One of 2026's best war movies is now available to watch

Headlined by two Irish actors and an Oscar winner, the film depicts a major historical event from a new perspective.

Pressure, a gripping new war drama with a strong Irish connection, is available to watch in cinemas now.

Set in 1944, at the height of the Second World War, the movie follows the Allies as they prepare to invade German-occupied Europe under Operation Overlord.

Quick Answer Guide

Movie Title	Pressure
Where to Watch	In cinemas now
Cast	Andrew Scott, Brendan Fraser, Kerry Condon, Damian Lewis
Length	100 minutes

On 2 June, a few days before the planned invasion, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (Oscar-winner Brendan Fraser, The Whale) summons Scottish meteorologist James Stagg (Irish actor Andrew Scott, All of Us Strangers) to Southwick House, Operation Overlord's command centre near Portsmouth, England. Eisenhower wants D-Day to take place on 5 June, and worries that any delay could risk the Germans discovering the Allies' plans.

Analysing meteorological intelligence compiled from numerous weather stations, Stagg quickly predicts two low-pressure storms heading straight for the English Channel. This would mean heavy rain, cloudy skies, low visibility, and high waves, rendering any invasion unfeasible.

That said, other meteorologists assembled disagree with Stagg's assessment. Plus, Eisenhower and the rest of the military personnel at Southwick House are determined to press on with their plans.

The film takes place nearly entirely over the 72 hours at the Allies' command centre. This is as the fate of the world hangs on Stagg not only correctly forecasting the weather, but convincing Eisenhower and co to listen to him.

Watch the trailer for Pressure right here:

Those expecting a war movie with lots of combat sequences may be disappointed by Pressure, which mostly features meteorologists and military personnel in rooms arguing about what the weather will be like in a few days.

That said, when you're planning an ambitious invasion, you do need the elements on your side. Plus, writer David Haig - co-adapting his own play with director Anthony Maras - takes the real-life history and bends it into an immensely satisfying underdog story about the importance of brain over brawn.

Andrew Scott's Stagg, a no-nonsense weather expert more interested in doing his job well than making friends, is constantly doubted by everyone else in the war room. These include a rival, too-slick American meteorologist (played by the always reliable Chris Messina, The Sinner) and the army generals Eisenhower and Bernard Montgomery (Damian Lewis, Homeland), the latter presented as being slightly trigger-happy.

Scott does incredible work playing someone cold and still on the surface, while also conveying the inner emotional turmoil raging just beneath Stagg's outwardly stern facade. Also, Haig and Maras make the scenes of the character gathering the data to forecast the weather so exciting. Between these two elements, the viewer can't help but root for the Scottish meteorologist. We want him not only to be proven right, but for the army generals to see reason and come around to his way of thinking.

With its smaller, tighter story and its unique vantage point on the real-life event, Pressure doesn't feel like the definitive depiction of D-Day onscreen. Plus, we'd have liked Irish Oscar-nominee Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin) to be given more to do as Kay Summersby, Eisenhower's private secretary and one of the first people in the war room to take Stagg's claims seriously.

But thanks to its spotlighting of little-known history and the opportunity to see Andrew Scott play someone very good at their highly specific job, Pressure is well worth a look, particularly for war film aficionados.