National: Hollywood blockbuster filmed in Ireland is a global hit on Netflix right now

FILM fans across the world are getting a glimpse of the beautiful Irish countryside as a movie partially shot in County Limerick is one of the most popular on Netflix right now.

The Pope's Exorcist, scenes of which were shot at Dromore Castle, just outside Limerick city, stars A-lister Russell Crowe. 

The supernatural thriller, filmed last year, hit Netflix on August 16.

According to the Netflix 'Global Top 10' - its weekly list of the most-watched TV and films - the movie was viewed more than 6 million times last week - ranking it at number 3.

Scenes shot at Dromore Castle - a Gothic Revival style country house built between 1866-1867 - and surrounds have been beamed around the world.

The Pope's Exorcist was also a box office hit earlier this year, taking in $76 million worldwide on a production budget of just $18 million. It is understood that a sequel is planned but it is not known if the cast and crew will be returning to Ireland or Limerick.

The Julius Avery-directed movie is based on real-life figure Fr Gabriele Amorth (played by Russell Crowe) a priest who acted as chief exorcist of the Vatican and who performed more than 100,000 exorcisms in his lifetime.

The Oscar-winning actor enjoyed his time in Limerick and popped into Charlie St George’s pub in the city centre last September.

When it first emerged last year that the movie was being shot in Limerick, local Minister of State Niall Collins said it is a great boost for West Limerick that "such a stunning location overlooking the Shannon Estuary is going to be the site for a major film shoot and brought to a worldwide audience".