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Irish television series

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast
Genre
Created byLisa McGee
Starring
Music bySion Trefor
Countries of originUnited Kingdom
Ireland
Original languagesEnglish
Irish
No. of series1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
ProducerBrian J. Falconer
Cinematography
  • Ashley Barron
  • Nathalie Pitters
  • Daniel Stafford-Clark
Editors
  • Lucien Clayton
  • Nigel Williams
  • Ed Coltman
Running time47–56 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
Release12 February 2026 (2026-02-12)

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is an Irish comedy thriller series for Netflix created by Lisa McGee and produced by Hat Trick Productions. The series premiered on 12 February 2026.[1]

Premise

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When three close friends from Belfast receive the news that the estranged fourth member of their teenage friend group has unexpectedly died, they travel to County Donegal in the north-west of Ireland to pay their respects. Strange events at the wake and a long-kept secret threatening to come out propel the trio into investigating their friend's mysterious death, but the amateur sleuths quickly find themselves in over their heads.[2][3]

Cast

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Main

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Recurring

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Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"The Wake"Michael LennoxLisa McGeeFebruary 12, 2026 (2026-02-12)
2"The Secret"Michael LennoxLisa McGeeFebruary 12, 2026 (2026-02-12)
3"The Ghost"Michael LennoxLisa McGeeFebruary 12, 2026 (2026-02-12)
4"The Girl From Sagres"George KaneTobias BeerFebruary 12, 2026 (2026-02-12)
5"The Box"George KaneBronágh TaggartFebruary 12, 2026 (2026-02-12)
6"Separate But Inseparable"George KaneAva PickettFebruary 12, 2026 (2026-02-12)
7"Outlaws, Liars and Fallen Angels"Rachna SuriLisa McGeeFebruary 12, 2026 (2026-02-12)
8"Anagnorisis"Rachna SuriLisa McGeeFebruary 12, 2026 (2026-02-12)

Production

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The eight-part series was created by Lisa McGee.[4] In August 2023 the series was announced to be executive produced by Caroline Leddy, Liz Lewin, and Jimmy Mulville for Hat Trick Productions and Channel 4.[5] In March 2024, the series moved to streaming service Netflix. Michael Lennox is the director.[6]

On 1 July 2024, Roisin Gallagher, Sinéad Keenan and Caoilfhionn Dunne were cast in the lead roles.[7] Younger versions of the main characters were cast with Emma Canning, Emily Flain, Chara Aitken and Maria Laird fulfilling the roles.[8] The cast also includes Jeanne Ní Áinle as well as Emmett J. Scanlan, Tom Basden, Ardal O'Hanlon, Michelle Fairley, Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Josh Finan.[9][10]

Filming began in Belfast in July 2024.[11][12][13] Other filming locations include the Harbourview Hotel (formerly Londonderry Arms) in Carnlough, (County Antrim), (County Louth), Saint John's Point (County Down), Mamore Gap and Inishowen, County Donegal, Dublin, and Malta.[14][15]

Hat Trick Productions also produced Lisa McGee's previous series Derry Girls. Actors Sinéad Keenan, Emmett J. Scanlan, Maria Laird, Peter Campion, Ardal O'Hanlon, Bronagh Gallagher and Saoirse-Monica Jackson worked on both series, as did several other cast and crew members.[16] The Derry Girls mural in Derry appears in a scene in episode 8.[17]

Release

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The series was released on Netflix on 12 February 2026.[1] The age rating for the series is "15" in the UK[18] and "TV-MA" in the US.[19]

Reception

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The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 95% approval rating based on 39 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Stretching its tone in different directions without ever snapping, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is another triumphantly funny and proudly Irish series from creator Lisa McGee."[20] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave a score of 79 out of 100 based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[21]

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast was praised by critics.[3][22][23]

References

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  1. 1 2 "Find Out How to Get to Heaven from Belfast in the Trailer Now". Netflix Tudum. Archived from the original on 7 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  2. ↑ Scott Byrne, Ruari (22 August 2024). "How To Get To Heaven From Belfast: New comedy-thriller by Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee to air on Channel 4". Buzz.ie. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 Mangan, Lucy (12 February 2026). "How to Get to Heaven from Belfast review – if you see nothing else this year, watch this". The Guardian.
  4. ↑ Shafer, Ellise (21 August 2023). "'Derry Girls' Creator Lisa McGee Sets Comedy Thriller Series 'How to Get to Heaven From Belfast' at Channel 4". Variety. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  5. ↑ Cormack, Morgan (22 August 2024). "Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee announces new comedy thriller". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  6. ↑ Shafer, Ellise (15 March 2024). "'Derry Girls' Creator Lisa McGee's New Series 'How to Get to Heaven From Belfast' Moves to Netflix". Variety. Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  7. ↑ Ritman, Alex (1 July 2024). "'Derry Girls' Creator Lisa McGee Unveils Lead Cast for Netflix Comedy Thriller Series 'How to Get to Heaven From Belfast' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  8. ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (12 February 2026). "'How to Get to Heaven from Belfast' Review: Lisa McGee's 'Derry Girls' Follow-Up Is a Chaotic, Wildly Entertaining Netflix Mystery". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 13 February 2026. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  9. ↑ Wilkinson, Amber (7 May 2025). "Rising Stars Ireland 2025: Jeanne Ní Áinle (actor)". Archived from the original on 7 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  10. ↑ Warner, Sam (22 October 2025). "Kin and MobLand's Emmett J Scanlan in newly-confirmed cast for Netflix's Ireland-set comedy thriller". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 22 October 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  11. ↑ Calnan, Ellie (14 August 2024). "2024 film and high-end TV productions shooting in the UK and Ireland: latest updates". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  12. ↑ Coleman, Maureen (1 July 2024). "How To Get To Heaven From Belfast: Derry Girls writer's new Netflix show begins filming in NI". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  13. ↑ "New series from Derry Girls creator to begin filming in Belfast". RTE. 19 March 2024. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  14. ↑ "Antrim coast hotel transformed for new Netflix series from writer of Derry Girls". loveballymena. 1 July 2024. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  15. ↑ de Semlyen, Phil (12 February 2026). "Where was 'How to Get To Heaven From Belfast' filmed? The Irish locations behind the Netflix murder mystery". TimeOut. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  16. ↑ Derry Girls (TV Series 2018–2022) - Full cast & crew - IMDb. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2026 – via www.imdb.com.
  17. ↑ Connellan, Shannon (12 February 2026). "'How to Get to Heaven From Belfast' has a perfect 'Derry Girls' Easter egg". Mashable. Archived from the original on 14 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  18. ↑ "How To Get To Heaven From Belfast | BBFC". www.bbfc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  19. ↑ "How to Get to Heaven From Belfast". Netflix. Retrieved 18 February 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ↑ "How to Get to Heaven from Belfast: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  21. ↑
  22. Valentine, Jasmine (12 February 2026). . . Archived from the original on 19 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  23. ↑ Berman, Judy (13 February 2026). "'Derry Girls' Creator Turns to Crime Drama in Netflix's Intriguing 'How to Get to Heaven From Belfast'". TIME. Archived from the original on 15 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
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