Discover the best of Iraqi cinema, film, and television
Discover the definitive list of popular and critically-acclaimed movies and TV shows from Iraq. Find your next binge-watch, streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!
The cinema of Iraq
The story of Iraqi cinema is one of the most poignant in all of film history, a tale of a lost golden age and an incredibly courageous modern rebirth. For a time, in the mid-20th century, Baghdad was a glittering centre of Arab film and theatre, producing celebrated films that were enjoyed across the region. This vibrant world was tragically silenced by decades of conflict and sanctions, which saw cinemas close and a rich cinematic heritage almost vanish. Yet, from these difficult years, an incredibly brave new cinema has been born, determined to tell its story. This modern revival is spearheaded by visionary directors like Mohamed Al-Daradji, whose powerful, award-winning films like Son of Babylon tell heartbreaking stories of ordinary people searching for healing in the aftermath of war. They are acts of cinematic testimony. This spirit of storytelling is also passionately alive on television, where new Iraqi drama series, especially those released during Ramadan, captivate the nation and reconnect with a shared cultural experience. What makes Iraqi cinema so essential is its role as a courageous witness. It is a cinema that refuses to let its stories be forgotten, transforming pain into powerful, unflinching art. It is the unbreakable creative spirit of a nation determined to be heard.
Best Iraqi series
Albasheer Show 2014
Albasheer Show is an Iraqi political satire television program hosted by comedian and journalist Ahmed Albasheer. The show first premiered in 2014 and has been broadcast on various platforms, including YouTube and satellite channels like DW Arabia. It is known for its sharp and humorous take on political and social issues in Iraq and the broader Arab world, focusing on topics such as corruption, sectarianism, and governmental inefficiency. The show combines comedic monologues, satirical news reports, and sketch comedy to deliver its message. Its bold and unfiltered style has garnered a large following, particularly among young viewers in Iraq and the Middle East.
100
الماس مكسور 2022
100
Melon City Show 10 2024
Seasons change over time
100
Heaven & Hell 2024
A brother and his sister suffer from a number of problems in their city, so they travel to Dhi Qar Governorate, where the brother enters into conflict and problems with his domineering cousin.
85
Kamamat Watan 2020
A drama, comedy series, discussing social issues, including the spread of the Corona epidemic, and the Iraqi protests, and each episode has a separate topic and story that discusses problems from reality.
90
Twenty 2025
90
Best Iraqi movies
Son of Babylon 2009
A willful young boy follows his just and obstinate grandmother on a journey across Iraq, determined to discover the fate of her missing son, Ahmed's father, who never returned from war.
76
16/03 2017
Haunted by the chemical attacks that claimed the lives of his family, a Kurdish sniper flees his homeland in search of a better life in the United Kingdom. However, he is caught up in a terrorist plot.
100
Homeland: Iraq Year Zero 2016
Chronicles of everyday life in Iraq before and after the U.S. invasion.
72
Bêrîtan 2006
100
Before Snowfall 2013
Before Snowfall starts with a dramatic escape: Eighteen year-old Nermin runs away from her wedding in a village in Iraqi Kurdistan. Being the elder of the family, her younger brother Siyar becomes responsible for finding her and restoring the family reputation. The mission proves a dangerous one for the inexperienced Siyar. First stop is Istanbul, where he meets Elvin, a young girl who becomes his travel companion. On the way from east to west, through Europe and all the way to Norway, Siyar comes to realize his own need for respect, and for love.
70
Baghdad on Fire 2023
After a lifetime of conflict in Iraq, 20-year-old Tiba joins the October 2019 protests. She is amazed to see so many young men and women gathering from across the nation. Regardless of class and religion, the youth stand side by side in a fight to reclaim their country. Tiba forms new friendships, ideas and dreams. When the peaceful protests are met with violence, she becomes a medic tending to the wounded. But she could never have imagined the heartache one fatality brings.
90