Cillian Murphy is a regular feature on both our televisions and the big screen. He’s starred in several Christopher Nolan films and continues to play the iconic Tommy Shelby in popular BBC series Peaky Blinders, which he also executive produces. But which of his work do you admire the most?
Here is Cillian Murphy’s repertoire as ranked by Rotten Tomatoes.
10. Peaky Blinders
Critics rating 93%
Following the aftermath of the Great War, Britain is in a mixture of despair and hedonism. In a nation rocked by economic upheaval, returning soldiers, revolutions and criminal gangs are fighting for survival – and one of those notorious gangs is the Peaky Blinders. Constantly finding themselves at odds with other gangs and the police, the Peaky Blinders can’t escape death and turmoil. Surprisingly, Peaky Blinders makes number 10, despite being one of Murphy’s most captivating performances.
9. Sunshine (2007)
Critics ratings 76%
In a last-ditch effort to save the planet as the Earth’s dying sun signals the end of hummity, a crew travel into space with a device that could revive it. But nothing is ever that simple and a series of unfortunate events through the mission into jeopardy. The critics say: “Danny Boyle continues his descent into mind-twisting sci-fi madness, taking us along for the ride. Sunshine fulfills the dual requisite necessary to become classic sci-fi: dazzling visuals with intelligent action.”
8. Red Eye (2005)
Critics rating 80%
This is one of my personal favourites. Red Eye by Wes Craven stars Rachel McAdams, Brian Cox and Jayma Mays alongside Murphy in a spy/action/thriller that takes place mainly on a plane. When hotel manager Lisa Reisert (McAdams) meets the charming Jackson Rippner (Murphy) at check-in, she thinks it luck that they’re seated together on the plane, but soon learns otherwise. The critics consensus reads: “With solid performances and tight direction from Wes Craven, Red Eye is a brisk, economic thriller.”
7. The Party (2017)
Critics rating 82%
The Party is a comedy with a hugley starry cast including Patricia Clarkson, Timothy Spall and Kristin Scott Thomas. It’s premise is about an intimate gathering of friends, hosted by Janet (Clarkson). A dramatic announcement sparks a series of revelations in this satirical comedy. The critics say: “Old-fashioned charm meets sharp wit and modern social satire in The Party, a biting comedy carried by a shining performance from Patricia Clarkson.”
6. Batman Begins (2005)
Critics rating 85%
Of course this was going to make the list. One of Nolan’s films, Batman Begins follows a young Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) as he trains up in marital arts in preparation for a different purpose. Cillian stars alongside Liam Neeson, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman) is the first of Bale’s Batman series. The critics say: “Brooding and dark, but also exciting and smart, Batman Begins is a film that understands the essence of one of the definitive superheroes.”
5. 28 Days Later (2003)
Critics rating 87%
We see a young Murphy here in another of Danny Boyle’s forays. This time, featuring a group of misguided animal rights activists who free a caged animal and set loose a virus that clears out the city and leads to a terrifying zombie chase. The critics consensus says: “Kinetically directed by Danny Boyle, 28 Days Later is both a terrifying zombie movie and a sharp political allegory.”
4. Inception (2010)
Critics rating 87%
Arguably one of Murphy’s biggest roles and directed by Nolan, Inception follows Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a thief with the rare ability to enter people’s dreams and steal their secrets. The stellar line-up included Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page and Tom Hardy. Critics consensus: “Smart, innovative, and thrilling, Inception is that rare summer blockbuster that succeeds viscerally as well as intellectually.”
3. The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)
Critics rating 90%
In 1920s Ireland young doctor Damien O’Donovan (Cillian Murphy) is preparing for his new jobat a hospital in London but as he says his farewell, a young man is killed and he joins the Irish Republican Army. Critics say: “Bleak and uncompromising, but director Ken Loach brightens his film with gorgeous cinematography and tight pacing, and features a fine performance from Cillian Murphy.”
2. A Quiet Place Part II (2021)
Critics rating 91%
Murphy stars opposite Emily Blunt in A Quiet Place Part II, which follows the Abbott family as they must now face the terrors of the outside world and continue their fight for survival in silence. But when the venture intotheunknown they realise there are threats that lurk beyond the sand path. Critics Consensus: “A nerve-wracking continuation of its predecessor, A Quiet Place Part II expands the terrifying world of the franchise without losing track of its heart.”
1. Oppenheimer (2023)
Critics rating 93%
Murphy outdid his self in this Oscar-winning performance as Julius Robert Oppenheimer. Alongside Barbie, the release of this movie took over summer 2023 and was huge in popular culture. It follows Oppenheimer and a team of scientists sas they spend years developing the atomic bomb during the Second World War. The critics say: “Oppenheimer marks another engrossing achievement from Christopher Nolan that benefits from Murphy’s tour-de-force performance and stunning visuals.”