Ireland is known for its lush green landscapes and friendly folks, so it’s no surprise that a lot of big Hollywood movies have been shot here.
Recently, Ireland has seen a massive boom of hit shows and films shot on Irish shores.
Not only is Ireland chosen for its landscapes, but also for its attractive film studios and for being significantly cheaper than filming elsewhere, like the United States, thanks to tax credits.
Before the impressive studios of modern-day Ireland, though, there have been some seriously significant Hollywood blockbusters shot on our Emerald Isle. Let’s take a look.
5. Braveheart (1995) – Trim Castle, Wicklow Mountains, and more
While Braveheart might detail the events of renowned Scottish knight Sir William Wallace leading the rebellion against the tyranny of King Edward I of England, most of the film was actually shot in Ireland.
A quintessentially Scottish film, the landscapes of Scotland and Ireland are decidedly similar, so you wouldn’t second-guess thinking the film was shot on location in Scotland.
While it was partly shot in the Scottish Highlands, the majority of filming took place in Ireland.
Directed by and starring Mel Gibson, this huge Hollywood blockbuster, perhaps one of the most well-known movies of all time, Braveheart grossed over $209 million worldwide against a budget of somewhere between $53 and $72 million.
Trim Castle in County Meath was a primary filming location for the film, and acted as the besieged city of York and Smithfield in London.
Other key Irish filming locations include the Curragh plains for battle scenes as well as the Wicklow Mountains.
4. The Italian Job (1969) – Kilmainham Gaol
One of the biggest surprises on our list of Hollywood movies you didn’t know were filmed in Ireland is The Italian Job.
Starring Michael Caine and Noel Coward, Ireland’s most famous prison, Kilmainham Gaol, was used as a filming location for the movie.
Kilmainham Gaol, a historic Irish landmark that visitors can still check out today, is an integral part of Irish history.
The jail, which first opened its doors in 1796, echoes with the memories of some of Ireland’s most important events.
It housed figures like Henry Joy McCracken, Robert Emmet, and Charles Stewart Parnell, as well as leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising who were executed there in the Stonebreakers’ Yard.
The prison has been used as the location for many Irish films retelling history, like In the Name of the Father (1993) and Michael Collins (1996).
The jail famously appears in the opening scene of The Italian Job, when Charlie Croker (Michael Caine) is released. The East Wing of the prison was also notably painted yellow for filming.
3. Saving Private Ryan (1998) – Ballinesker Beach, County Wexford
Set during the Normandy invasion of the Second World War, Saving Private Ryan is a huge Hollywood blockbuster war epic starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon.
Tom Hanks plays Captain John Miller, who is tasked with locating Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in the war.
The movie was nominated for a whopping 11 Oscars, winning five, including Best Director for Steven Spielberg.
But did you know that one of the most iconic scenes in the movie was filmed in Ireland? Specifically, Ballinesker Beach in Curracloe, County Wexford.
The bloodshed and horror of the American advance on Omaha Beach in 1944 was recreated in a mind-blowing 20-minute scene in Saving Private Ryan, all of which was filmed on this Irish beach.
2. Moby Dick (1956) –Youghal, County Cork
Adapted from Herman Melville’s 1851 novel Moby-Dick, it might surprise you to learn that a lot of this film was shot on location in Ireland.
In the film, Gregory Peck stars as Captain Ahab on the hunt for vengeance to find and kill Moby Dick, the great white whale that took his leg. He leads a small crew on a treacherous sea voyage, a seemingly suicidal mission to seek revenge.
Many of the exterior scenes set in New Bedford were actually filmed in Youghal, County Cork. American director John Huston was said to have been in search of “a port that hadn’t changed in a hundred years”.
Out of a number of Irish suggestions, including Wicklow, Arklow, and Kinsale, Youghal was chosen. The exterior of a pub in town, originally called Linehan’s, was used in the movie.
Still run by the same family, the pub later changed its name to Moby Dick’s and boasted images and memorabilia from filming.
John Huston used the pub as a base to plan the day’s filming. The cast and crew also frequented the pub at night. Sadly, this iconic Youghal watering hole closed its doors on New Year’s Day 2026.
1. Lift (2024) – Belfast studios and iconic sites
We end our article with a much more modern addition. Lift, starring Kevin Hart, used the Harbour Studios in Belfast as its primary filming hub.
Kevin Hart stars as Cyrus, an internationally known master thief who is recruited by his ex-girlfriend and Interpol agent Abby (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) to pull off a heist while stopping a terrorist attack simultaneously.
While a lot of the film was shot in Belfast’s Harbour Studios, iconic venues around Belfast also appeared in the film, like the Titanic Hotel and the famous Crown Liquor Saloon.
Other locations in Northern Ireland outside of Belfast used for filming include Ward Park in Bangor, Castleward Estate, and Ardglass Harbour.
During filming, Kevin Hart was seen around town by locals frequently. He even performed several secret stand-up comedy gigs at one of Belfast’s biggest music venues, the Limelight.
