10 Underrated Films by Ciarán Hinds You Must See

Ciarán Hinds has built a wide ranging screen career that spans intimate Irish dramas, international thrillers, and large scale literary adaptations. Born in Belfast and trained for the stage, he moved between theatre and film with ease and brought precise character work to projects across Ireland, Britain, Europe, and the United States. His filmography includes leading turns and pivotal supporting roles that anchor stories with historical settings, contemporary politics, and supernatural chills.

This list brings together ten titles that spotlight the variety of his screen work. You will find festival winners, acclaimed adaptations, and genre pieces that show how consistently he elevates the material around him. Each entry notes the core premise, key collaborators, and the part Hinds plays, so you can quickly decide what to queue up next.

‘The Eclipse’ (2009)

This Irish supernatural drama is written and directed by Conor McPherson and set in the coastal town of Cobh. Ciarán Hinds plays Michael Farr, a widowed teacher who volunteers at a local literary festival where he meets an author of ghost stories and a visiting novelist. The film blends a quiet portrait of grief with eerie visitations and uses real locations around the harbour and cathedral to ground its mood.

Hinds received Best Actor at the Tribeca Film Festival for this performance. The production was backed by the Irish Film Board and reunites McPherson with stage collaborators, while Iben Hjejle and Aidan Quinn round out the central trio. The film opened in Ireland before expanding internationally and later reached wider audiences on home release.

‘The Sea’ (2013)

Adapted from John Banville’s Booker winning novel, this drama follows Max Morden as he returns to a seaside town after a personal loss. Ciarán Hinds plays Max and guides the story through memory and reflection as past and present intermingle along the shoreline. The film keeps the focus on character and atmosphere and places the viewer inside Max’s shifting recollections.

Stephen Brown directs from a screenplay by Banville, with Natascha McElhone and Rufus Sewell in key supporting roles. Filming took place on the Irish coast, and the production emphasizes locations that match the book’s sense of place. The film received a limited theatrical release in Ireland and the United Kingdom and later became available on digital platforms.

‘Silence’ (2016)

Martin Scorsese adapts Shusaku Endo’s novel about Jesuit missionaries who travel to Japan in a time of persecution. Ciarán Hinds appears as Father Valignano, the Jesuit superior who sends Rodrigues and Garupe on their mission and frames the ethical questions that follow. The story tracks secret communities of faith and the pressures brought by local authorities.

Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, and Liam Neeson lead the cast, and the production was filmed largely in Taiwan after a lengthy development process. Scorsese worked closely with historians and religious advisers to shape details of language and ritual. The film premiered at major festivals and received awards recognition for its cinematography and sound.

‘The Woman in Black’ (2012)

This period horror feature is based on Susan Hill’s novel and follows a young solicitor who travels to a remote village to settle an estate. Ciarán Hinds plays Mr Daily, a local landowner who becomes the solicitor’s wary ally as strange events unfold around an abandoned house and its tragic past. The story uses marshes, causeways, and candlelit interiors to build tension.

James Watkins directs from a screenplay by Jane Goldman, and Daniel Radcliffe and Janet McTeer co star. The production carries the Hammer Films banner and was shot in the United Kingdom with a mix of studio sets and coastal exteriors. Practical effects and sound design support the restrained visual style and help the film reach a broad theatrical audience.

‘The Debt’ (2010)

This espionage thriller follows three Mossad agents who track a fugitive Nazi war criminal and later live with the consequences of their mission. Ciarán Hinds portrays the older David while Sam Worthington plays his younger counterpart in the flashback storyline. The plot alternates between two time periods as the truth behind a celebrated operation comes to light.

John Madden directs a cast that includes Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Jessica Chastain, and Marton Csokas. The film is a remake of the Israeli feature ‘Ha-Hov’ and was produced in English with international locations that stand in for Berlin and Israel. It was released by a major studio in North America and Europe and reached a wide audience through theatrical and home formats.

‘Veronica Guerin’ (2003)

This biographical crime drama tells the story of Dublin journalist Veronica Guerin and her investigations into the city’s drug trade. Ciarán Hinds plays John Traynor, a source who acts as a conduit between the reporter and elements of the criminal world. The film follows the reporter’s methods, the risks she faces, and the network of figures she approaches for information.

Joel Schumacher directs, with Cate Blanchett in the title role and Gerard McSorley as a principal antagonist. The production filmed extensively in Dublin and used real streets and landmarks connected to the case. Backed by a major producer, the project brought contemporary Irish events to international theaters and later to television broadcast.

‘Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day’ (2008)

Based on Winifred Watson’s novel, this London set comedy follows a governess who lands in the middle of high society plans in a single whirlwind day. Ciarán Hinds plays Joe Blumfield, a steady figure whose path crosses with Miss Pettigrew and singer Delysia Lafosse as romantic and professional choices collide during parties and fittings.

Bharat Nalluri directs, with Frances McDormand and Amy Adams leading the ensemble and Shirley Henderson in a crucial supporting role. The screenplay is by David Magee and Simon Beaufoy, and the production emphasizes period detail in costume and music while keeping the action in a tight urban radius. The film was distributed by Focus Features and reached international markets after its festival bow.

‘Excalibur’ (1981)

John Boorman’s Arthurian epic draws from Malory’s stories and follows the rise of Arthur and the fellowship around the Round Table. In one of his earliest screen roles, Ciarán Hinds appears as King Lot of Orkney during the turbulent early battles. The film presents the forging of the sword, the creation of the court, and the fractures that follow.

The production was shot in Ireland and features a company that included Nigel Terry, Nicol Williamson, Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, and Gabriel Byrne. Armour, horse work, and large scale night exteriors define the visual approach. The film became a calling card for several Irish and British actors who went on to major stage and screen careers.

‘Persuasion’ (1995)

This adaptation of Jane Austen is directed by Roger Michell and follows Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth in Bath and along the English coast. Ciarán Hinds plays Captain Wentworth opposite Amanda Root as Anne, with a screenplay by Nick Dear based on the novel. Production used locations in Bath and Lyme Regis, with period naval details and domestic interiors that align closely with the source material.

The film was produced by the BBC and later received a theatrical release in the United States through Sony Pictures Classics. The ensemble includes Samuel West as Mr Elliot, Sophie Thompson as Mary Musgrove, Corin Redgrave as Sir Walter Elliot, and Susan Fleetwood as Mrs Croft, and the production earned multiple awards from British industry bodies.

‘The Sum of All Fears’ (2002)

This political thriller follows CIA analyst Jack Ryan as he investigates a chain of events that threaten conflict between global powers. Ciarán Hinds plays Russian President Alexander Nemerov, a leader whose choices carry enormous consequences as communications grow strained and intelligence agencies race to understand the facts. The story charts decision making at the highest levels during a crisis.

Phil Alden Robinson directs, with Ben Affleck as Jack Ryan and Morgan Freeman as his mentor within the agency. The film is based on a Tom Clancy novel and continues the long running series of stories about the analyst character. Large scale set pieces and control room scenes were staged on studio lots along with international location work, and the film was released worldwide by a major studio.

Share your favorite overlooked Ciarán Hinds performances in the comments and tell everyone which titles you plan to watch next.