With Oppenheimer’s release right around the corner, Cillian Murphy’s name is on everyone’s lips. The extremely talented and shy Irish actor has witnessed a recent creative renaissance that has its origins in BBC’s hit period series, Peaky Blinders. That being said, Murphy always had a well of talent within him that could easily be recognized by the keen eye, with films such as Disco Pigs and 28 Days Later.
Predominantly an indie-fan favorite, Cillian Murphy’s talents have been properly utilized by one of his most frequent collaborators in Christopher Nolan. After having collaborated together on five projects, with Oppenheimer being the sixth, Nolan’s decision to offer Murphy the titular role of Oppenheimer is testament to the director’s faith in his leading man’s ability, rewarding opportunity where it’s deserved, rather than where it’s due.
10 Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) – 73%
Peter Webber’s historical drama is based Tracy Chevalier’s 1999 novel of the same name. The film charts Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer’s relationship with his servant, Griet, who becomes his muse, as he creates his now world-famous painting of the same name. Criminally underutilized, Murphy plays the role of Pieter, a young man that’s madly in love with Griet, while being jealous of her relationship with Vermeer.
Girl With A Pearl Earringis another instance where Murphy’s nuanced acting is on display for all to see as he plays Pieter with a sense of childlike envy without being overbearing or malicious.
9 Intermission (2003) – 74%
Diving into the complexities of relationships, Intermission plays out as a hybrid mix between a crime film, a comedy, and a sprinkle of romance. The film leverages dark humor and witty writing to address sensitive issues of loss and grief, with Murphy receiving acclaim in particular for his portrayal of a man that’s lost out on love and will do anything to get it back.
8 Sunshine (2007) – 76%
After developing a successful creative relationship post the success of 28 Days Later, Murphy reunited with director Danny Boyle for Sunshine in 2007, tackling the theme of space exploration this time. Unlike other mindless space films that are a fusion between bad writing and tacky VFX, Boyle’s film serves as a masterclass in achieving more by showing less.
Set in 2057, Sunshine follows a group of scientists that are sent to space with the mission of reviving a dying sun by planting a bomb. Despite its average commercial performance at the time of release, Sunshine is deemed as a cult classic that does a great job at building suspense, without relying on the conventional genre tropes.
7 Red Eye (2005) – 79%
In one of the rare cases where we get to see Murphy’s dark side, the Irish actor plays the role of an unhinged assassin that’s emotionally deranged and expertly manipulative. When Murphy’s Jackson Rippner charms a hotel manager Lisa with his suave persona, she doesn’t expect him to turn out to be an assassin that’s using her to assassinate a U.S. official. Furthermore, credit to Wes Craven for not overdoing the damsel in distress trope, as Lisa does her best to outsmart a demented yet dangerous Rippner.
6 The Party (2017) – 82%
Sally Potter’s The Party offers a hilarious perspective on the landscape of corporate drudgery and the various characters that inhabit its world. Providing Murphy with the rare chance of exploring the comic genre, The Party revolves around a woman named Janet who throws a party to celebrate her promotion.
What starts out with rounds of champagne and cordial conversation soon turns into a yelling match, eventually culminating in a gun being pointed at one of the guests.
5 Batman Begins (2005) – 84%
Traditionally speaking, Batman Begins was Murphy’s first and formal breakout role, marking the beginning of his professional relationship with Christopher Nolan. If 28 Days Later put Cillian Murphy on the map, Batman Begins turned him into a star, gaining popularity and acting credibility across the globe.
And Murphy outdid himself, taking the opportunity with both hands, as he played Scarecrow’s role with frightful uncertainty; scary one moment, vulnerable the next. Considered by many to be one of the best Batman movies of recent times, Murphy along with the likes of Christian Bale and Heath Ledger of course, elevated Nolan’s films to another level.
4 28 Days Later (2002) – 87%
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Danny Boyle’s straight-edge zombie thriller offers a no-nonsense approach to a somewhat tacky and trope-oriented genre. Praised for its writing and performance, 28 Days Later uses the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse to highlight the darkness contained within humans, at times making them seem more cruel than the bloodthirsty, brainless zombies.
Considered by many as one of the best zombie films of all time, 28 Days Later is essential viewing for any Cillian Murphy fan.
3 Inception (2010) – 87%
Despite being a complete Leonardo DiCaprio show, Murphy made his place in Nolan’s Inception, shining in a more nuanced and peripheral role. The film’s story revolves around Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) and his team of intellectual thieves as they infiltrate their subject’s dream and plant ideas in a process known as inception.
Playing the role of a targeted middle-man in the film, Murphy’s character isn’t an outright antagonist; he’s a character Cobb and his team used to get to Murphy’s father to stop him from his capitalistic business before it’s too late.
2 The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) – 90%
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Set in Ireland during the 1920s, Ken Loach’s film follows the story of two brothers Damien (Cillian Murphy) and Teddy (Padraic Delaney), who find themselves on opposite sides during the Irish War of Independence. The Wind That Shakes the Barley constitutes one of Murphy’s finest performances, as he’s gentle in his mannerisms yet firm in his principles.
1 A Quiet Place Part II (2021) – 91%
A nerve-wracking follow up to its barbaric predecessor, A Quiet Place Part II picks up from the deadly events at the Abbot family home, as they venture out into the world full of silence and deadly creatures. Playing the role of a survivor named Emmett, Murphy brings his A-game to the table, layering his character with an overarching sense of melancholy and moroseness.