6 Best Coastal Fishing Village Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 2, 2026

The close-knit rhythms and quiet dramas of small coastal fishing communities has powered some of cinema’s most soulful stories. In Manchester by the Sea (2016): A withdrawn handyman is forced to confront his tragic past when he becomes guardian to his nephew in his hometown fishing community. Another standout is Waking Ned (1998): A tiny Irish village conspires to claim a deceased neighbor’s lottery winnings before anyone finds out he died.

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A withdrawn handyman is forced to confront his tragic past when he becomes guardian to his nephew in his hometown fishing community.

Directed by Kenneth Lonergan · 2h 18m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ondine (2009)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A divorced Irish fisherman finds a mysterious woman tangled in his net who may be a mythical sea creature.

Directed by Neil Jordan · 1h 51m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Shipping News (2001)

TMDB ★ 6.2

A grieving widower moves to his remote ancestral fishing village to rebuild his life and reconnect with his family history.

Directed by Lasse Hallström · 1h 51m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Perfect Storm (2000)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A fishing crew battles a monstrous, once-in-a-century storm far out at sea.

Directed by Wolfgang Petersen · 2h 10m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Waking Ned (1998)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A tiny Irish village conspires to claim a deceased neighbor's lottery winnings before anyone finds out he died.

Directed by Kirk Jones · 1h 31m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Old Man and the Sea (1958)

TMDB ★ 6.7

An aging fisherman's epic battle with a giant marlin tests the limits of his endurance and pride.

Directed by John Sturges · 1h 26m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Coastal Fishing Village Movies

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Ondine (2009)

The Shipping News (2001)

The Perfect Storm (2000)

Waking Ned (1998)

The Old Man and the Sea (1958)

You might also like

50 Movies to Watch Before You Turn 30

12 Best Movies for a Solo Weekend

6 Best Oscar Best Actor Winners of the 2010s

6 Best Widow and Widower Starting Over Movies

50 Best Movies of the 2010s

6 Best Grief and Loss Processing Movies