Winning an Oscar changes things. For Cillian Murphy, it didn't mean chasing Marvel capes or big-budget explosions in Los Angeles. Instead, the Cork man went home. He went back to the rainy streets of County Wexford and the quiet, heavy history of Ireland.
People keep asking about the next big Cillian Murphy Irish movie, and honestly, the answer is already here, but it’s not what most expected. It’s quiet. It’s devastating. It’s a film called Small Things Like These.
If you haven't seen it yet, you've missed the most vulnerable performance of Murphy’s career. Forget the haunting hollows of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s cheeks or the razor-sharp intensity of Tommy Shelby. Here, he plays Bill Furlong, a coal merchant in 1985 who discovers something he wasn't supposed to see at a local convent. It’s a story about the Magdalene Laundries, a dark stain on Irish history that most people spent decades trying to ignore.
Small Things Like These: The Movie That Broke the Quiet
The film isn't a loud "social justice" flick. It’s a character study of a man who can’t look away anymore.
Bill Furlong is a father of five girls. He’s a good man, a hard worker, and a soul who carries his own trauma about his birth. When he sees a young girl locked in a coal shed at the convent, the community's collective "shush" starts to feel like a scream.
Critics have called it an "anti-Christmas Carol." That’s a pretty fair assessment. While the rest of the town is focused on the lights and the choir, Bill is staring at the mud and the misery hidden behind the church walls.
- Directed by: Tim Mielants (who worked with Cillian on Peaky Blinders)
- Written by: Enda Walsh
- Based on: The novella by Claire Keegan
- Producers: Cillian Murphy and Alan Moloney through their company, Big Things Films
What’s wild is that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s studio, Artists Equity, put up the money. Imagine that. Two of Hollywood's biggest titans funding a gritty, historical Irish drama about coal and nuns. It shows how much weight Murphy carries now. He’s using his "Oppenheimer" capital to shine a light on the stories that matter to his own soil.
Why This Movie Matters in 2026
The last Magdalene Laundry in Ireland didn't close until 1996. Think about that. That’s not ancient history. That’s within the lifetime of most people reading this.
The film has forced a lot of conversations in Ireland. It isn't just about the past; it’s about how communities choose to stay silent to keep the peace. Murphy’s performance is mostly silent. He uses his eyes—those famous, icy blue eyes—to show a man slowly breaking apart under the weight of his own conscience.
There’s a specific scene where Bill is scrubbing coal dust off his hands. It’s obsessive. It’s like he’s trying to wash off the complicity of the whole town. It’s uncomfortable to watch, and that’s exactly why it works.
Steve: The Next Chapter for Big Things Films
If you think Murphy is slowing down, you're wrong. He’s already followed up with a project called Steve, which hit Netflix in late 2025.
In this one, he plays a headteacher at a reform school for boys. It’s set in the mid-90s, based on Max Porter’s book Shy. Again, he’s working with Tim Mielants. They’ve become quite the duo.
Steve is different from the period drama of Small Things Like These. It’s more frantic. It follows 24 hours in the life of a man trying to save a school and his own sanity at the same time. The reviews have been solid, mostly praising how Murphy can take a "teacher trope" and turn it into something visceral and real.
He’s not just acting in these. He’s producing. He and Alan Moloney formed Big Things Films specifically to have control over these kinds of narratives. They want stories that "provoke and inspire," and so far, they aren't missing.
What’s Actually Happening with the Peaky Blinders Movie?
Everyone wants to know about the flat cap.
The Peaky Blinders movie, reportedly titled The Immortal Man, has finished filming. Netflix confirmed the wrap in late 2024. Cillian is back as Tommy Shelby, but he’s joined by another Irish powerhouse: Barry Keoghan.
Seeing those two on screen together is basically the Irish Avengers for film nerds. The movie is set during World War II, moving the story forward from where the series ended. We’ve seen leaked set photos of Murphy looking older, more grizzled, and definitely more dangerous.
It’s scheduled to drop on Netflix on March 20, 2026.
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The Reality of Being a "Global" Irish Star
Cillian Murphy has this weird, cool balance going on. He can attend the Oscars in a custom suit one week and then be seen walking his dog in South Dublin the next. He’s famously private, which actually helps his acting. You don't see "Cillian" on screen; you see the character.
He’s spoken about the "massive imbalance" in the world, particularly the housing crisis in Ireland. He’s tuned in. He’s not just a face on a poster. This connection to the real world is why his "Irish movies" feel so heavy and authentic. They aren't "Oirish" caricatures with leprechauns and bad accents. They are gray, damp, and honest.
What You Should Watch Next
If you want to dive into the Cillian Murphy Irish movie catalog beyond the new stuff, you have to go back to the classics.
- The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006): This is the definitive Irish independence film. Murphy plays a doctor turned guerrilla fighter. It’s brutal and beautiful.
- Breakfast on Pluto (2005): He plays a transgender woman searching for her mother in the 70s. It shows his incredible range long before the world knew him as a nuclear physicist.
- Intermission (2003): A cult classic. It’s a gritty, hilarious ensemble piece set in Dublin. Murphy with a mustache—enough said.
The common thread in all these is that Murphy doesn't take the easy path. He picks scripts that require him to disappear.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Cinephiles
If you’re looking to keep up with his work, here’s the reality of how to follow his career now:
- Watch Small Things Like These on VOD: It’s available on Amazon and Apple TV now. Don't go into it expecting an action movie. It’s a slow burn. Give it your full attention.
- Check out Big Things Films: Follow their production slate. They are the ones driving the most interesting Irish cinema right now.
- Mark March 20 for Peaky Blinders: That’s the big one. It’ll be on Netflix globally.
- Read the Source Material: Both Small Things Like These (Claire Keegan) and Shy (Max Porter) are incredible, short reads. Murphy is a massive bibliophile, and his best movies usually start as great books.
Cillian Murphy is proving that you don't have to stay in Hollywood to be a global star. You just have to tell the truth, even if you have to do it quietly.
Next Steps for Your Movie Night
To get the full experience of Murphy’s recent "Irish era," start with Small Things Like These to understand the historical weight he’s carrying. Follow it up with Steve on Netflix to see his modern, high-intensity range. Finally, clear your schedule for the Peaky Blinders finale in March. Supporting these independent-leaning films is the best way to ensure more authentic Irish stories make it to the big screen.