The 5 Best Roles of Cillian Murphy

Over more than 20 years of his career, Murphy has brought to life an impressive range of unforgettable characters — from Robert, a billionaire whose dreams turn into a battleground, to Jim, a survivor trying to rebuild his life in a post-apocalyptic world, and the charismatic yet ruthless Thomas Shelby, leader of the Peaky Blinders gang. Murphy is set to reprise this iconic role in an upcoming Netflix film. Until then, it’s worth revisiting some of his most remarkable performances.

In Danny Boyle’s cult classic, Murphy plays Jim, a man who wakes up from a coma to discover that the world around him has changed completely. After a highly contagious virus spreads, much of the population is transformed into violent, uncontrollable creatures. Searching for safety, Jim takes shelter in a church, where he meets two other survivors, Selena and Mark. Together, they attempt to find hope in a devastated world. 28 Days Later was one of Murphy’s first major films and marked a turning point in his career.

Critically acclaimed and winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Ken Loach’s historical drama is set in Ireland in 1920, during the country’s fight for independence from British rule. The story follows two brothers who find themselves on opposing sides of the conflict: Damien (Cillian Murphy), who joins the resistance movement, and Teddy (Patrick Delaney), who enlists in the British army. The film offers a powerful portrait of the political, moral, and familial divisions caused by war.

In Christopher Nolan’s celebrated science-fiction thriller — following their earlier collaboration on the Batman trilogy — Murphy portrays Robert Fischer, the heir to a vast corporate empire. Fischer becomes the target of a team skilled in infiltrating dreams to plant ideas deep within the subconscious. Drawn in by their deception, he embarks on a dangerous journey through the layers of his own mind.

Created by Steven Knight, the gangster drama turned Cillian Murphy into a global icon. The series chronicles the rise of the Shelby crime family in 1920s Birmingham. Murphy stars as Thomas Shelby, the cold, calculating, and ambitious leader of the gang, recognizable by their signature peaked caps fitted with hidden blades. Inspired by real events, the show explores the pursuit of power, wealth, and political influence, alongside stories of love, loss, and betrayal in 20th-century England.

In Christopher Nolan’s epic biographical film, Murphy delivers a commanding performance as the renowned physicist who led the development of the atomic bomb. The role earned him both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe. The film delves into Oppenheimer’s complex personal relationships, his clashes with American political figures, and the ethical dilemmas arising from scientific breakthroughs that exceeded all expectations. In one of the film’s most striking moments, the character refers to himself as “the destroyer of worlds,” quoting the sacred Hindu text Bhagavad Gita — a phrase the real Oppenheimer used in 1965. The film also won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.