Discover the best of Polish cinema, film, and television
Discover the definitive list of popular and critically-acclaimed movies and TV shows from Poland. Find your next binge-watch, streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!
The cinema of Poland
Polish cinema stands as one of Europe's most profound and influential film traditions, forged through decades of artistic brilliance and political complexity. The legendary Polish Film School emerged as the most prominent movement, with representatives including Andrzej Wajda, Andrzej Munk, and Jerzy Kawalerowicz, heavily influenced by Italian neorealists. The years between 1955 and 1965 became pivotal moments in cinema history following the first films by these masters. For six decades, Andrzej Wajda embodied Polish cinema, creating masterpieces like "Kanal" (1957) and "Ashes and Diamonds," brilliantly anatomising Polish history and contemporary society. The movement produced world-renowned filmmakers including Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, Agnieszka Holland, and Jerzy Skolimowski, who impacted global film development. The Łódź Film School became an oasis of progress and artistic freedom amid communist regime controls, nurturing generations of visionary directors. Through intellectualism, symbolism, and innovation, the movement challenged conventions and pushed cinematic storytelling boundaries, influencing contemporary Polish cinema. Television has also thrived remarkably. "Klan," which premiered on September 22, 1997, became Poland's longest-running domestically produced series, following the multi-generational Lubicz family. "M jak miłość" has become a cult drama series attracting millions of viewers for years, establishing Polish television's reputation for compelling family storytelling. What makes Polish entertainment extraordinary is its ability to weave complex historical narratives with intimate human drama. Polish filmmakers transformed political oppression into artistic triumph, creating works that speak universally whilst remaining distinctly Polish, establishing a cinematic legacy that continues influencing world cinema today.
Best Polish series
Sexify 2021
To build an innovative sex app and win a tech competition, a sexually inexperienced student and her friends must explore the daunting world of intimacy.
67
The Woods 2020
A Warsaw prosecutor's hopes rise when a body is found and linked to his sister's disappearance 25 years earlier.
65
High Water 2022
In 1997, scientists and local government officials in Wrocław face life-and-death decisions when a destructive flood wave threatens the city.
70
1670 2023
A zany nobleman contends with family feuds and clashes with peasants in his quest to become the most famous person in Poland.
75
Dekalog 1989
Originally made for Polish television, “The Decalogue” focuses on the residents of a housing complex in late-Communist Poland, whose lives become subtly intertwined as they face emotional dilemmas that are at once deeply personal and universally human. Its ten hour-long films, drawing from the Ten Commandments for thematic inspiration and an overarching structure, grapple deftly with complex moral and existential questions concerning life, death, love, hate, truth, and the passage of time.
85
Hold Tight 2022
When a young man goes missing soon after his friend dies, life in a tight-knit, affluent Warsaw suburb slowly unravels, exposing secrets and lies.
65
Best Polish movies
365 Days 2020
A woman falls victim to a dominant mafia boss, who imprisons her and gives her one year to fall in love with him.
48
Cold War 2018
A man and a woman meet in the ruins of post-war Poland. With vastly different backgrounds and temperaments, they are fatally mismatched and yet drawn to each other.
73
Ida 2013
Anna, a young novitiate in 1960s Poland, is on the verge of taking her vows when she discovers a family secret dating back to the years of the German occupation.
72
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep 2025
Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter, is hired to investigate a series of attacks in a seaside village and finds himself drawn into a centuries-old conflict between humans and merpeople. He must count on friends — old and new — to solve the mystery before the hostilities between the two kingdoms escalate into an all-out war.
66
Corpus Christi 2019
A pious 20-year-old juvenile delinquent is sent to work at a sawmill in a small town; on arrival, he dresses up as a priest and accidentally takes over the local parish. The arrival of this young, charismatic preacher is an opportunity for the local community to begin the healing process after a tragedy that happened a year prior.
75
The Hater 2020
A duplicitous young man finds success in the dark world of social media smear tactics — but his virtual vitriol soon has violent real-life consequences.
69