73 Brendan Gleeson Movies, Ranked Best to Worst

William Wallace, whose father and brother were killed trying to free Scotland from the treacherous English King Edward the Longshanks, witnesses his newly-wed bride publicly executed for fighting off sexual advances by English soldiers. He leads a guerrilla war with fellow oppressed Scotsmen that rattles the English throne and becomes the symbol of Scottish independence even after death.

Martin McDonagh's debut feature-length movie In Bruges is a darkly delightful film that focuses on two Irish hitmen who go into hiding following a botched-up contract and are being chased by their enraged boss. 

Adapted from a Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s Japanese novel, All You Need Is Kill, the movie has Major William Cage, with no fighting experience, joining a landing operation when aliens attack earth. He is killed quickly; however, caught in a time loop, he returns every time to face the same combat. With every battle, he begins to improve his skill and strives to defeat the enemies.  

During a confession, an unseen man tells Father James that he was sexually abused by a priest when he was a child and for that he is going to kill James next Sunday as killing of a good priest will be more harmful for the Church. James now has just one week to arrange his affairs and reconciliation with his daughter is one of them.  

The movie begins with Voldemort's followers causing mayhem at Quidditch World Cup. Later, as Harry Potter returns to complete his fourth year at the Hogwarts, he is unexpectedly selected by the Goblet of Fire to compete in The Triwizard Tournament. Harry now has to deal with a frightening maze, hostile sea creatures, dragons and ultimately a dark wizard.

Set in the New York slums in 1863, the movie Gangs of New York explores a violent Catholic-Protestant feud and an Irish immigrant protest that take place simultaneously. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards.

A post-apocalyptic horror film, 28 Days Later depicts the breakdown of society following the accidental release of a highly contagious virus. Four survivors struggle to live as they try to evade getting infected and cope with the loss of the peaceful life they once lived.  

The buddy-cop comedy finds crass but good-hearted Irish police officer, Sergeant Gerry Boyle, team up with straight-laced FBI agent, Wendell Everett, to investigate police corruption and to hunt down drug traffickers led by Francis Sheehy-Skeffington. Opposite to each other in nature, the two lawmen must form an uneasy alliance. 

Based on J.K. Rowling’s final novel of the ‘Harry Potter’ series, it is the first of the two-part finale of the movie series. The film follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they hunt for Horcruxes after Dumbledore’s death, while escaping Death Eaters, to destroy Lord Voldemort once and for all.  

Based on J.K. Rowling’s fifth book of the Harry Potter series, the movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix depicts the boy wizard’s journey in his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It also marks the debut of the much-hated Dolores Umbridge and the resurrection of Voldemort. 

A dark Irish comedy about an old widower who meets a young lad on a train journey.

Michael Collins, a revolutionary man, struggles to lead a guerilla army against the UK. Not only he helps in creation of the Irish Free State, but he also motivates the National Army to fight during the Irish Civil War.

One of the most loved comedies of the silent era, it shows the valour of Johnny, who is deemed to be a coward. He tries to prove his mettle when the love of his life, Annabelle, is captured during the Civil War by Union Spies.

Bull McCabe has spent three decades tending to a rented field by the sea. However, the widow who owns it, decides to sell it. A rich American decides to purchase it to create a factory. McCabe tries to come up with a scheme, along with his son, so that he can still hold on to the land that he spent years caring for.   

A loose adaptation of Homer's Iliad, the film follows the Trojan War, which emerged after Paris, the Trojan prince, convinced the Queen of Sparta, Helen, to leave her husband Menelaus, and come with him to Troy.

Producer-director Ridley Scott’s historical adventure drama Kingdom of Heaven is an adapted depiction of Balian of Ibelin, the 12th century crusader of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. After losing his family, Balian, a French blacksmith, joins the Crusade to defend Jerusalem, where he finds love, and becomes a leader who fights against the Ayyubid Sultan Saladin, in the Battle of Hattin.

Set in the Civil War era, Cold Mountain is a period drama that revolves around a Confederate soldier as he makes an epic journey back to his beloved, who is also trying to rebuild her life in the face of trouble and danger. Starring Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renée Zellweger, it is a touching saga of love and war.

Patrick is abandoned by his mother as a baby, but is soon discovered by Father Liam, who is coincidentally his real father. He is placed in an abusive foster home, but after growing up, he decides to set out in hopes of finding his mother.

A petrochemical factory is negotiating to build a factory in a small town. However, for this, a doctor is required to be a resident. Therefore, the head of a struggling fishing community tries to convince a doctor to become a resident in their small town.

Based on the famous play by William Shakespeare, this drama thriller film tells the story of Macbeth, a Scottish lord, who manages to lead King Duncan’s forces to victory. He is soon approached by three witches who tell him that he will become the next King of Scotland. Meanwhile, his ambitious wife is willing to go to any lengths to help Macbeth wield power.

Harrison Lloyd is an award winning photojournalist who disappears all of a sudden in Yugoslavia, when he was in a war zone. It is reported that he had died in a building collapse, but his wife refuses to believe it. She decides to travel all the way to look for him, despite the dangers.  

David Swinton is a mecha—highly advanced robot—programmed to experience love. He lives with Henry and Monica as their son because the couple’s real son, Martin, is in a comatose condition. David’s life is good but when Martin returns, the couple abandon him. David now wants to become real so that his human mother can love him.

A mysterious white stallion is spotted by two young boys. They take care of it but the crooked cops take it away and give it to an infamous breeder who intends to sell it as a racing horse. Deeply attached to the horse, the boys rescue the horse and take it far away. 

In 1899, Oxford graduate Dr. Edward Newgate joins Stonehearst Asylum for apprenticeship. He is smitten by a stately-looking lady patient Eliza Graves. But Newgate feels that asylum superintendent Dr. Silas Lamb’s treatment methods are quite unorthodox and strange. Then one night as he follows an abnormal sound, he is shocked to discover that at the asylum, nothing is as it seems to be. 

A young working mother is motivated into radical political activism to promote the right for women to vote. Along with her fellow activists, she has to risk her jobs, home, family as well as her life, for the cause. 

After criminal Tobin Frost acquires a data storage device for an MI6 agent, he is attacked by mercenaries. He surrenders to the American consulate, who place him in a safe house under rookie agent Matt Weston. The two men then try to survive assassins and the CIA while uncovering the truth. 

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the US, Army chief warrant officer, Roy Miller is tasked to locate the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the very reason for the attack. However, he soon figures out that there is no WMD. His efforts to find the truth about the WMD are hindered by the Department of Defence official, Clark Poundstone.

In 1820, Captain George Pollard sails with his crew onboard the whaling ship Essex, but it is sunk by an apparently vengeful gigantic whale that continues to chase the survivors who are driven to drastic extremes to outlast a rescue attempt. Thirty years later, Herman Melville visits the last surviving crew member for the story of his novel Moby-Dick.

In 19th century Ireland, where women were not quite allowed to be independent, a woman poses as a man in order to find work as a butler, in the most elegant hotel in Dublin. Soon she meets a handsome artist and finds herself attracted to him.

Covington in the 19th-century rural Pennsylvania has a small population that lives peacefully within the boundaries of the village. Beyond the boundaries, there are fearful creatures inhabiting the wood that do not forgive any intrusion. When a determined man, Lucius Hunt decides to step out into the woods, the creatures are upset. But then, someone else must also step out into the woods.

Irish tenant farmer, Joseph Donnelly, who tries to seek justice from his oppressive landlord, finds himself accompanying landlord’s disgruntled daughter Shannon as they travel to the US to acquire land of their dreams. Joseph starts earning as a bare-fisted boxer, but they fall on hard times and subsequently, face separation. After an arduous journey of ups-and-downs they succeed in realizing their dreams.

Dark Blue is an action crime thriller film which tells the story of two police officers who try their best to hunt down few cold-blooded killers who are responsible for multiple homicides. However, the chief officer of the investigation is opposed to this mission.

In the 19th century Baltimore, a serial killer is killing people and staging them based on Edgar Allen Poe’s horror stories. Detective Emmet Fields asks Poe to assist with the investigation but the killer then kidnaps Poe’s love Emily Hamilton and begins taunting him by leaving him clues to rescue her before time runs out. 

Live by Night is a crime drama film which tells the story of a group of gangsters who set up a shop that becomes a competition for the Ku Klux Klan. They eventually have a face-off with their competitors in order to prove their dominance. 

After his identity is revealed by a journalist, a former member of a revolutionary group is forced to go on the run. Now he must find his ex-lover, the only person who can clear his name, before he is caught by the FBI.

When regular guy Michael McCrea fails to return the money he borrowed from the local loan-shark and kingpin Darren Perrier, he is threatened by Perrier’s goons. He then decides to break-in and steal. But things go wrong and a scuffle results in accidental death of one of the thugs by Michael’s neighbor Brenda. Now Michael, his father, Jim, and Brenda are on the run…..

Ethan Hunt returns on another mission to seize and destroy Chimera, a deadly virus, and its cure Bellerophon, both of which are in possession of rogue IMF agent Ambrose. He must infiltrate enemy stronghold with help from Nyah Hall, a skilled thief and former lover of Ambrose, before the latter sells the virus to an international terrorist group.

The Tailor of Panama is a comedy drama thriller film which tells the story of a tailor living in Panama, who is hired by the British intelligence for espionage activities.

A gigantic man-eating crocodile is spreading terror in a popular but calm vacation spot. Three experts are therefore sent to stop the menace and end its terror once and for all. 

In order to give his son a better life, Chad is looking for a way to get away from his family and their criminal activities. However, his father considers this to be an act of betrayal. Despite his fearful respect for his father, Chad feels that he should go against him.    

Callum Lynch learns that he is descendent of a 15th century Spanish Assassin, Aguilar de Nerha, who belonged to a secret Assassins Society. With the help of an innovative technology that unlocks genetic memories, he re-lives the life and exploits of Aguilar. As Lynch acquires tremendous knowledge and skills, he gets set to fight the tyrannical Templar organization of present day. 

Turbulence is an action thriller film which tells the story of Ryan Weaver, who is an accused serial killer and rapist. He is arrested in New York City, and he is soon sent for trial, despite his claims of innocence. Along with a bank robber named Stubbs, they are escorted by four US Marshals on a commercial flight. But things get ugly when Stubs and Weaver manage to take over the plane.

Song of the Sea is an animated adventure fantasy drama film which tells the story of an Irish boy named Ben, and his sister Saoirse, who has the ability to transform into a seal. When they learn that fairy creatures are in danger, they set off on a journey to liberate them from evil forces.

In order to buy the perfect present for his aunt for her 100th birthday, Paddington takes up a job. However, unfortunately the gift ends up being stolen.

Brendan is a young boy who is living in a remote medieval outpost that is under siege from barbarian invaders. Things take a turn when a master illuminator arrives with an ancient book of magical powers. In order to save his outpost, Brendan decides to set off on a quest to complete the book.

In an attempt to win the Pirate of the Year Award, Pirate Captain and his crew must travel to Victorian London, and defeat his rivals, Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz.  

This 3D animated film is based on an epic poem. In 507 AD, Danish King Hrothgar announces a reward for the death of monstrous Grendel who is tormenting his kingdom.  Mighty warrior Beowulf takes up the challenge and slays the demon. Seeking revenge, Grendel’s mother turns into an alluring woman and seduces Beowulf. Years later, Beowulf faces the consequences of those past deeds. 

Wicked wizard Gargamel, who is after the magical Smurf-essence, creates Smurf-like Naughties, to seize the essence. When he learns that only Smurfette knows the secret spell to turn the Naughties into genuine Smurfs who can get him the essence, Gargamel kidnaps and takes her to Paris. Now the Smurfs, with the help of their human friends, must rescue her from the sorcerer.