Cillian Murphy is the Academy Award Winner for 2024 for his performance in “Oppenheimer“, by Christopher Nolan. Certainly a versatile actor, who was given some great performances over the years. All things considered, we can all agree that his most iconic role is Thomas Shelby, on the TV series “Peaky Blinders“. However, Cillian Murphy has portrayed amazing roles in several great films. Let’s see his top-10 film roles:
10. Inception (2010)
Cillian Murphy has collaborated several times with Christopher Nolan. His role in “Inception” was not explored thoroughly, but his conversation with Leonardo Di Caprio is iconic. And it has even provided a meme template that will stay forever.
9. Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)
The story behind one of the most famous paintings of all times. Murphy was not the protagonist in this film, however, he manages to draw attention with his acting along a great cast.
8. Dunkirk (2017)
Many people have commented that this is not a typical Nolan’s film. Nevertheless, it is a great story about the battle in Dunkirk and Murphy manages brilliantly to portray a traumatized soldier in the few minutes he appears on screen.
7. The Party (2017)
An excellent film by Sally Potter with a superb cast, including Timothy Spall, Kristin Scott Thomas and Bruno Ganz. A black-and-white dark comedy which takes many unexpected turns and Murphy is both comic and dramatic when he appears. A must-watch film.
6. Red Eye (2005)
A collaboration with Wes Craven can always provide great results. This film is kinda uneven and not too realistic on several aspects. But Cillian Murphy proves that he can play a paranoid kidnapper and be cool with that.
5. 28 Days Later (2002)
We can easily say that this film made Cillian Murphy recognisable for bigger audiences. First of all, we have to mention that Danny Boyle was the director and Alex Garland the writer. Secondly, it is a dystopian horror film with zombies. Having said all these, “28 Days Later” had a talented team but in a difficult genre (we always talk for a 2002’s film). Undoubtedly, they needed a new face to reveal his talent and capture the audience. Needless to say, this face was Cillian Murphy, who plays Jim, a person who wakes up after a coma, only to realize that the world has totally changed.
4. The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2008-2012)
Normally, we should categorize them as 3 different films. On the other side, he plays the same role (Scarecrow) in all 3 of them. Even though his role varies throughout the movies (mostly on the last 2 films), he captures us as Scarecrow/ Dr. Crane, every time he appears on screen. That’s why probably Nolan likes him this much and casts him very often.
3. Oppenheimer (2023)
By all means, Cillian Murphy portrayed superbly Oppenheimer and he totally deserved the Academy Award for his performance. On one hand, you should believe that it should be our top-1 and you would be right to think like that. On the other hand, we acknowledge Murphy’s versatility and we strongly believe that he has given some great acting too in the movies that you will find below and that’s why we rank them higher. Be that as it may, you probably had seen “Oppenheimer“, but our top-2 picks?
2. Brekfast on Pluto (2005)
One of the greatest films ever about gender identity and fluidity, “Breakfast on Pluto” is also one of the best films by Neil Jordan, a director who was always socially and politically active and brave enough to highlight important matters to his films. And Cillian Murphy, as a young trans woman, showed his full talent on such a unique occasion, totally unrelated to what he had portrayed till then (and after then). Undeniably, an inspiring role for all actors.
1. The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)
A British director decides to tell the story of Irish War for Independence against the British colonialist forces and he takes the Irish side. Ken Loach, a director who was always active on political matters and wasn’t afraid to go against his country when it was wrong, decided to give the main role to Cillian Muprhy. And he was totally right to do so. This film won the Palme D’Or at Cannes Film Festival and it wouldn’t have succeeded if it weren’t Murphy’s outstanding performance. A must-watch film.