6 Best Pat O'Brien Movies

By Vlad Zakh · July 9, 2026

Pat O’Brien brought warm, quick-talking Irish charm to Hollywood and became one of the era’s most reliable character leads across gangster films and comedies. Angels with Dirty Faces steers troubled boys away from a childhood friend’s path, Torrid Zone clashes a banana plantation manager with a saloon singer, Castle on the Hudson tests a warden’s patience with a repeat criminal, and Some Like It Hot disguises two musicians as women. The Irish in Us and American Madness round out the list.

Some Like It Hot (1959)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 95% Metacritic 98

Two musicians disguise themselves as women to escape the mob after witnessing a gangland killing.

Directed by Billy Wilder · 2h 03m

Won 1 Oscar11 wins & 13 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, YouTube TV, MGM Plus · 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

Torrid Zone (1940)

TMDB ★ 7.0

Frank Yaconelli appears in this Cagney and Ann Sheridan comedy about a tough banana plantation manager who clashes with a rebellious performer while quelling a labour uprising.

Directed by William Keighley · 1h 28m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Castle on the Hudson (1940)

TMDB ★ 7.0

Cliff Clark appears in this prison drama about a hardened career criminal who clashes with a progressive warden trying to reform him.

Directed by Anatole Litvak · 1h 17m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A reformed gangster's return to his old neighbourhood threatens to lead a group of admiring boys astray.

Directed by Michael Curtiz · 1h 37m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store · Buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Irish in Us (1935)

TMDB ★ 7.5

Pat O'Brien is in this Cagney comedy about three Irish-American brothers who navigate romance and rivalry while working as a cop, a fight promoter and a fireman.

Directed by Lloyd Bacon · 1h 24m · Rated NR

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

American Madness (1932)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A compassionate bank president's trust in his customers is tested when panic sparks a run on the bank.

Directed by Frank Capra · 1h 16m

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. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Pat O'Brien Movies

Some Like It Hot (1959)

Torrid Zone (1940)

Castle on the Hudson (1940)

Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)

The Irish in Us (1935)

American Madness (1932)

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