Cillian Murphy Reveals His Favorite Films—And His Top Choice is Shocking

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Cillian Murphy revealed a list of his ten favorite films, which showed he especially appreciates movies with well-developed characters and realistic, often tough, stories.

The list shows a clear fondness for the films of Hal Ashby, featuring two of his most well-known works. First is the 1971 dark comedy Harold and Maude, a touching story about the unlikely friendship between a death-obsessed young man and a vibrant older woman. Murphy also chose Ashby’s 1979 satirical film Being There, which is based on Jerzy Kosinski’s novel and centers on a naive gardener who unexpectedly becomes a political figure.

Murphy’s work clearly shows the impact of filmmaking greats like Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubrick. He particularly admires Scorsese’s 1973 film, Mean Streets, which played a key role in shaping the look and feel of many contemporary crime films with its raw and realistic portrayal of city life.

He added Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining for its chilling psychological horror, praising Kubrick’s skill at building an intensely unsettling atmosphere. Both Mean Streets and The Shining are key films for understanding the intense, emotionally raw performances that Murphy frequently gives.

He’s not just interested in American films; he deeply admires British cinema, particularly its ability to portray realistic and emotional stories. He specifically mentioned Ken Loach’s classic 1969 film, Kes, a moving story about a boy and his falcon. He also highlighted more recent work, like Ben Wheatley’s 2011 film Kill List, which combines action and horror in a unique way, demonstrating his preference for bold and innovative directors.

Murphy also included the 1970s road movie Scarecrow, with Al Pacino and Gene Hackman, and the oldest film on his list: the 1955 film noir The Night of the Hunter. Directed by Charles Laughton, The Night of the Hunter is a chilling thriller starring Robert Mitchum as a menacing preacher, and is well-known for its groundbreaking visuals and unsettling story. It’s evident Murphy is drawn to films that focus on creating a strong mood and exploring characters’ inner lives rather than relying on simple action.

Early 2026 finds Cillian Murphy extremely busy after a highly successful awards season. He’s preparing for the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, which will first appear in theaters on March 6th, then on Netflix on March 20th. Written by Steven Knight and directed by Tom Harper, the film is set during World War II and also stars Rebecca Ferguson and Barry Keoghan.

Besides filming in Birmingham again, Murphy has recently surprised audiences with a hidden appearance in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Released in January 2026, the movie brings him back to the series that first made him famous, and sources say he’ll have an even bigger part in the final film of the trilogy.

He’s also going to produce and star in Blood Runs Coal, a movie for Universal Pictures based on a true story about the violent conflicts between coal miners and a corrupt union in the late 1960s.

In addition to his leading roles in major films, Murphy has also starred in Small Things Like These, a well-received and quietly powerful historical drama that has been successful at independent film festivals and showings.

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2026-01-26 00:45