuscan Sun but taking place in Africa.

The movie, which is based on Kuki's memoir I Dreamed of Africa, is both devastating and uplifting at various points. It's unquestionably one of the best movies about an African safari you can see before visiting.

The Lion King

It's difficult not to picture the Circle of Life moment from the opening of Disney's epic African adventure, The Lion King , when you think about safaris and large game.

Children and adults alike can't help but be motivated to book a safari vacation after watching Simba on screen, even though it features animation and talking lions instead of authentic natural scenes.

Gorillas In The Mist

Another movie based on Dian Fossey's true story is Gorillas in the Mist (played by Sigourney Weaver). In the movie, primatologist Dian Fossey is seen visiting the Congo to observe gorilla behavior.

Although she must battle poachers who kill her after years of working to save the mountain gorillas from extinction, she learns their language and gestures.

The African Queen

The African Queen is a classic story of adventure, romance, and daring escapades in the wilds of the jungle. It stars Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, two of the most well-known performers of the time.

It was one of the first movies to employ genuine locales and backgrounds, giving the plot an unmatched level of realism. It was shot in Uganda and the Congo.

Out Of Africa

Oh, Merryl Streep and Robert Redford, you two co-wrote and co-starred in a fantastic African safari film when you were young. A movie called Out of Africa, which takes place in colonial Africa, won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The movie chronicles Karen Blixen's life as she starts a coffee plantation in Africa.

Our film, which is based on the autobiographical book of the same name, illustrates Karen's tumultuous existence in Kenya and includes a side plot about a youthful love affair with Robbie Red. It is one of the movies on this list that depicts elements of an African safari.

Tarzan from Disney is the best safari film for kids to watch. Most of us are familiar with Tarzan's made-up tale. a baby human who was raised by gorillas in the deepest part of the Congo.

Although there are several movies about Tarzan, I believe Disney does the finest job of bringing it to life. Both adults and children will enjoy this tale, which is a feel-good safari film with killer music by Phil Collins. One of the best animated movies from disney according to Bingepost so this is one recommendation you can't miss.

George and Joy Adamson, a married couple, reside in northern Kenya due to George's employment as a senior game warden. The three tiny female pups of the man-eating lion and its lioness were left orphaned after George's crew had to kill them.

George and Joy wean and care for the three cubs, whom they adopt as pets, despite the initial difficulty. Born Free is a beloved movie about African safari life that features touching human-big cat interactions.

African Cats

This movie follows two families as they try to build a house in an unexplored area in one of the most isolated parts of the world. Stunning photographs will steal your breath away as you come face to face with these majestic rulers of the savanna and their real-life love, humor, and tenacity.

It's a heartwarming, exhilarating event that brings together family ties and the strength and majesty of the wild.

White Hunter, Black Heart

This drama, which stars Clint Eastwood in both the lead role and the director role, centers on a film director who is driven to distraction by a dangerous obsession. Based on Peter Viertel's 1953 novel about his relationship with director John Huston while making The African Queen in central Africa, "White Hunter, Black Heart" tells the story of that relationship.

Road To Zanzibar

Hope and Crosby play Fearless and Chuck, two American sideshow artists lost in the jungle, in the comedy-adventure movie Road to Zanzibar.

After their human cannonball act caused a fire that destroyed the circus, they became involved with a larcenous duo of Brooklyn performers (Dorothy Lamour and Una Merkel) who were eager to take their money from them. After being tricked into joining the ladies on a safari, Chuck and Fearless soon find themselves in the hands of barbaric tribesmen who force Fearless to engage in a wild wrestling match with a gorilla.

People Also Ask

Is safari based on a true story.

The Movie "Safari" is a real footage taken in 2016.

What Are Some Films About Africa?

• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - Malawi.
• Gorillas in the Mist - Rwanda.
• I Dreamed of Africa - Kenya.
• King Solomon's Mines - Zimbabwe.
• The Constant Gardener - Kenya.
• Born Free - Kenya.
• Out of Africa - Kenya.
• Jock of the Bushveld - South Africa.

What Should I Watch Before Safari?

• Out of Africa (1985)
• Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
• To Walk with Lions (1999)
• The Lion King (1994)

Are you eager to visit Africa? Safari movies have never received much attention, but they are excellent if you want to visit Africa soon because they provide you with a preview of what to expect there. Never forget to have fun with your loved ones and friends when getting ready for your subsequent safari.

About The Authors

Tara Weaver - I love Tanzania Wildlife Safaris. 🇹🇿 🦁

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10 Best African Safari Movies

If you’re thinking about going on an African safari and need a bit of visual inspiration, here’s our pick of the 10 Best African Safari Movies and documentaries , ranging from edge-of-your-seat thrillers to true life conservation stories.

Our must-watch African movies & documentaries:

Dive into the thrilling world of African safaris with our top picks for the best African safari movies. These films offer a cinematic journey through the wild landscapes of Africa, capturing the essence of adventure, wildlife, and the spirit of the safari experience. Perfect for those dreaming of or planning an African adventure, these movies range from gripping thrillers to heartfelt stories of conservation and connection with nature.

1. The Lion King

This classic Disney movie is still great to watch (after more than two decades) for its amazing music, powerful story and of course all your favourite animal characters, from loveable Pumbaa to wise Rafiki.

2. BBC Africa

You can’t go on a safari to Africa without watching the BBC’s incredible six-part mini series on the continent’s wild places and wildlife, narrated by the wonderful Sir David Attenborough.

This series covers black rhinos, the Kalahari desert, the savannah of East Africa, the wildlife of the Congo, animals living in southern Africa, the Sahara Desert and the future of conservation.

3. Gorillas in the Mist

Based on the true story of Diane Fossey, an American naturalist who dedicated her life to mountain gorilla research and conservation in the jungles of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The movie, which stars Sigourney Weaver, shows the challenges Fossey faced in fighting poachers and bureaucrats, and the sacrifices she made to help the severely endangered primates with beautiful shots of real gorillas in their natural habitat.

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4. the last lions.

A collaboration between National Geographic and filmmakers  Beverly Joubert, The Last Lions is a documentary film about the heartbreaking decline of the lion population in Africa.

The film is focused on one lioness as she tries to protect her cubs against the many threats they face in the wild.

5. The Ghost and the Darkness

Set in 1898 and starring Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas, this movie is based on the true story of two lions in East Africa that killed dozens of people working on a railroad. The railroad company decides to bring in a famed American hunter to kill the lions, but the carnage continues. Don’t let this story put you off going on safari to see lions though!

6. Out of Africa

This classic film, directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, beautifully captures the essence of life in Kenya during the early 20th century. It’s a must-watch for those interested in historical depictions of African safaris and wildlife.

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These films offer a window into the diverse and captivating world of African safaris. They not only entertain but also educate about the unique wildlife and challenges faced in African conservation. These movies are essential viewing for anyone passionate about adventure, wildlife, and the enduring beauty of Africa’s natural landscapes.

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The 30+ Best G-Rated Animal Movies

List of G-Rated animal movies, ranked from best to worst with movie trailers when available. This list takes the best G-Rated animal movies and pits them against each other to see once and for all what the greatest G-Rated Animals movie of all time is. This list of popular G-Rated animal movies includes information like who directed the film, when it was released and which actors starred in the movie. If you think the top G-Rated Animals movie isn't as high as it should be then be sure to vote it up so it can take its rightful place among the other great G-Rated Animals films on this list. If you're trying to find a specific G-Rated Animals film you can search this list and filter to find what you're looking for.

The list you're viewing has a variety of movies, like White Wilderness and Winged Migration, in it.

If you're trying to find out "What are the best G-Rated animal movies?" and "What are the most famous G-Rated animal movies?" then this list is the perfect resource for you.

Use this list if you're looking for some new animal movies that are rated G . Between Netflix, Hulu and other services there are thousands of great animal movies rated G, so get out there and start watching.

Share the list with your friends so that they can vote too. {#nodes}

Jacques Perrin and James Algar are among the directors that have worked on a G Animals film.

A Bug's Life

Dive into the colorful world of minuscule insects with this animated masterpiece that follows an inventive ant named Flik on his journey to find help for his colony from the tyranny of greedy grasshoppers. Along the way, he assembles a ragtag group of circus bugs who become unexpected allies in his quest to save his home. This comical tale packed with endearing and quirky characters will leave audiences reevaluating their small backyard friends.

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101 Dalmatians

In this live-action adaptation of the 1961 animated classic, audiences delight in the thrilling adventure of daring dalmatians Pongo and Perdita as they battle the wicked Cruella de Vil. Dog lovers can't help but root for the canine couple as they outmaneuver this cunning foe to save their 15 puppies from a fur-filled fate. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of London, this heartwarming tale will have families captivated and cheering for the black-and-white spotted heroes.

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The Aristocats

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The Lion King

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Lady and the Tramp

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The Jungle Book

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The Rescuers Down Under

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Meet Benji, an adorable stray dog who warms the hearts of a small-town community and saves two kidnapped youngsters with his incredible canine cunning. Showcasing the bond between humans and their furry companions, this lovable film highlights the incredible intelligence and resourcefulness of our four-legged friends. A warm and timeless classic, this heartwarming story will have audiences smiling and cheering for the crafty, lovable Benji.

• # 74 of 177 on The Best Animal Movies Of All Time, Ranked
• # 153 of 189 on The 180+ Top Kids Movies
• # 94 of 169 on The 165 Best Tearjerker Movies of All Time, Ranked

The Adventures of Milo and Otis

Follow the charming journey of two unlikely best friends - Milo, a curious orange kitten, and Otis, a pug-nosed puppy - as they embark on a heartwarming adventure through the natural world. Navigating various obstacles and challenges that test their courage and friendship, this beautifully shot live-action film has become a family favorite. Imbued with stunning cinematography and a tender narrative, it captures the essence of love, companionship, and survival.

• # 54 of 177 on The Best Animal Movies Of All Time, Ranked
• # 113 of 200 on The 195+ Greatest Adventure Movies
• # 20 of 33 on The Greatest Classic Films The Whole Family Will Love

For the Love of Benji

In this thrilling follow-up to the original Benji , the beloved canine hero finds himself lost in Athens after being separated from his human family. On a quest to reunite with them, he uncovers a nefarious plot involving secret agents, stolen secrets, and a race against time. With its blend of suspense, adventure, and heartwarming moments, this sequel continues to charm audiences young and old.

The Rescuers

Embark on an adventure with Bernard and Miss Bianca, two intrepid mice from the Rescue Aid Society who set off to rescue a kidnapped young girl named Penny. Through teamwork and determination, these pint-sized heroes battle nefarious villains to save their new friend. Filled with humor and heart, this delightful animated film showcases the power of friendship and the importance of believing in oneself.

• # 89 of 459 on The 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
• # 79 of 189 on The 180+ Top Kids Movies
• # 74 of 375 on The Best Movies Based On Books

Lassie Come Home

When a struggling family is forced to sell their beloved collie Lassie to a wealthy duke, the faithful dog embarks on an incredible journey to reunite with her young master. Along the way, Lassie shows courage, loyalty, and determination as she faces numerous challenges and perils. This inspiring film about friendship and devotion resonates with animal lovers and families alike and remains a cinematic treasure.

• # 229 of 375 on The Best Movies Based On Books
• # 130 of 177 on The Best Animal Movies Of All Time, Ranked
• # 46 of 101 on The 100+ Best Movies For 3-Year-Old Toddlers

All Dogs Go to Heaven

Travel to a magical world where dogs return to Earth as angels in this engaging animated tale featuring Charlie B. Barkin, a German Shepherd who escapes from doggy heaven to uncover the truth behind his untimely demise. Teaming up with his best buddy, Itchy Itchiford, Charlie's journey takes both comedic and heartwarming turns as he discovers what it truly means to be a hero. Loaded with unforgettable tunes, whimsical characters, and uplifting messages, this film is perfect for dog-loving audiences.

• Dig Deeper... Animation Is The Only Thing Keeping 'All Dogs Go to Heaven' In The Kids' Films Genre
• # 160 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 549 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies

The Land Before Time

Delve into an ancient world of dinosaurs as a brave young Apatosaurus named Littlefoot sets off on a perilous journey to search for the legendary Great Valley, a land of lush vegetation and safety. Joined by four other young dinosaurs, they forge a path through a world of danger and adversity while learning the true value of friendship. This animated classic, filled with adventure and heart, has captured the imagination of generations.

• # 102 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 33 of 459 on The 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
• # 59 of 278 on 'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime

Winged Migration

Soar alongside birds from around the world in this breathtaking documentary that captures their incredible migratory journeys across vast distances and diverse landscapes. Filmed with innovative technology, this visually stunning film immerses viewers in the sights, sounds, and challenges faced by these majestic creatures during their annual migrations. An awe-inspiring celebration of nature's beauty and resilience, this documentary will captivate and educate viewers of all ages.

• # 41 of 94 on The Best Foreign Documentary Films
• # 9 of 16 on 16 Groundbreaking Documentaries That Are Inherently Flawed
• # 11 of 56 on The Best Documentaries About Animals

The Secret of NIMH

Embark on a thrilling and mystical adventure with Mrs. Brisby, a brave and determined field mouse seeking the help of a group of intelligent rats to save her sick child and their home. This gripping animated film explores themes of family, selflessness, and scientific experimentation as Mrs. Brisby uncovers the secrets of NIMH while facing dangerous challenges. With its visually stunning animation, engaging storyline, and memorable characters, this magical tale ravels both children and adults.

• Dig Deeper... ‘The Secret of NIMH’ Scarred A Generation Of Children (And Has An Even Weirder Backstory)
• # 175 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 103 of 459 on The 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies

Arctic Tale

Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the frozen Arctic tundra in this visually stunning documentary that follows the lives of two captivating animals: a polar bear cub called Nanu and a walrus pup named Seela. As they navigate the harsh realities of survival in their rapidly changing environment, this film educates viewers about the importance of climate change, wildlife conservation, and interconnected ecosystems. A touching and eye-opening experience, this film holds a special place in the hearts of nature enthusiasts and animal lovers alike.

• # 4 of 70 on The Best Climate Change Documentaries
• # 17 of 56 on The Best Documentaries About Animals
• # 26 of 103 on The 100+ Best G-Rated Documentary Movies

James and the Giant Peach

Witness the fantastical adventure of young orphan James, who embarks on a journey across the Atlantic Ocean inside a massive, magical peach inhabited by charming and quirky insects. Together, they navigate various obstacles and challenges as James learns the true meaning of family, friendship, and self-discovery. This beloved stop-motion animation film delights audiences with its enchanting visuals, inspiring story, and unforgettable characters.

• Dig Deeper... ‘James and the Giant Peach’ Was A Beautiful Nightmare Of A Children’s Movie (On Purpose)
• # 111 of 459 on The 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
• # 137 of 375 on The Best Movies Based On Books

An American Tail

Join the courageous young mouse Fievel Mousekewitz as he journeys from Russia to America in search of a better life, only to be separated from his family along the way. With perseverance and determination, Fievel encounters new friends who help guide him through the perilous streets of New York City to reunite with his loved ones. A heartwarming tale of courage and hope, this animated classic captivates audiences with its emotive storytelling, memorable music, and lovable characters.

• # 152 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 71 of 459 on The 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
• # 72 of 204 on Musical Movies With The Best Songs

An All Dogs Christmas Carol

Join Charlie and his canine friends as they celebrate the holiday season in this charming animated adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol , set in the world of All Dogs Go to Heaven . Through a magical, ghostly journey, the characters learn valuable lessons about love, kindness, and the true spirit of the holidays. Filled with lovable characters and heartwarming moments, this festive film will delight and inspire viewers of all ages.

• # 99 of 132 on The Best Christmas Movies Of All Time
• # 58 of 78 on The Best Christmas Movies for Kids
• # 41 of 65 on The Best Animated Movies Of The '90s

Animals Are Beautiful People

Explore the fascinating and humorous world of African wildlife in this lighthearted documentary that presents the animal kingdom in a way audiences have never seen before. With its unique blend of educational insight and entertaining storytelling, this film showcases the intricate behaviors, social structures, and incredible intelligence of the various creatures that inhabit the African landscape. This compelling viewing experience will delight and inspire animal lovers of all ages.

All Dogs Go to Heaven 2

Revisit the beloved world of Charlie B. Barkin and Itchy Itchiford in this heartwarming sequel that sees the heavenly dogs return to Earth to retrieve Gabriel's horn, which has inadvertently fallen into the hands of a nefarious demon dog. Along the way, they encounter new friends, challenges, and opportunities for redemption. With its irresistible blend of adventure, humor, and memorable songs, this engaging follow-up appeals to loyal fans of the original and newcomers alike.

• # 388 of 459 on The 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
• # 12 of 14 on Underrated Animated Movies With Terrifying Villains
• # 30 of 43 on The 40+ Best Movies About Talking Dogs

The Cave of the Yellow Dog

Experience the bond between a young Mongolian girl named Nansa and a stray dog she discovers while herding her family's sheep in this heartwarming and visually stunning film. Set against the backdrop of the breathtaking Mongolian countryside, this tale captures the challenges of nomadic life, the importance of respecting the natural world, and the universal connection between humans and animals. Engaging and poignant, it reminds audiences of the power and beauty that lie in the simplest of stories.

Turtle: The Incredible Journey

Follow the extraordinary migration of a loggerhead turtle as she travels from the beach where she hatched to the oceans of the world, before returning to lay her own eggs on the same sands. This enchanting documentary illuminates the incredible power of instinct, the astonishing journey of a single creature, and the urgent need for wildlife conservation. Educating and inspiring, this film leaves a lasting impression on viewers as they reflect on the wonders of the natural world.

White Wilderness

Journey to the frigid Arctic tundra in this captivating and beautifully filmed wildlife documentary from the esteemed Disney True-Life Adventure series. Audiences will marvel at the stunning landscape and the resilience of the remarkable creatures who call this hostile environment home. With an engaging narrative and unforgettable imagery, this classic film continues to enthrall audiences and inspire an appreciation for the natural world.

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

Immerse yourself in the remarkable story of a man who becomes enamored with a flock of wild parrots in San Francisco, transforming his life and connecting him with the natural world in unforeseen ways. Featuring heartwarming interactions and fascinating insights into the lives of these colorful birds, this documentary is a testament to the power of nature, compassion, and the ability to find beauty and purpose in unexpected places. A captivating and tender journey, this film resonates with animal enthusiasts and city dwellers alike.

Back to the Outback

Delve into the thrilling story of a group of Australia's most dangerous animals, led by a courageous lizard named Maddie, who escape from a zoo and embark on a daring adventure to return to the wild. Along the way, they encounter obstacles, teamwork challenges, and ultimately discover the importance of friendship and unity. This fun-filled animated film, with its lively characters and timely message, is sure to be cherished by viewers for years to come.

• # 408 of 456 on The 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
• # 174 of 177 on The Best Animal Movies Of All Time, Ranked
• # 10 of 33 on The Best Children's and Kids' Movies on Netflix

Sacred Planet

Embark on a spellbinding cinematic journey across the globe in this visually arresting documentary that examines humanity's connection to the natural world. Marvel at the breathtaking beauty and diversity of Earth's landscapes, flora, and fauna, while exploring the values of traditional cultures that maintain a harmonious relationship with their environment. Captivating and thought-provoking, this film challenges viewers to contemplate their own relationship with the planet and take action for its preservation.

• Entertainment
• Watchworthy
• Flora & Fauna

35 Best Animal Movies That Will Delight Your Whole Family

Puppies and kittens and penguins, oh my!

Country Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?

Not all of the films listed here are about domestic creatures, though. Some will take you into the lion’s den, the heart of the jungle, or the middle of the Arctic. While there are some recent releases on this list, many are classic kids' movies you might remember watching with your own parents or siblings back in the day. (Most can also be found on Disney Plus too!) And if you haven’t seen the newer ones, we basically guarantee you’ll like them as much as those from your childhood. To top it all off, the soundtracks are catchy too. So next time you’re looking for a flick the whole family—pets included!—can agree on, pull up this roundup of paws-itively adorable movies about animals.

An American Tail

When Fievel is separated from his family while emigrating from Russia to America, he sets off on an unforgettable journey to find them. 

Hang on for the ride as puppy-hating (is that really a thing?) dentist Cuba Gooding Jr. inherits a champion dogsledding team!

The Great Mouse Detective

When London's famous toymaker disappears, mystery-sleuth Basil of Baker Street takes on the case!

The Rescuers Down Under

Bernard and Bianca team up again as they save a boy and his beloved eagle in the wilds of Australia.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Based on the classic children's book, this tale of a workaholic businessman who takes on the care of a rambunctious group of penguins is still a family favorite.

The Lion King

Perhaps the most classic modern animal movie, you can’t go wrong with this tearjerker about a young cub who just can’t wait to be king.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Sassy, Chance, and reliable pup Shadow will steal your heart as they embark on an incredible adventure back to their family.

The Secret Life of Pets

Ever wonder what your furry friends do while you’re away? This cartoon comedy gives you the answer.

The Adventures Of Milo And Otis

Best friends Milo and Otis always have each other’s backs, even when they’re faced with scary circumstances like waterfalls, bears, and more.

If the story doesn't get you, then the soundtrack definitely will. Little ones love to move and groove to the performances by Reese Witherspoon, Taron Egerton, and the rest of the cast.

Marley & Me

Honestly, we still tear up when we think of this tale about a family’s unbreakable bond with their mischievous Labrador.  

A sly fox and an ambitious bunny team up to solve crimes in the big city.

101 Dalmatians

Pongo and Perdy aren’t going to let the evil Cruella De Vil get away with stealing their puppies!

Charlotte's Web

The adaptation of the beloved novel follows a clever spider who hopes to save her pig friend’s life.

The Aristocats

“Everybody wants to be a cat” after watching this jazzy Disney original.

Jurassic Park

Okay, this might be for the older kids, but it still classifies as one of the best animal movies ever.

The ending might not exactly be cheerful, but Old Yeller is still a classic.  

New York City zoo animals get shipped off to a remote island, where they have to learn to survive in the wild.  

The Fox and the Hound

Two enemies become unlikely friends in this beloved Disney movie from the '80s.

Dr. Dolittle

There have been multiple iterations of this story about a doctor who can speak to animals, but we’re partial to the Eddie Murphy version.

Megan Stein is the executive editor for The Pioneer Woman, and oversees entertainment, features, and news for the website. Whether it's catching up on the latest true crime podcast, or re-watching the best '80s movies for the zillionth time, she's always here to talk about anything and everything relating to pop culture.

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33 Of The Best Irish Films Of All Time

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: March 11, 2024

Take any and every guide to the best Irish films with a pinch of salt (yep, including this one).

What one person regards as a great flick another might think is shi… you get the picture.

In this guide, we’re showing you what  we  think are the best Irish movies of all time along with the Rotten Tomatoes score for each one!

Table of Contents

The best Irish movies of all time

Below, you’ll find everything from funny Irish movies and old Irish films to dramas, love stories and more.

There’s everything from ‘Man About Dog’ and ‘The Van’ to ‘A Bad Day For The Cut’ and some of the best Irish movies that have been on the go for decades.

1. Waking Ned (Rotten Tomatoes Score 84%)

Out of the many Irish films in this guide, Waking Ned is my absolute favourite.

This is fast-packed comedy directed by Kirk Jones that tackles the popular theme of what happens when someone in the village wins the lottery.

Best pals Jackie O’Shea (Ian Bannen) and Michael O’Sullivan (David Kelly) decide to pay their nouveau-riche neighbour a visit. Alas, they find Ned Devine dead from the shock.

The village puts their heads together to find a way to make the claim on Devine’s behalf with humorous results.

2. The Field (Rotten Tomatoes Score 43%)

You’ll see the Field top many guides to the best Irish movies, and for good reason.

Directed by Jim Sheridan, The Field follows the story of “Bull” McCabe (Richard Harris) who finds out that the land he has tended for 30 years is to be auctioned off.

McCabe is outbid by a rich American (Tom Berenger) who plans to build a factory on the site.

However, that’s just the start of the story as McCabe joins forces with son Tadgh McCabe (Sean Bean) in a bid to hold onto the land that means so much to him.

3. The Van (Rotten Tomatoes Score 38%)

This drama/ comedy starring Donal O’Kelly as “Bimbo” Reeves gives a lighthearted insight into the world of food trucks.

Directed by Stephen Frears, the plot follows Bimbo who is sacked from the bakery where he works and decides to run his own food truck.

His long-suffering friend Larry (played by Colm Meaney) finds Bimbo a trying boss but when some questionable practices mean they are closed down by the health inspector, their friendship comes apart too.

This is another one of those Irish films that’s easy to watch and that delivers a clatter of belly laughs throughout.

4. The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Rotten Tomatoes Score 90%)

Topping high in the popularity score, The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a war drama set in the early 1920s against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence.

Damien (Cillian Murphy) is about to leave Ireland to study as a doctor in London but an attack by brutal Black and Tans (British Forces) leads him to fight alongside his brother Teddy (Padraic Delaney) in the IRA.

However, once the peace treaty is signed, Damien finds that he and his brother are estranged. Liam Cunningham plays a supporting role as Dan.

This is one of the best Irish films when it comes to review scores.

5. Intermission (Rotten Tomatoes Score 74%)

Ahh, Intermission . This is an absolute peach of a flick that often fails to make it onto many lists of the best Irish films.

Intermission is a lively crime comedy when Dubliner John (Cillian Murphy from Peaky Blinders) suggests a trial breakup with his girlfriend (Kelly MacDonald).

She moves on to date a banker and John teams up with small-time crook Lehiff (Colin Farrell) to rob the bank in revenge.

Not all goes to plan as police unravel the plot. Ably directed by John Crowley with a strong cast and storyline.

6. The Commitments (Rotten Tomatoes Score 89%)

Based on the novel by Roddy Doyle, the Commitments is one of the more iconic Irish comedy films. It follows music promoter Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) starts his own R&B group in Dublin.

He brings together an all-white band who, despite an inherent lack of experience with R&B, manage to get themselves noticed.

That is, until the perils of fame and fortune create fractures right before their big break.

irected by Alan Parker and starring Johnny Murphy as Joey “the Lips” Fagan on trumpet and Angeline Ball as singer Imelda Quirke.

Related read:  Check out our guide to the best Irish movies on Netflix and our guide to the best movies on Netflix Ireland

7. The Young Offenders Movie (No Rotten Tomatoes Score)

The Young Offenders is an Irish comedy written directed and co-produced by Peter Foott. It started its life as a series and quickly became one of the most popular Irish TV shows to hit our screens.

Set in Cork, friends Conor MacSweeney (Alex Murphy) and Jock Murphy (Chris Walley) could almost be twins.

They steal bikes and head off on a road trip in search of a missing bale of heroin worth €7 million. After many twists, misunderstandings and adventures, the loveable layabouts end up with a predictable arrest.

Filmed in Cork and along the Wild Atlantic Way, it’s loosely based on a true story! If you like to go off Rotten Tomatoe scores, this is one of the best Irish films ever made.

8. A Bad Day For The Cut (Rotten Tomatoes Score 92%)

This 2017 Mystery Thriller directed and co-written by Chris Baugh is a tale of revenge with an interesting twist.

Middle-aged Irish farmer Donal (Nigel O’Neill) sets out to see justice done when his elderly mother Florence (Stella McCusker) is murdered during a home invasion.

It leads Donal into an unfamiliar criminal underworld as the truth about his mother is uncovered.

I watched this a few years back after seeing it ranked as one of the best Irish films on Rotten Tomatoes – I’ve watched it several times since and it never fails to disappoint.

9. Veronica Guerin (Rotten Tomatoes Score 53%)

Veronica Guerin is one of the most famous Irish movies for good reason. It tells the horrific story of what happened to Guerin, an investigative journalist, while she was investigating Dublin’s underworld.

Cate Blanchett gives a notable performance as Irish journalist Veronica Guerin in this 2003 biographical crime drama.

This moving biographical tale was directed by Joel Schumacher and co-stars Gerald McSorley, Ciaran Hinds and Brenda Fricker.

10. The Secret of Kells (Rotten Tomatoes Score 90%)

Set in the days of the Vikings in a remote Irish woodland, The Secret of Kells is an animated fantasy film about the making of the famous 9th century illustrated manuscript known as the Book of Kells .

Abbot Cellach (Brendan Gleeson) prepares defences against the Vikings while his nephew Brendan (Evan McGuire) seems oblivious to impending doom as he works on manuscripts at the local monastery.

Illuminator Aidan (Mick Lally) gives Brendan a series of magical tasks. This first part of a folklore trilogy is directed by Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey.

While this is regarded as one of the best Irish movies for kids, it’s also a great watch for adults!

11. The Guard (Rotten Tomatoes Score 94%)

This side-splitting all-Irish comedy thriller stars the rough but roguish Irish Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) in cahoots with FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle).

They team up in a bid to uncover police corruption while investigating a drug-trafficking ring. Violence inevitably ensues. Directed and written by John Michael McDonagh (The Guard and Calvary).

If you’re looking for funny Irish films that are easy to follow, this is a great option.

12. Angela’s Ashes (Rotten Tomatoes Score 52%)

Winner of Best Director for Alan Parker (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Awards), Angela’s Ashes is a 1999 drama based on the true memoir originally penned as a biography by Frank McCourt.

Frank’s mother Angela McCourt (Emily Watson) gives birth to Margaret who dies shortly afterwards and Angela slips into depression. Frank and his brother begin their fight for survival before facing eviction.

Co-stars Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens, and Michael Legge play the part of Frank McCourt in various stages of his life. The story sees him emigrate to America and begin a new life.

13. Once (Rotten Tomatoes Score 97%)

This musical drama is a charming story of love set in Dublin with a modern musical score.

Vacuum repairman by day and and street musician by night, Guy (Glen Hansard) meets Czech immigrant (Marketa Irgova). Together they embark on writing songs that reflect their blossoming romance.

Directed by John Carney, it’s one of the more romantic Irish films and a couple of the tune from it feature in our guide to the best Irish songs .

14. My Left Foot (Rotten Tomatoes Score 98%)

Expectations are low for Christy Brown (Daniel Day-Lewis) when he is born with cerebral palsy. He is paralysed until the age of five when a miracle occurs.

He then finds himself able to write with chalk using his left foot. Tirelessly supported by his mother (Brenda Fricker) Christy becomes a painter, poet and author.

Directed by Jim Sheridan, the film netted the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

15. The General (No Rotten Tomatoes Score)

Another of the fact-based biographical movies set in Ireland, The General starts with the murder of the violent criminal Martin Cahill (Brendan Gleeson).

Pursued for his crimes by Ned Kenny (Jon Voight), as Cahill lies dying he recalls his life as a child on the streets of Dublin.

Flashbacks take him from life as a petty thief to crime boss, masterminding armed robberies. Released in 1999 and directed by John Boorman.

16. Michael Collins (No Rotten Tomatoes Score)

Directed by Neil Jordan, Michael Collins is a biographical period drama based on the life story of Irish revolutionary and politician Michael Collins (Liam Neeson).

He led the struggle for Irish independence in the early 20th century and was eventually shot in an ambush after the 1916 Easter Rising .

Informative historical biography which won the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival. Co-starring Aidan Quinn, Stephen Rea, and Julia Roberts as Collins’ lover Kitty Kiernan.

If you’ve in the mood for good Irish films that’ll give you a sense of Ireland’s past, I can’t recommend this one enough.

17. The Snapper (Rotten Tomatoes Score 97%)

Bursting with likeable characters, The Snapper is a comedy drama surrounding 20-something Sharon Curley (Tina Kellegher) who lives at home with her mum Sharon (Ruth McCabe), dad Dessie (Colm Meaney) and a clutch of brothers and sisters.

Unexpectedly finding herself pregnant, the hunt is on to name the father with embarrassment all round in the devoutly Catholic household. Directed with great humour by Stephen Frears.

18. Darby O’Gill And The Little People (Rotten Tomatoes Score 100%)

One of the most popular Irish themed movies to be released in the last 20 or so years is this fantasy movie directed by Robert Stevenson was produced by Disney in 2004.

Darby O’Gill (Albert Sharpe) is fired from his job and replaced by handsome Michael McBride (Sean Connery).

Returning home, O’Gill meets Brian, the leprechaun king (Jimmy O’Dea) and is granted the traditional three wishes. However, they do not bring the results he hoped for.

19. Bloody Sunday (Rotten Tomatoes Score 92%)

Based on the events of Bloody Sunday , this powerful drama recreates the events that took place in Derry on January 30 1972 ( watch the trailer ).

Activist Ivan Cooper (James Nesbitt) leads a peaceful protest that ends in slaughter when British soldiers open fire on the crowd leaving 13 dead and 14 wounded.

Shot in the style of a documentary, this historical drama was directed by Paul Greengrass with Nicholas Farrell as Brigadier Maclellan and Tim Pigott-Smith as Major General Ford.

This is one of the most impactful movies about Ireland and, regardless of how many times you watch it, the horrors of what took place never fail to hit home.

20. Some Mother’s Son (Rotten Tomatoes Score 69%)

Written and directed by Irish filmmaker Terry George, Some Mother’s Son is based on the true story of the 1981 hunger strike at the Maze Prison.

Bobby Sands (John Lynch) leads the protest claiming that IRA prisoners should be treated as prisoners of war, not criminals.

The mothers of two of the hunger strikers, Kathleen Quigley and Annie Higgins, (played movingly by Helen Mirren and Fionnula Flanaghan) fight to save their sons’ lives in this historic account during The Troubles .

21. Philomena (Rotten Tomatoes Score 91%)

If you’re looking for Irish themed movies, this next one packs a punch. Meet Philomena (Judi Dench), now late in life and still searching for the son she was forced to give up for adoption 50 years before.

BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) takes up her cause and travels with her to America in search of Anthony, becoming close in the shared process.

Sensitively directed by Stephen Frears, it’s a moving drama and deserving BAFTA award-winner (Best Adapted Screenplay).

22. Man About Dog (No Rotten Tomatoes Score)

This fast-packed comedy caper directed by Paddy Breathnach tells a tale of three losers Mo Chara (Allen Leech), Scud Murphy (Ciaran Nolan) and “Cerebral Paulsy” (Tom Murphy) in West Belfast.

Forced to leave their home town after racking up 50 grand in debts to a bookie, they hit the road.

It’s hard to describe this one without giving too much away, but the trailer above will give you a sense of what to expect.

23. Brooklyn (Rotten Tomatoes Score 97%)

OK, this one doesn’t fall into the ‘Movies About Ireland’ category, but Brooklyn follows a journey that countless Irish men and women took and continue to take.

This rich period drama has more than a touch of romance. Directed by John Crowley, it follows young Irish immigrant Eilis Lace (Saoirse Ronan) as she carves out a new life in Brooklyn in the 1950s.

Homesickness fades with new love but eventually she has to choose between the two countries and the life each has to offer. Outstanding performances by Ronan and Emory Cohen.

24. I Went Down (Rotten Tomatoes Score 84%)

Starring Peter McDonald as the newly released jailbird Git Hynes, this fresh drama comedy is directed by Paddy Breathnach. Dropping in to visit his best friend Anto (David Wilmot), Git has to defend his friend as he is attacked by debt enforcers.

After injuring the nephew of the Dublin gangster, Git is forced to return to a life of crime, working for the syndicate on an assignment with Bunny Kelly (Brendan Gleeson) in which everything goes awry.

This is one of the best Irish films in the last few decades, in my opinion, but you don’t hear it talked about that often.

25. Calvary (Rotten Tomatoes Score 38%)

The tense storyline of Calvary is led by the soft-hearted priest James Lavelle (Brendan Gleeson) who delivers an outstanding performance as he wrestles with unexpected controversy from his parishioners, culminating in a death threat.

Directed by John Michael McDonagh, this comedy drama also stars Chris O’Dowd as Jack Brennan and the lovely Kelly Reilly as Fiona.

26. Sing Street (Rotten Tomatoes Score 95%)

More a musical than a comedy, Sing Street is directed with heart by John Carney as the talented cast fly through the script.

Dublin teenager Cosmo (Ferdie Walsh-Peelo) tries to carve out a new life for himself in Dublin in the 1980s. He forms a rock and roll band to impress aspiring model Raphina (Lucy Boynton).

They engage on a heart-warming journey of love, accompanied by a score of nostalgic 80s hits.

27. The Quiet Man (Rotten Tomatoes Score 91%)

Next up is one of the most famous Irish movies of all time – The Quiet Man . Departing his classical Western genre, John Wayne stars as Sean Thornton in this romantic boxing drama .

After killing his opponent in the ring, Thornton returns to Ireland from the USA seeking a quiet life.

When he runs into Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen) and his sister Mary Kate (Maureen O’Hara) life is anything but simple.

28. In The Name Of The Father (Rotten Tomatoes Score 94%)

Based loosely on the story of The Guildford Four, In the Name of the Father is a biographical drama about the life of unemployed petty criminal Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day-Lewis).

He flees to England only to find himself and friend Paul Hill (John Lynch) are suspects when a nearby pub is blown up by the IRA.

He spends the next 15 years trying to clear his name. Nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor, among many other nominations.

29. Into the West (Rotten Tomatoes Score 77%)

Living in poverty in Dublin, Ossie and Tito (Ciaran Fitzgerald and Ruaidhri Conry respectively) live with their alcoholic father (Gabriel Byrne).

Life takes a turn for the better when their grandfather (David Kelly) arrives with the gift of a magical horse Tir na nOg.

Splendidly directed by Mike Newell, Into The West family-friendly adventure story for all ages.

30. Hear My Song (Rotten Tomatoes Score 90%)

Fast-talking charmer Mickey O’Neill (Adrian Dunbar) is a shady nightclub owner struggling to save his business.

He books Irish tenor Josef Locke (William Hootkins) for a money-making gig only to find the singer turns out to be an impersonator.

When the real singer turns up out of exile (Ned Beatty), O’Neill finally begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This comedy-come-romance is directed by Peter Chelsom.

31. The Banshees of Inisherin (Rotten Tomatoes Score 97%)

The Banshees of Inisherin is one of the newest Irish films and it has just taken home three Golden Globe Awards.

Set on a fictional island off the coast of Ireland, the story follows two friends, Colm Doherty (Gleeson) and Pádraic Súilleabháin (Farrell), entering a… ‘new chapter’ of their relationship.

This is a dark comedy/drama and it showcases Ireland’s scenery in a way that few movies have achieved (see our guide to where was The Banshees of Inisherin filmed in Ireland ).

32. The Crying Game (Rotten Tomatoes Score 94%)

Director Neil Jordan manages to deliver a shocking twist in this mystery thriller starring Stephen Rea as IRA member Fergus.

He bonds with a kidnapped British soldier Jody (Forest Whitaker) who in return promises Fergus he will visit his girlfriend Dil (Jaye Davidson) when he returns to London.

He becomes romantically involved with her adding to the secrecy and suspense. Miranda Richardson and Adrian Dunbar star as IRA members.

This is one of a handful of top Irish movies I watched for the first time this year and very much enjoyed.

33. The Magdalene Sisters (Rotten Tomatoes Score 91%)

Directed by Peter Mullan and based on true events, The Magdalene Sisters is a drama about three teenage girls sent to an asylum in 1964.

Their “crimes” include Rose (Dorothy Duffy) being pregnant and unmarried and Bernadette (Nora-Jane Noone) who was caught flirting.

They dream of escaping from their tough life under Sister Bridget (Geraldine McEwan).

What good Irish movies have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some good Irish films from the guide above.

If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

FAQs about the best Irish films

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What are some funny Irish movies for kids?’ to ‘What old Irish movies are worth a look?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What are the best Irish movies to watch?

This will be completely subjective, but some good Irish films to consider are The Field, The Van and the brilliant Waking Ned Devine.

What are some great funny Irish films?

Some of the best funny Irish movies, in my opinion, are The Young Offenders, The Guard, The Commitments and Intermission.

What should I watch on St Patrick’s Day?

This will depend on what kind of Irish movies you’re into, but The Wind That Shakes The Barley is a great watch if you want to get a sense of Ireland’s past.

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

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Saturday 1st of June 2024

A few of my favourites that didn't make the list:

The Stag A Film with Me in It Ondine In Bruges

Monday 11th of March 2024

It's a really cheesy movie, but I love The Matchmaker with Janeane Garofalo.

Wednesday 6th of March 2024

The Hole in the Ground Breakfast on Pluto Ondine Extra Ordinary A Date For Mad Mary Grabbers (UK/Ireland co-production)

Saturday 17th of June 2023

What about the Secret of Innish Moor?

Sunday 19th of March 2023

Best Irish Movie........ The Butcher Boy!!!!

13 Hilarious Summer Comedy Movies And How To Watch Them

Ha, ha, hot!

Unless you are the kind of person who easily gets fed up by high-temperature weather, swarms of pesky insects, and the sound of fireworks displays keeping you up at night, it is a shame that we only get to experience the summer just once a year. Luckily, we have the advantage of vicariously living out the season of barbecues, baseball, and - most importantly - no school, anytime time of the year with the magic of movies.

Of course, not every movie set during the summer is the best option to conjure the season’s best memories (see great summer horror movies ). That is why we have compiled our favorite summer comedy movies, along with a tip on where to check them out on streaming or a digital rental or purchase, below - starting with one that is, arguably, the most essential of the bunch. 

The Sandlot (Amazon Prime, Disney+)

A lonely boy (Tom Guiry) discovers the joys of the season after making friends with a of group  baseball fanatics, who soon get themselves into a big “pickle” involving a prized baseball signed by Babe Ruth in the summer of 1962.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: By presenting the story entirely from a child’s perspective, co-writer and director David Mickey Evans' 1993 family favorite captures most essential aspects of the summer with astonishing accuracy and achieves a spot among the best sports movies of all time, with credit due to the young  The Sandlot  cast ’s wonderful performances.

Stream The Sandlot on Amazon Prime . Stream The Sandlot on Disney+ .

The Bad News Bears (Cinemax)

A beer-swilling former major leaguer (Walter Matthau) accepts a job as the coach for a team of young misfits whom he struggles to mold into real athletes to compete against the other extremely competitive teams in their California little league.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Long before The Sandlot , the quintessential movie about youngsters running the bases during the summer (but not so much for the love of the game, that is) was 1976’s The Bad News Bears - director Michael Ritchie and writer Bill Lancaster’s hilarious and even inspiring underdog story that is still remembered as one of the best baseball movies of all time.

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Stream The Bad News Bears on Cinemax . Rent (or buy) The Bad News Bears on Amazon .

Heavyweights (Disney+)

An 11-year-old (Aaron Schwartz) finds himself surprisingly excited to be the new guy at a beloved youth weight-loss camp for the summer, until he and his new friends learn the devastating news that it has been bought out and rebranded by a sadistic fitness guru ( Ben Stiller ) and his loyal crew of barbaric trainers.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Speaking of hilarious and even inspiring underdog stories, the charming and sometimes a bit dark 1995 family comedy, Heavyweights, is a story about being happy with who you are, but also learning how to improve yourself, that was co-written and produced by Judd Apatow and features a talented young cast (including future SNL cast member Kenan Thompson ) alongside other future comedy superstars Stiller and Paul Feig.

Stream Heavyweights on Disney+ . Rent (or buy) Heavyweights on Amazon .

Wet Hot American Summer (Amazon Rental)

A lovestruck camp director (Janeane Garofalo) struggles to keep her crew of rowdy, hormonal counselors in order while taking care of unfinished business during their final day at Camp Firewood for the summer of 1981.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Speaking of summer camp movies featuring a cast of future comedy superstars , perhaps the definitive summer camp movie (but for adults) would have to be 2001’s Wet Hot American Summer - a hilariously raunchy cult favorite that inspired two Netflix original series - one a prequel and the other a sequel - from director David Wain, who also co-wrote with star Michael Showalter.

Rent (or buy) Wet Hot American Summer on Amazon .

Meatballs (Amazon Prime, Tubi)

As the annual, coveted Camp Olympics are approaching, the fun-loving head counselor ( Bill Murray ) decides to set aside his irresponsible, womanizing ways and try to whip his rowdy, hormonal, young campers into shape to break their longtime losing streak.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Long before Wet Hot American Summer , the definitive adult-oriented summer camp movie had to be 1979’s Meatballs - one of the late Ivan Reitman’s best movies (and his first collaboration with his friend, Murray) which went on to spawn three sequels.

Stream Meatballs on Amazon Prime . Stream Meatballs on Tubi .

The Great Outdoors (Amazon Rental)

A Chicago man (John Candy) sees his leisurely summer getaway in Wisconsin  interrupted by the unexpected arrival of his snobbish brother-in-law ( Dan Aykroyd ) and his own family, whose struggle to share the fun of this vacation is only worsened by a series of ridiculous incidents. 

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Another fun movie about camping during the summer and starring a pair of Ivan Reitman movie veterans is 1998’s The Great Outdoors - a classic of the family vacation disaster comedy subgenre from writer John Hughes.

Rent (or buy) The Great Outdoors on Amazon .

National Lampoon’s Vacation (HBO Max)

A Chicago food additives and preservatives expert ( Chevy Chase ) sees his cross-country road trip to a beloved amusement park with his wife (Beverly D’Angelo), son (Anthony Michael Hall), and daughter (Dana Barron) quickly devolve into a desperate plea for fun, stability, and sanity when they fall prey to a series of maddening circumstances.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Of course, the crown jewel of the family vacation disaster comedy subgenre has to be the first (and, arguably, best) of the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies from 1983 - a timelessly relatable and boldly uproarious laugh riot from director Harold Ramis that was also written by John Hughes and is based on his own short story .

Stream National Lampoon’s Vacation on HBO Max . Rent (or buy) National Lampoon’s Vacation on Amazon .

The Way Way Back (HBO Max)

A shy teen (Liam James) spends the summer with his mother ( Toni Collette ) and her domineering boyfriend (Steve Carell) at the boyfriend’s beach house in Cape Cod, where he receives a job and some much-needed mentorship from the affable manager of a nearby water park (Sam Rockwell).

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: A more recent and more grounded instant classic of the summer vacation comedy subgenre (and one of the dysfunctional family variety as well) is 2013’s The Way Way Back - an inspiring and romantic coming-of-age story written and directed by the Academy Award-winning duo of Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.

Stream The Way Way Back on HBO Max . Rent (or buy) The Way Way Back on Amazon .

Moonrise Kingdom (HBO Max)

A police captain (Bruce Willis), the local scoutmaster (Edward Norton), and other citizens of a small island community desperately search for an orphaned 12-year-old boy (Jared Gilman) and a girl of the same age (Kaya Hayward) who have run away together after becoming smitten with each other in early 1960s New England.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Probably the greatest romantic coming-of-age comedy I have ever seen and my personal favorite Wes Anderson movie is 2012’s Moonrise Kingdom - a visually dazzling and uniquely hilarious celebration of youth that earned Anderson and Roman Coppola an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Stream Moonrise Kingdom on HBO Max . Rent (or buy) Moonrise Kingdom on Amazon .

Dazed And Confused (Peacock Premium)

On the last day of school, a group high school students on the cusp of their senior year and others who just became freshman celebrate their freedom with a night of debauchery in 1976 Austin, Texas.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Taking place at the very beginning of the summer season is one of writer and director Richard Linklater’s most acclaimed experiments with time, 1993’s Dazed and Confused - a brilliant party movie with and a wicked cast of future A-listers (such as Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey) that boasts an invigorating soundtrack of classic hits from the 1970s.

Stream Dazed And Confused on Peacock Premium . Rent (or buy) Dazed And Confused on Amazon .

American Graffiti (Amazon Rental)

On their last night before going off to college, a group of teenagers enjoy one last night of freedom and debauchery cruising the streets of Northern California in 1962.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Taking place at the very end of the summer season is one of the best George Lucas movies outside of the Star Wars franchise, 1973’s American Graffiti - a beautiful love letter to a lost generation featuring a stunning cast of future A-listers (such as Ron Howard and Harrison Ford) and a heart-swelling collection of needle drops from the ‘50s and ’60s.

Rent (or buy) American Graffiti on Amazon .

Summer School (Showtime)

A lazy, fun-loving gym teacher (future NCIS star Mark Harmon ) is forced to abandon his vacation plans when he is selected to instruct remedial English for his school’s summer program.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: The only movie on our list of summer movies in which the majority of the story actually takes place during school is the aptly title Summer School - an underrated 1987 comedy directed by the legendary Carl Reiner.

Stream Summer School on Showtime . Rent (or buy) Summer School on Amazon .

One Crazy Summer (1986)

While on a Nantucket retreat with his friends before going off to art school, an aspiring cartoonist (John Cusack) crosses paths with an aspiring singer (Demi Moore) who's on the run from a biker gang and ends up helping her save her grandfather's estate from greedy developers.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Also starring the uproarious Bobcat Goldthwait, writer and director Savage Steve Holland's One Crazy Summer is one of the most uproarious comedies of the 1980s and one of the best John Cusack movies for simply keeping the promise its title makes from beginning to end.

Stream One Crazy Summer on Starz . Rent (or buy) One Crazy Summer on Amazon .

No matter what happens, your summer can always can be one of fun and laughter with any of these hilarious classics.

Jason Wiese writes feature stories for CinemaBlend. His occupation results from years dreaming of a filmmaking career, settling on a "professional film fan" career, studying journalism at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO (where he served as Culture Editor for its student-run print and online publications), and a brief stint of reviewing movies for fun. He would later continue that side-hustle of film criticism on TikTok (@wiesewisdom), where he posts videos on a semi-weekly basis. Look for his name in almost any article about Batman.

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The Most Hilarious Comedy Movies(2000-2023)

1. Good Boys

4. When We First Met

5. Blockers

6. Game Night

7. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

8. Thor: Ragnarok

9. The Other Woman

10. How to Be a Latin Lover

11. A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

12. Going in Style

13. The Campaign

15. The Dictator

16. War Dogs

17. Step Brothers

18. Central Intelligence

21. The Hangover

22. The Brothers Grimsby

23. Bad Teacher

24. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

25. Superbad

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10 best movies to watch this 4th of July weekend

The July 4th weekend is a time not just to celebrate the height of summer but to consider and appreciate what it is that makes our country distinctive, what comprises our natural character.

Lincoln (2012)

Nashville (1975), 1776 (1972), moonrise kingdom (2012), the music man (1962), american graffiti (1973), do the right thing (1989), saving private ryan (1998).

• You Can’t Take It with You (1938)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

In no particular order and without excluding other great Independence Day films, here are 10 relevant films to watch this celebratory weekend that you can use to address this question, and to drown out the sound of the leftover fireworks that are still terrifying your dog.

When Steven Spielberg took on a stretch of world history as vital as the passage of the 13th Amendment, banning slavery, in 1863, with a team like screenwriter Tony Kushner and star Daniel Day-Lewis, the feeling upon its release in 2012 was that seeing the film was not just a must but a civic obligation. But the movie is far from an after-school special.

Day-Lewis’ Lincoln, an enigmatic philosopher-king, and Tommy Lee Jones’ Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, the Radical Republican whose tireless advocacy helped to secure the Amendment’s passage, are larger than life but also fundamentally human, and they speak Kushner’s gorgeous words with the weight of men burdened by their cruel and unenlightened times.

Rent or purchase on Amazon Prime .

Set in the year leading up to America’s bicentennial, Robert Altman’s ensemble film is one of the great magic tricks in cinema history. The story of a doomed brush between the country music industry and an independent presidential campaign, its veritable army of characters drift in and out of the narrative like motes of dust in a beam of light.

It’s a pointillist story, myth-making by accumulation of details, and in its focus on grassroots music and grassroots politics, it’s as American a tale as they come. The finale is one for the ages, as everything beautiful and horrible about America is revealed in all of its ugly glory.

Nashville can be rented on Fandango .

The film adaptation of 1969’s Tony winner for Best Musical, Peter H. Hunt’s magisterial musical dramedy about the signing of the Declaration of Independence features not only a sparkling operetta-inspired score by Elvis Presley collaborator Sherman Edwards but also one of the most articulate screenplays ever written, compiled from meticulously researched real-life letters and documents from the period by Peter Stone (who also wrote the masterpiece The Taking of Pelham 123 ).

The movie has a vital lesson to impart about our founders’ fallibility and humanity. As Howard Da Silva’s Ben Franklin observes: “Who will posterity think we are — demigods? We’re men — no more, no less — trying to get a nation started against greater odds than a more generous God would have allowed.” More importantly, it’s an exceptional musical, with catchy tunes like Cool, Cool, Considerate Men and Sit Down, John .

When Wes Anderson dedicates himself to the iconography of a culture, nobody synthesizes better. So it stands to reason that his most studied crack at Americana, the 1960s summer camp romance Moonrise Kingdom , is an indelible visual portfolio of uniformed America — the Boy Scouts, the police, the clergy, and petty bureaucrats all feature in this story of two 12-year-olds who run away together on an island off New England.

There are many great American composers, but the most American would have to be John Philip Sousa, known as the March King for his patriotic compositions for marching bands like The Stars and Stripes Forever .  Taking Sousa’s influence as a starting point, Meredith Willson’s 1957 stage musical The Music Man interrogates the mythos of march music as a synthesis of the American experience, with a little classic American con artistry sprinkled in.

Reprising his Tony-winning role from the stage show, Robert Preston stars as a grifter traveling salesman who sells band instruments in a small town in Iowa without ever intending to deliver them. Fireworks, village greens, and barbershop quartets — Morton DaCosta’s film is Midwestern nostalgia supercharged to the point of euphoria.

The Music Man is streaming on Tubi .

George Lucas’ second feature, based on his coming-of-age in Modesto, California, in the early ’60s, features what is for my money the most gorgeous opening shot in cinema — a summertime tableau of a neon-soaked greasy spoon, Mel’s Drive-In, at sunset, in which the gilt-edged fluorescent light appears to bleed into the celluloid.

It’s the fleet but mellow story of the last summer before the class of 1962 departs for college, and its youthful cast is stacked — Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford, and Suzanne Somers, just to name a few. It’s the perfect movie to watch on July Fourth or any day of the summer.

American Graffiti is streaming on Netflix .

If the Fourth of July is hot where you are, turn on Spike Lee’s undisputed masterpiece, set on a roasting summer day on a block in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and crank the A/C. The schadenfreude will be only one of the many pleasures in store in this gonzo examination of racial tensions in 1980s New York, which Lee wrote, directed, starred in, and produced.

The movie asks uncomfortable questions and refuses to provide easy answers, providing a necessary diagram of real, gritty American life to undergird our grand national claims to equality.

In the muggy, rain-soaked European summer of 1944, American soldiers swept across the continent in their ultimately successful mission to rid the world of German fascism. Steven Spielberg’s 1998 drama covering the exploits of one small group of those soldiers, Saving Private Ryan  is arguably the most immediate and jarring ground-level war movie ever made.

The opening sequence alone, set during the Omaha Beach landings and shot over the course of four weeks with 1,500 extras, brings home the extraordinary sacrifices necessary to preserve the freedoms we celebrate on Independence Day, and reminds us that the cost of appeasing totalitarians is too high to think of ever paying again.

Saving Private Ryan is streaming on Paramount+ .

You Can’t Take It with You (1938)

In Frank Capra’s film of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Kaufman and Hart play, the highly unconventional Sycamore family of New York is, among other things, in the firework-manufacturing business. But that’s only one of the uniquely American pursuits in which the Sycamores indulge — candy-making, amateur ballet, and, vitally, income tax evasion.

A worldwide phenomenon on both stage and screen, You Can’t Take It with You is a charming tale in the classic eccentrics-versus-status-quo mold, starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, Ann Miller, and the cream of Columbia Pictures’ stable. It’s a film of its time that has nonetheless aged excellently.

Rent or buy on Amazon Prime .

Ask a politician of any ideological stripe what movie it was that most inspired them to get into politics, and they’ll likely tell you it was Frank Capra’s 1939 tale of a small-town newspaper publisher (James Stewart) appointed to a vacant Senate seat, who goes to battle with the corrupt Washington establishment to allocate federal funds for a boys camp.

Directed by arch-conservative Capra and written by leftist and future member of the Hollywood blacklist Sidney Buchman, the movie rouses because — and in this case it’s not a backhanded compliment — it can truly be all things to all people.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is streaming on Amazon Prime .

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Independence Day is over, but that doesn't mean you have to stop celebrating. There are plenty of movies playing to catch in the theaters like Despicable Me 4, MaXXXine, and Horizon: An American Saga. And if you feel like staying in, there are plenty of streaming options to choose from as well.

On Netflix, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is already one of the streamer's most popular movies. For non-Eddie Murphy fans, here are three older movies that are even better than that action sequel. One is an underrated sci-fi film, one is a hilarious comedy about murder in suburbia, and the other is a movie that closely resembles the hit TV show The Bear. Life (2017)

The 4th of July weekend is here, which means some much-needed days to lay back, celebrate, eat, and rest. Perhaps you have exciting plans to celebrate with family, or maybe you're going on a holiday trip. Then again, maybe you're using this time to rest from the stresses of everyday life by watching a great movie. Lucky for you, there's no shortage of streaming services out there, although few are better than Max.

Formerly known as HBO Max, Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming service has everything you could ask for from both the big and small screens. HBO might be better known for its TV shows, but the service also has an impressive collection of movies for everyone to enjoy. The best movies on Max offer everything from action-packed adventures to hilarious comedies and tear-jerking dramas. So, if you're planning to spend the holiday weekend at home, then what better way than with a great movie on Max? Check out these movies that you will surely enjoy. Twister (1997)

Hulu has you covered if you're looking for movies to watch this July Fourth weekend. In fact, it arguably has the greatest July Fourth movie of them all, which doesn't involve any actual U.S. history. But as a rousing patriotic flick, it's hard to top the sci-fi action and spectacle of Independence Day, which hit theaters 28 years ago this week.

Our remaining picks for the three Hulu movies that you need to stream this weekend include an underrated horror comedy and a romantic drama/comedy that's celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. With these three films, you don't need to go to a theater this weekend. The best movies are coming to you. Tragedy Girls (2017)

The 10 Best Movies With May-December Romances, Ranked

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With practically all the great songs about relationships and finding love, which many think is the pinnacle of life, it's no surprise that romance movies once ruled the box office. Even most action and comedy films have some romantic elements. However, most romantic couples depicted in films are very standard; typically, age, sex, and race generally stay pretty uniform in on-screen romances — after all, this is Holywood, and Hollywood doesn't like to take chances. Drawing outside the lines can be the death of a movie, depending on the topic, so it's no surprise most on-screen romances look the same.

However, there is a significant number of exceptional films that completely defy this norm and have achieved remarkable success, particularly in the realm of May-December romances. Whether it's the thrill or the complexities that often accompany these unconventional relationships, films like Harold and Maude or Lost in Translation struck a chord with the audience. These films offer profound societal commentary that is both thought-provoking and relevant, stimulating our intellectual curiosity. Portraying the intricacies of a relationship where one party is younger than the other , these movies are as entertaining as they are thought-provoking.

10 'Shopgirl' (2005)

Directed by anand tucker.

The last thing anyone expects from a drama film is for it to be based on a novella written by comedy icon Steve Martin . Yet, this drama about a woman who meets someone genuine but not put together and chooses an older man who's put together but doesn't want genuine commitment is surprisingly meaningful.

Shopgirl 's thematic exploration of relationships mirrors its narrative: they are messy yet undeniably significant. Comedian Steve Martin showcases his versatility by portraying Ray, a character who is distant and aloof towards Mirabelle ( Claire Danes ) without being inherently villainous, a feat that is not easily accomplished. To Mirabelle's dismay, her ideal partner, Ray, never fully commits to her due to their age disparity, a poignant illustration that age and status do not necessarily equate to emotional maturity . Ultimately, every character winds up in healthy relationships, but only after growing as people first.

Rent on Amazon

9 'How Stella Got Her Groove Back' (1998)

Directed by kevin rodney sullivan.

Not many movies can say they became a cultural moment, and their very name conjures up an image. How Stella Got Her Groove Back , about a career-focused woman who goes to Jamaica and starts an affair with a younger man, became a rallying cry for women that just because they're getting older doesn't mean they can't have any fun .

This 90s classic feels like an odyssey, as Stella ( Angela Bassett ) experiences a quarter-life crisis and tries to seek out what's missing in her life, potentially finding it in Winston ( Taye Diggs ). Similar to life, the movie is filled with fun and sad moments, taking the audience on an emotional roller coaster. Despite most films that focus on a couple with a considerable age gap typically ending with them realizing their age is a hindrance, Winston teaches Stella that she can balance work and passion .

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

RENT ON PRIME

8 'An Education' (2009)

Directed by lone scherfig.

Based on an autobiographical essay by journalist Lynn Barber about her affair with a much older con man, An Education was a success upon release. Acclaimed by critics, it was nominated for three Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actress.

Much like the predatory relationship portrayed in the movie, An Education lures the audience into thinking they know what they're getting, only to blindside them later. David comes across as sincere, but slowly, it becomes apparent he's not only playing her but also her parents, charming them into trusting him with their daughter. Unlike movies that glamorize a May-December romance, An Education warns how dating someone with more world experiences can become exploitative .

An Education

*Availability in US

Not available

7 'All That Heaven Allows' (1955)

Directed by douglass sirk.

After Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman 's previous hit, Magnificent Obsession , Universal was anxious for another film and landed on an adaptation of a book about Cary, an older widower who falls for her young gardener, Ron. There's a lot to be said about a movie that feels romantic before anyone even says a word. The lighting is striking , with characters almost having an angelic glow similar to a black-and-white film.

However, All That Heaven Allows is full of contrasting colors and a hazy look, making it dreamlike and adding to its romanticism. The story focuses on how society judges relationships and people based on appearances . The couple is spiritually compatible, but everyone in the town and her family can't see past their age difference. All That Heaven Allows ' takeaway is that society and even Cary herself were more concerned about Cary's public image than her happiness.

Buy on Criterion

6 'Funny Face' (1957)

Directed by stanley donen.

Funny Face , based on real-life photographer Richard Avedon , is about a Liberian who gets discovered by a magazine photographer. It has been lauded for its game-changing fashion and Audrey Hepburn 's iconic dresses. It's appropriate that this film is about the fashion business, with every frame containing breathtaking imagery that could be on the cover of Vogue.

This sense of style bleeds into the musical scenes, with the set design and costumes feeling dynamic and making the music numbers stand out. Even though Hepburn and Fred Astaire were 30 years apart, the chemistry between these legends is irresistible , and the overall spectacle of the movie makes it hardly noticeable.

5 'Licorice Pizza' (2021)

Directed by paul thomas anderson.

If watching a movie about a thirty-year-old woman dating a fifteen-year-old feels uncomfortable to viewers, then Licorice Pizza is doing precisely what the director Paul Thomas Anderson set out to do. This strange and episodic period piece is the equivalent of watching a friend make all the wrong decisions but being powerless to stop them. Everyone in the movie warns Alana that dating a fifteen-year-old boy is a mistake, but she refuses to grow up and ignores them.

Interestingly, while Alana suffers from arrested development, young Gary tries to grow up as fast as possible. In most films, it's the younger participant who's naive and being taken advantage of, but Licorice Pizza flips that on its head. Alana's mature enough to realize he's not being faithful to her but not mature enough to do anything about it. Despite their suto-happy ending, the audience realizes this couple is as ill-fitting as licorice on pizza .

Licorice Pizza

4 'something's gotta give' (2003), directed by nancy meyers.

Jack Nicholson rarely comes off as tender in films. However, this romantic comedy about an older playboy falling in love with a woman his age for the first time shows Nicholson's soft side. Something's Gotta Give could have been just another light and fluffy rom-com of the 2000s. However, Diane Keaton and Nicholson show depth and vulnerability behind their playful and witty dialogue.

More importantly, their relationship is just as swoon-worthy and exciting as any rom-com couple half their age. Something's Gotta Give subverts the moviegoer's expectations by making Nicholson and Keanu Reeves ' characters choose the older woman over the young vixen. The movie dissects people's insecurities about aging , how society views women of a certain age, and the psychological reasons behind people's choices of significant others, giving it surprising depth.

Something's Gotta Give

3 'hello, my name is doris' (2015), directed by michael showalter.

This underrated rom-com about a mature hoarder who falls for the office hottie is known for making viewers squirm in their seats with secondhand embarrassment. While most films focus on the butterflies in the stomach part of having a crush, Hello, My Name Is Doris focuses on cringy moments like awkward leering and failed come-on attempts.

The age difference and Doris' oddball personality make audiences root for this underdog in her uphill battle to win her crush's attention. Sally Field proves why she's a legend , making Doris' weirdness charming to the audience instead of strange. Field makes her a sympathetic character when it could have been easy to make her the butt of the joke. While Dorris is seen as weird by her age group, the younger people in the movie see her as a cool hipster, giving Hello, My Name Is Doris the rare opportunity to comment on more than just love.

2 'Harold and Maude' (1971)

Directed by hal ashby.

While critics were initially put off by Harold and Maude , the quirky and biting romantic black comedy has become an outright classic. The film follows the relationship between Harold, an oddball young adult fascinated by death, and Maude, an eccentric senior citizen ready to live life to the fullest.

A romance between a 20-year-old and a 79-year-old shouldn't work on screen, but Harold and Maude makes it feel plausible and charming . While vastly different in age, the film is about kindred spirits who bond over the idea of not following society's rules . This weighty message anchors the film's quirky moments and characters, making for a comedy full of laughs out loud and cry and cry-out-loud moments.

Harold and Maude

1 'lost in translation' (2003), directed by sofia coppola.

Sofia Cooplas 's brilliant directorial debut about two foreigners who bond while in Japan won her the Best Original Screenplay Oscar. Lost in Translation is also infamous for its famous ending, with fans guessing Bill Murray 's mysterious last words to Scarlett Johanson in its final scene. This slice-of-life film conveys a lot while saying very little. The dialogue and plot are minimal, with most scenes consisting of the characters mundanely going through their day. Yet, thanks to the atmospheric direction, Japan almost feels like another planet, making this odd couple's gravitation towards each other understandable.

Bob and Charlotte meet at pivotal moments in their lives . One is just starting adulthood, and the other is well past middle age. Coppola relates these complicated feelings like a silent film with imagery and music. The couple doesn't have many grand jesters of love, and most of their conversation is seemingly platonic. Yet, thanks to Murray and Johansson's understated performances, the audience always understands what's not being said. When a character finally decides to pour his heart, audiences ironically never hear.

Lost in Translation

NEXT: The 50 Best Romantic Movies of All Time, Ranked