Ranking Every War Movie Featuring Cillian Murphy

Irish actor Cillian Murphy has performed as J. Robert Oppenheimer and five other soldiers in cinema. He also portrayed Thomas Shelby, the war hero and gangster, in the critically acclaimed television series ‘Peaky Blinders’ (2013–2022). With a few notable exceptions, Murphy’s most prominent parts in both cinema and television are typically associated with the soldier archetype, demonstrating his adaptability and commitment to stories about war.

Murphy worked with acclaimed English director Christopher Nolan on a number of these productions, which produced some of his most memorable roles. Even while a lot of the films on this list are probably well-known to viewers, there are a few lesser-known titles as well, such as two Irish-produced movies that are highly regarded by some movie buffs.

These military films starring Cillian Murphy all hold up over time, compelling and relevant despite differing levels of recognition. Every war film starring Cillian Murphy is ranked on this list.

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‘The Wind That Shakes the Barley’ (2006)

‘The Wind That Shakes the Barley’ (2006), directed by Ken Loach and written by Paul Laverty, gave Cillian Murphy his big break. The story of this Irish movie is advanced by Murphy’s character, Damien O’Donovan, and is set against the backdrop of the War of Independence. To stave off British soldiers, Damien enlists in the Irish Republican Army with his brother Teddy, played by Pádraic Delaney.

‘Dunkirk‘ (2017)

Before playing Oppenheimer in Nolan’s movie, the actor in question starred in another Nolan film, ‘Dunkirk’ (2017), as an anonymous soldier. Reminiscent of his renowned role as Thomas Shelby in the television series ‘Peaky Blinders’ (2013–2022), in which his character struggles with the effects of war, Cillian gives a remarkable performance in the movie.

Outside of film, Cillian has shown a significant dedication to the war genre. His portrayal of Thomas Shelby, for example, has received praise for its accurate portrayal of PTSD, cementing its position as one of the most powerful in all media.

‘Oppenheimer‘ (2023)

In the 2023 film, Cillian Murphy, working with director Christopher Nolan for the sixth time, plays theoretical physicist Oppenheimer. Murphy made history by being the first actor of Irish descent to win ‘Best Actor’ at the Academy Awards with this performance, which is a well-deserved accomplishment.

As the inventor of the first atomic weapon, Murphy gave an extraordinary performance, displaying his extraordinary talent in a landmark biographical picture with some of Hollywood’s best actors.

‘Cold Mountain’ (2003)

The star of the film ‘Cold Mountain’ (2003), which was written and directed by Anthony Minghella, plays the role of Confederate soldier Bardolph. Even though the actor is limited to a single scene in the long-running film ‘Cold Mountain,’ he gives a performance that is passionate about the role and shows a clear commitment to it.

‘Anthropoid’ (2016)

In the film ‘Anthropoid’ (2016), directed by Sean Ellis with Anthony Frewin as co-writer, Cillian Murphy portrays Jozef Gabcik, a Czechoslovakian soldier. Gabcik, along with Jan Kubis, played a significant role in orchestrating the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, a prominent figure responsible for the Holocaust, during the Second World War.

‘The Trench’ (1999)

At the turn of the twenty-first century, Cillian Murphy made his feature film debut in war films with William Boyd’s ‘The Trench’ (1999), which was based on his original screenplay. The storyline may not go as deep as it does in modern war movies, but Boyd does a great job creating an atmosphere that sticks in your memory the entire time.

The whole movie takes place in the trench that bears the same name, and it takes place during the last two days before the Battle of the Somme. Exquisite camerawork and outstanding sound design heighten the mood of ‘The Trench,’ setting up the suspenseful denouement.

– Farheen Ali