Talented Irish actor Cillian Murphy was bitten by the performance bug at an early age. Murphy’s maiden voyage into the performing arts was in secondary school, where he partook in a drama course facilitated by Corcadorca Theater Company director Pat Kiernan. The thrill of performing excited Murphy, who subsequently began pursuing a music career. After a few attempts at starting a band, he and his brother Paidi found success with The Sons of Mr. Green Genes, in which Murphy sang and played guitar. Murphy and his brother were offered a five-album record deal, which they turned down, as they did not think the sum was high enough to justify signing over the writes to their creations.

In 1996, Murphy changed paths and began studying law at University College Cork, realizing right away his heart wasn’t in it. After watching a stage production of A Clockwork Orange, he began to focus his attention on acting. He starred in several theater productions as well as some independent and short films for the next few years until he got his big break playing Jim in Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later. He has since become one of the most acclaimed actors working today, particularly his collaborations with director Christopher Nolan that started with Batman Begins and also includes Inception, Dunkirk, and culminated in Oppenheimer, a movie that might see Murphy get his first Academy Award. While everyone anxiously awaits the versatile actor's future projects, here's a look back at Cillian Murphy's best performances.

Update January 9, 2023: In honor of Cillian Murphy's recent Golden Globe win for Best Actor in a Drama, this article has been updated with even more great performances by Murphy, including where each film can be streamed.

17 Breakfast on Pluto (2005)

Kitty (Cillian Murphy) searches for love in Ireland in the '70s
Pathe Distribution 

Cillian Murphy showcased his impeccable acting prowess when he headlined the 2005 dramedy Breakfast on Pluto, in which the gifted star appeared alongside Liam Neeson and Brendan Gleeson as a transgender woman in search of love, family, and fulfillment after being abandoned by her mother as a baby. Set in the late 1970s, Patrick "Kitten" Braden leaves her small Irish town for a new life in London, in hopes of tracking down her birth mother while also seeking out acceptance in a less judgemental environment.

Murphy Can Truly Do It All

Taking on such a complex and delicate role is no small task for even the most seasoned actor, yet Murphy embodied Kitty with the utmost respect and sensitivity, and he brilliantly transformed into the fearless, soul-searching Kitty. While the film itself garnered mixed reviews, Murphy's dedicated performance earned plenty of praise and he rightfully earned a Golden Globe nomination while also taking home the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor. Rent/Buy on Prime Video

16 Broken (2012)

Mike is heavily bruised after an attack
StudioCanal

Cillian Murphy is one of the few working actors who has the luxury of starring in big blockbusters AND low-budget indies. 2012's Broken is an example of the former. Based on the novel of the same name by Daniel Clay, inspired by Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the film revolves around three suburban English families living in the same cul-de-sac and the devastating consequences that result from their interactions.

The King of Indies

Murphy plays a school teacher who is dating the au pair of one of the family's children, who gets falsely accused of getting one of the daughters pregnant. Broken is a heavy, emotional, and grounded film about tragedy and misunderstandings. Despite the cast consisting of acclaimed actors such as Tim Roth, Rory Kinnier, and Denis Lawson, Murphy more than manages to stand out. Stream on Peacock

15 Free Fire (2016)

Murphy appears as a lethal IRA member cornered
StudioCanal

Touting a star-studded cast led by Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, and Armie Hammer, the 2016 action black comedy Free Fire tells the exhilarating story of savvy intermediary Justine, who finds herself caught in the middle of an illegal arms deal gone terribly awry that results in her being relentlessly pursued in a warehouse by a slew of unsavory criminals. Murphy portrays lethal IRA member Chris, who steps in to aid Justine amidst all the chaos as a team of hitmen make it their mission to see her dead and claim the large cash sum for themselves.

A Rip-Roaring Good Time

Jam-packed full of pulse-pounding action, delightful dark humor, and a refreshingly fun screenplay, Free Fire underperformed at the box office but nonetheless earned the admiration of critics. Murphy came out guns blazing as the level-headed antihero in the '70s based picture, as he and his fellow colorful criminals exchange amusing jabs and plenty of gunfire throughout the duration of the lively flick. Stream on Max

14 Red Eye (2005)

A terrorist grabs an innocent woman
DreamWorks Pictures

Directed by Wes Craven, the psychological thriller Red Eye tells the story of a woman caught in the middle of a terrorist plot while aboard a red-eye flight from Dallas to Miami. Rachel McAdams plays Lisa Reisert, the hotel manager who has the unfortunate luck of finding herself on a plane with Cillian Murphy's Jackson Rippner, an assassin working for a domestic terrorist organization. Murphy is very good at being bad, and here he does some of the best villain work of his career.

Related: Cillian Murphy's 10 Best Movies, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes

A Thrilling Knockout Portrayal

Charming and menacing, yet never hammy or over the top, Murphy manages to find the right balance to make what could be a far-fetched premise seem far more believable. Plus, his chemistry with McAdams is excellent, with scenes between the two of them easily being the best parts of the movie. Devoted Cillian Murphy fans need not look further than Red Eye if they want to witness the Golden Globe-winning actor in all his villainous glory. Stream on Paramount+

13 Disco Pigs (2001)

Teenage lovers Pig and Run take off in a sprint
Renaissance Films 

One of Murphy's earliest screen credits, Disco Pigs is a romantic drama adapted from the play of the same name by Irish playwright Enda Walsh. It follows the rollercoaster relationship between Pig (Murphy) and Runt (played by Elaine Cassidy), a pair of teenagers who have known each other their entire lives, having been born in the same hospital on the same day, within moments of one another, before becoming neighbors.

Murphy Let's Loose

Though their relationship has always been platonic, Pig starts to develop romantic feelings for Runt and becomes jealous when she starts to attract the attention of other boys. Pig, then, starts to become violent and unhinged. Murphy's performance here is erratic and intense, and though it may be an early role for the actor, his work in Disco Pigs is a good indicator of the actor he would become and some of the parts he would go on to play. Stream on Tubi

12 Anthropoid (2016)

Jamie Dornan & Cillian Murphy in Anthropoid
Icon Film Distribution 

Anthropoid is based on the true story of Operation Anthropoid. It tells the real accounts of the World War II mission where two Czech soldiers, played by Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan, parachute into their Nazi-occupied homeland to assassinate SS General Reinhard Heydrich, the man behind the Final Solution, a plan for the genocide of Jews in Europe.

Murphy & Dornan Shine

It depicts the incredible tale of heroism, bravery, and resilience it took to fight the Nazis, an operation that would forever change Europe. Anthropoid educates through its haunting tale of resistance, one that needed to be told. Cillian Murphy gives a gripping performance with masterful control over his facial expressions and emotional state and becomes completely convincing as a Czech citizen. Stream on Max

11 In the Heart of the Sea (2015)

Cillian Murphy as a sailor named Matthew Joy sitting on his boat in In the Heart of the Sea
Warner Bros. Pictures

In the Heart of the Sea is a historical adventure-drama loosely based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s tragic book of the same name that follows a story about the American whaling ship Essex that was attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in the Southern Pacific Ocean. The very same story also inspired Herman’s Melville novel Moby-Dick.

A Harrowing Adaption

Set in the winter of 1820, the film zooms in on the ship’s crew attempting to survive against all odds when faced with mortality. The crew has to handle storms, starvation, exposure to the open water, mental breakdowns, and grueling choices, which shows humans in both their weakest state and their strongest as they fight for their lives. Cillian Murphy played Matthew Joy, one of the crew members on the ship where he had to starve himself in order to lose 20 pounds in just six weeks to fit the role of the starving officer, which was a grueling experience for the actor. Rent/Buy on Prime Video

10 Sunshine (2007)

Astronauts prepare for a dangerous mission
Fox Searchlight Pictures

In Sunshine, Cillian Murphy reunites with director Danny Boyle for this futuristic sci-fi film about a group of international astronauts on a mission to save a dying star. It is set in the year 2057 when the sun is dying, and the earth is subsequently freezing. En route to the sun, however, the astronauts unexpectedly stray off course. Boyle cites his influences for Sunshine as previous sci-fi films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Solaris, and Alien.

An Underappreciated Sci-Fi Spectacle

Despite touting a decorated ensemble cast including Chris Evans, Michelle Yeoh, and Rose Byrne, the underrated film was met with generally positive reviews; however, it was not considered a box office success. Murphy completely immersed himself in the role of the brilliant physicist and researched the character thoroughly, working closely with real-life physicist Brian Cox in preparation, who called the actor "brilliant" and a "great portrayal as a physicist" after seeing the finished product. Rent/Buy on Apple TV+

9 A Quiet Place Part II (2020)

Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt try to survive the apocalypse
Paramount Pictures

A Quiet Place Part II features Cillian Murphy as Emmett, a family friend of the Abbotts before the monsters invaded Earth. Emmett, who is grieving the loss of his own family, has taken cover in an abandoned warehouse. Following the events of the first film, Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and her two children face the horrors of the outside world as they move on from their family home. On their journey, they stumble upon Emmett and plead for his help.

Murphy Causes an Internet Frenzy

Murphy practically broke the internet when fans caught a glimpse of him in the trailer for A Quiet Place Part II, with his loyal and passionate fans thrilled to see him appearing in a big-screen spectacle like the chilling horror sequel. Not only did the highly-anticipated follow-up gross over $297 million (a major feat since it was released during the pandemic), but it also earned rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, with moviegoers loving the addition of Murphy's hardened survivor counterpart. Stream on Prime Video

8 On the Edge (2001)

Cillian Murphy stars as a psychiatric patient
Universal Focus

On the Edge is a drama film that unfortunately did not get a wide release. It explores the behavior of individuals who have attempted suicide. Jonathan Breech (Cillian Murphy) feels unstable and reacts strongly to his alcoholic father’s death by attempting suicide. However, he fails and accepts a three-month sentence of therapy in a psychiatric hospital, where he is joined by individuals struggling with their mental health as well. Their union brings forth a change in how they look at life and deal with it.

A Poignant Picture

On the Edge beautifully portrays the struggle of handling one’s pain and demons but does it with realism and the right dose of non-forceful optimism. Cillian Murphy gives his complex character his absolute best in this performance, which adds so much to the depth of the story. The honest film is also jeweled by captivating and personal cinematography as well as a deeply moving score that fits every scene perfectly. Currently unavailable for streaming

7 Dunkirk (2017)

Cillian Murphy appears as a World War II soldier
Warner Bros. Pictures

Harrowing World War II epic Dunkirk chronicles the historic rescue mission of 330,000 allied soldiers from the beaches of France of the same name in 1940. Reuniting with director Christopher Nolan once more, Cillian Murphy gives an understated yet complex performance as a soldier suffering from shell shock after becoming the only survivor of a U-boat attack.

A Scene-Stealing Performance

Simply billed as a “Shivering Soldier”, Murphy does a great job of conveying the traumatized man's understandable objections when the captain of the boat that rescued him proposes they head back to Dunkirk to save more of his fellow soldiers. Even though his actions are bad, Murphy helps us to empathize with the character and allows us to understand how, given the dire situation he finds himself in, one might act in a similar way. Rent/Buy on Prime Video

6 Batman Begins (2005)

Batman and Scarecrow face off
Warner Bros. Pictures

Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins gives us the compelling origin story of Gotham's Dark Knight. Every hero needs a villain, though, and in this case, it is Cillian Murphy's Dr. Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow. Crane is a shady psychopharmacologist working at Arkham Asylum who secretly creates a fear-inducing toxin, which he plans to unleash on the city of Gotham.

Related: Cillian Murphy’s Best Moments as Scarecrow

Murphy Embraces His Villainous Side

Murphy had originally auditioned for the role of Batman, but that role ultimately went to Christian Bale. That's no bad thing, though, as here Murphy gets to have some fun playing a truly twisted villain that would go on to appear in both sequels. It also marked the beginning of many collaborations between Murphy and director Christopher Nolan, with the star also appearing in Inception, Dunkirk, and of course 2023's Oppenheimer. Stream on Max

5 Inception (2010)

Leonardo Dicaprio and Cillian Murphy in Inception
Warner Bros. Pictures

Inception marks Cillian Murphy's third collaboration with director Christopher Nolan, and the result is a dream-within-a-dream science fiction epic. The film co-stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, a thief who has the rare ability to infiltrate people's dreams and spy on their subconscious thoughts. Cobb is offered a chance at having his criminal record expunged, but first, he must plant an idea into Robert Fischer's (Murphy) subconscious. Cobb accepts the mission. However, someone anticipates his every move.

A Brilliant & Groundbreaking Epic

Once again, Murphy is surrounded by a host of acting talent, with the likes of Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Marion Cotillard, Ken Watanabe, and Michael Cain joining DiCaprio. But, once again, he manages to stand out from the crowd and delivers a solid performance as the spoiled son of a millionaire. Interestingly, Murphy researched the sons of Rupert Murdoch to help him prepare for the role. Rent/Buy on Prime Video

4 28 Days Later (2002)

A man tries to survive the zombie apocalypse
Fox Searchlight Pictures

In 28 Days Later, Cillian Murphy stars as Jim, a bicycle courier who wakes from a coma to a desolate Britain after a human-made “rage virus” has swept through the country. Jim stumbles upon the infected in a church, which is also where he meets Selena (Naomie Harris), who brings him up to speed on what he missed and the terrifying state of the world while he was comatose.

Boyle & Murphy's Trailblazing Zombie Venture

Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later revitalized the zombie genre with its fresh take on the infected, and was the first of many zombie films released during the 2000s such as Dawn of the Dead, Zombieland, and Shaun of the Dead. Murphy has stated he would return for a third installment of the 28 Days Later franchise, with the actor revealing to Collider in 2023: "...I think we’re definitely approaching the 28 Years Later. But like I’ve always said, I’m up for it. I’d love to do it. If Alex [Garland] thinks there’s a script in it and Danny wants to do it, I’d love to do it." Currently unavailable for streaming

3 The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)

Two soldiers secretly confer
Element Pictures

The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a war movie centered on the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) and the Irish Civil War (1922-1923). Cillian Murphy plays Damien O’Donovan, a medical student about to leave for a job at a reputable London Hospital. His plans change when he witnesses atrocities committed by the Black and Tans. He instead joins the local IRA faction with his brother Teddy. Once a peace treaty is reached with British forces, however, the brothers are divided in mind and end up fighting opposite one another.

A Top Tier Performance

The Wind That Shakes The Barley was a critical success and is regarded by some as Murphy’s best performance, as he brought a poignancy to the role as his character faced unfathomable atrocities during the war. The gripping drama won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, with Newsweek calling it "dense, brutal, with moments of shattering emotional power, and the cast performs with fierce conviction" in their glowing review. Stream on AMC+

2 Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)

Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders
BBC

Set in Birmingham, England, the British crime drama, Peaky Blinders, chronicles the misadventures of the Peaky Blinders, a violent criminal gang that formed in the aftermath of World War I. In what is probably the actor's best-known role, Murphy plays gang leader Thomas "Tommy" Shelby, a charismatic yet easily angered thug who suffers from PTSD.

A Unforgettable Television Triumph

With his flat-cap hat and undercut hairstyle, Tommy's character has become an iconic figure in recent years, with many fans of the show becoming inspired by his look. The character's popularity can largely be attributed to Murphy's enigmatic and committed performance, which has gained him critical acclaim and award wins. Stream on Netflix

1 Oppenheimer (2023)

Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer smoking from a pipe while wearing a suit in Oppenheimer
Universal Pictures

Read Our Review

Everything that came before feels like it was building up to this as, with Oppenheimer, Murphy really gets to show off what a skilled performer he truly is. Directed by frequent collaborator Christopher Nolan, the film depicts the life and career of nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who become famous for being the creator of the first nuclear bomb. Based on the biography American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Marin J. Sherwin, it tells a story across a number of different timelines and covers Oppenheimer's romantic relationships, his early years in academia, his time working on the Manhattan Project, and his subsequent fall from grace.

Why It's His Greatest Performance

Oppenheimer, and therefore Murphy, appears in almost every scene, meaning the entire movie rests upon the actor's shoulders. He more than rises to the challenge, though, expertly conveying the physicist's complexity, his personal moral conflicts, and his ensuing guilt. It's such an intricate performance, with every look, mannerism, and inflection deliberately and perfectly chosen to give the audience a greater understanding of who the man behind the bomb is. There's already talk of Murphy receiving his first Oscar for his work here, as he just took home a Golden Globe Award. If he did, it would be thoroughly deserved. Rent/Buy on Prime Video