It’s no secret that the people of Ireland have long enjoyed success in the fields of the arts. From writers to musicians, actors, and more, the Irish people have certainly proven their flair for the creative.
It’s Friday evening, it’s raining outside, and all your friends are busy. What else is there to do besides find something good to watch on Netflix? Save yourself the time spent scrolling and instead read on to discover the top ten blockbuster films with Irish actors in lead roles.
From tales of romance to action movies, crime thrillers to historical biopics, Ireland’s greatest actors transcend genres and continually let their talents shine through in their craft.
Curious to learn more about which Irish actors have proven most successful at the box office? Here are our top ten blockbuster films with Irish actors in lead roles.
- It’s no secret that the people of Ireland have long enjoyed success in the fields of the arts. From writers to musicians, actors, and more, the Irish people have certainly proven their flair for the creative.
- 10. Ad Astra (2019) – when mysterious powers threaten human life
- 9. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) – for action movie fans
- 8. Mamma Mia (2008) – my my, how can I resist ya?
- 7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) – the most powerful Auror of all time
- 6. The Quiet Man (1952) – from the Hollywood Golden Age
- 5. Alexander (2004) – based on the life of the great Macedonian general
- 4. The Dark Knight (2008) – the tale of the Batman
- 3. Schindler’s List (1993) – one of the most harrowing films of all time
- 2. Little Women (2019) – a tale of sisterly love
- 1. Lincoln (2012) – the tale of an Irish president
10. Ad Astra (2019) – when mysterious powers threaten human life
Kicking off our list of blockbuster films with Irish actors in lead roles is the 2019 American psychological science fiction film Ad Astra.
Starring Irish-Ethiopian actress Ruth Negga, alongside big names such as Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones, Ad Astra brought in an impressive $135.4 million at the box office.
9. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) – for action movie fans
Action movie fans may be familiar with the character of Magneto, or Erik Lehnsherr, portrayed by Michael Fassbender in the popular X-Men film series.
X-Men: Days of Future Past was released in 2014 and grossed $746 million at the box office.
8. Mamma Mia (2008) – my my, how can I resist ya?
Mamma Mia!, a lighthearted musical framed around the music of iconic Swedish pop band ABBA, is a must-watch for anyone looking to forget about all the stresses of life for a couple of hours and just soak in pure joy.
Irish actor Pierce Brosnan stars as Sam, one of Sophie’s three fathers, in this iconic hit film that scored $611.3 million at the box office.
7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) – the most powerful Auror of all time
Irish actor Brendan Gleeson starred as Professor Alastor ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody in the much-loved film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.
The actor first appeared in the series’ fourth instalment, The Goblet of Fire, which brought in a revenue of $896.8 million at the box office.
6. The Quiet Man (1952) – from the Hollywood Golden Age
The ever-talented and beloved late Irish actress Maureen O’Hara is more than deserving of a mention on this list. She made such an impact during the Golden Age of Hollywood with her fiery red hair and fiery personality that she could feature in all ten spots.
One of her best-known films, The Quiet Man saw an impressive box office revenue of $3.8 million. See where Maureen O’Hara ranks on our list of the most famous people from Dublin of all time.
5. Alexander (2004) – based on the life of the great Macedonian general
Dublin-born Colin Farrell stars as the ancient Macedonian general and king Alexander the Great in this epic 2004 historical drama film.
At the box office, Alexander grossed a nice $167.3 million. However, with a budget of $155 million, it was deemed a commercial failure.
4. The Dark Knight (2008) – the tale of the Batman
The Dark Knight was released in 2008 on the same day as Mamma Mia!, making it a big day at the box office for Irish actors.
Cillian Murphy reprised his role as Jonathan Crane, or Scarecrow, from Batman Begins in this sequel that brought in an incredible $1.006 billion at the box office.
3. Schindler’s List (1993) – one of the most harrowing films of all time
Liam Neeson starred as the famed German industrialist Oskar Schindler who saved over 1,000 Polish-Jewish refugees from the Holocaust.
Giving perhaps the best performance of his life so far, Neeson was nominated for best actor at the 1994 Academy Awards. At the box office, the film grossed $322.2 million.
2. Little Women (2019) – a tale of sisterly love
Greta Gerwig’s 2019 recreation of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 American coming-of-age novel Little Women brought a new spin on the classic tale and proved hugely successful in cinemas across the globe.
Starring Irish actress Saoirse Ronan as the eldest March sister Jo, Little Women enjoyed success at the box office with a revenue of $218.9 million.
1. Lincoln (2012) – the tale of an Irish president
Topping our list of blockbuster films with Irish actors in lead roles is the 2012 historical biopic Lincoln, charting the life of former US president Abraham Lincoln.
Produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, Irish actor Daniel Day-Lewis stars as the president as he works to abolish slavery. It grossed an impressive $275.3 million at the box office.
