Movies Like A Prayer for the Dying (1987)

A Prayer for the Dying is a 1987 action, crime, drama, thriller film from Mike Hodges with a MovieMagicScore of 5.8/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Omagh and Patriot Games.

Action Crime Drama Thriller

Omagh

2005

The movie starts at the 1998 bomb attack by the Real IRA at Omagh, Northern Ireland. The attack killed 31 people. Michael Gallagher one of the relatives of the victims starts an examination to bring the people responsible to court.

6.3

MagicScore

Patriot Games

1992

When CIA Analyst Jack Ryan interferes with an IRA assassination, a renegade faction targets Jack and his family as revenge.

6.7

MagicScore

By Dawn's Early Light

1990

A nuclear warhead launched by Soviet insurgents protesting the waning Cold War destroys the Ukrainian city of Donetsk. The destruction sets off a race between American and Soviet politicians to prevent a nuclear holocaust. While the U.S. president feverishly works to keep the military and political machine from going into overdrive, various subordinates panic. When the president is believed to be killed in a helicopter crash, zealous advisers take over.

6.5

MagicScore

The Mad Bomber

1973

Los Angeles detectives Minelli and Blake must track down a serial rapist who may know the identity of a mentally disturbed bomber.

4.9

MagicScore

Odd Man Out

1947

Belfast police conduct a door-to-door manhunt for an IRA gunman wounded in a daring robbery.

7.3

MagicScore

No Place to Hide

1974

In New York in the late 60s, a politically motivated group of students plans bombings of company offices who do business with dictators in Middle American countries. But when they contact a known terrorist and bombing specialist, the FBI gets on their track.

3.9

MagicScore

The Long Good Friday

1980

In the late 1970s, Cockney crime boss Harold Shand, a gangster trying to become a legitimate property mogul, has big plans to get the American Mafia to bankroll his transformation of a derelict area of London into the possible venue for a future Olympic Games. However, a series of bombings targets his empire on the very weekend the Americans are in town. Shand is convinced there is a traitor in his organization, and sets out to eliminate the rat in typically ruthless fashion.

7.1

MagicScore

The Foreigner

2017

Quan is a humble London businessman whose long-buried past erupts in a revenge-fueled vendetta when the only person left for him to love – his teenage daughter – dies in an Irish Republican Army car bombing. His relentless search to find the terrorists leads to a cat-and-mouse conflict with a British government official whose own past may hold the clues to the identities of the elusive killers.

7.0

MagicScore

Ronin

1998

A briefcase with undisclosed contents – sought by Irish terrorists and the Russian mob – makes its way into criminals' hands. An Irish liaison assembles a squad of mercenaries, or 'ronin', and gives them the thorny task of recovering the case.

7.0

MagicScore

#10

'71

2014

A young British soldier must find his way back to safety after his unit accidentally abandons him during a riot in the streets of Belfast.

6.8

MagicScore

#11

The Crying Game

1992

Irish Republican Army member Fergus forms an unexpected bond with Jody, a kidnapped British soldier in his custody, despite the warnings of fellow IRA members Jude and Maguire. Jody makes Fergus promise he'll visit his girlfriend, Dil, in London, and when Fergus flees to the city, he seeks her out. Hounded by his former IRA colleagues, he finds himself increasingly drawn to the enigmatic, and surprising, Dil.

6.8

MagicScore

#12

In the Land of Saints and Sinners

2023

In a remote Irish village, a damaged Finbar is forced to fight for redemption after a lifetime of sins, but what price is he willing to pay? In the land of saints and sinners, some sins can't be buried.

6.5

MagicScore

#13

The Jackal

1997

Hired by a powerful member of the Russian mafia to avenge an FBI sting that left his brother dead, a psychopathic hitman known only as The Jackal proves an elusive target for the people charged with the task of bringing him down: a deputy FBI director, a Russian MVK Major, and a jailed IRA terrorist who can recognize him.

6.4

MagicScore

#14

The Devil's Own

1997

Frankie McGuire, one of the IRA's deadliest assassins, draws an American family into the crossfire of terrorism. But when he is sent to the U.S. to buy weapons, Frankie is housed with the family of Tom O'Meara, a New York cop who knows nothing about Frankie's real identity. Their surprising friendship, and Tom's growing suspicions, forces Frankie to choose between the promise of peace or a lifetime of murder.

6.2

MagicScore

#15

Fail Safe

1964

Because of a technical defect an American bomber team mistakenly orders the destruction of Moscow. The President of the United States has but little time to prevent an atomic catastrophe from occurring.

7.8

MagicScore

#16

Speed

1994

Jack Traven, an LAPD cop on SWAT detail, and veteran SWAT officer Harry Temple thwart an extortionist-bomber's scheme for a $3 million ransom. As they corner the bomber, he flees and detonates a bomb vest, seemingly killing himself. Weeks later, Jack witnesses a mass transit city bus explode and nearby a pay phone rings. On the phone is that same bomber looking for vengeance and the money he's owed. He gives a personal challenge to Jack: a bomb is rigged on another city bus - if it slows down below 50 mph, it will explode - bad enough any day, but a nightmare in LA traffic. And that's just the beginning...

7.1

MagicScore

#17

The Dawn Patrol

1938

In 1915 France, Major Brand commands the 39th Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The young airmen go up in bullet-riddled "crates" and the casualty rate is appalling, but Brand can't make the "brass hats" at headquarters see reason. Insubordinate air ace Captain Courtney is another thorn in Brand's side...but finds the smile wiped from his face when he rises to command the squadron himself. Everyone keeps a stiff upper lip.

6.8

MagicScore

#18

Memphis Belle

1990

The "Memphis Belle" is a World War II bomber, piloted by a young crew on dangerous bombing raids into Europe. The crew only have to make one more bombing raid before they have finished their duty and can go home. In the briefing before their last flight, the crew discover that the target for the day is Bremen.

6.7

MagicScore

#19

Air Force

1943

The crew of an Air Force bomber arrives in Pearl Harbor in the aftermath of the Japanese attack and is sent on to Manila to help with the defense of the Philippines.

6.5

MagicScore

#20

Hidden Agenda

1990

In Ireland, American lawyer Ingrid Jessner and her activist partner, Paul Sullivan, struggle to uncover atrocities committed by the British government against the Northern Irish during the "Troubles." But when Sullivan is assassinated in the streets, Jessner teams up with Peter Kerrigan, a British investigator acting against the will of his own government, and struggles to uncover a conspiracy that may even implicate one of Kerrigan's colleagues.

6.9

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like A Prayer for the Dying?

The top films similar to A Prayer for the Dying by MovieMagicScore are Omagh (6.3), Patriot Games (6.7), By Dawn's Early Light (6.5). Each shares action/crime/drama/thriller themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is A Prayer for the Dying worth watching?

A Prayer for the Dying holds a MovieMagicScore of 5.8/10 from 102 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is A Prayer for the Dying?

A Prayer for the Dying (1987) is a action, crime, drama, thriller film directed by Mike Hodges, starring Mickey Rourke, Bob Hoskins, Alan Bates.

Where can I find more recommendations like A Prayer for the Dying?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more action recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Omagh Movies like Patriot Games Movies like By Dawn's Early Light Movies like The Mad Bomber Movies like Odd Man Out Movies like No Place to Hide

About movies like A Prayer for the Dying

This ranked list pairs A Prayer for the Dying (1987), a action and crime and drama and thriller film from Mike Hodges, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Mickey Rourke take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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