Cillian Murphy’s Steve Moves Audiences to Tears — and Reminds Us Why Teachers Matter

When the lights came up after the first public screenings of Steve, many in the audience sat in silence, wiping tears. For more than eight minutes, three deeply emotional scenes left viewers quietly crying — a rare, almost reverent response in modern cinema.

The new drama stars Cillian Murphy as Steve, the head teacher of a boys’ reform school in 1996. Over the course of a single day, Steve fights to guide vulnerable students while navigating his own struggles with mental health. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a documentary crew visit, a local politician’s inspection, and devastating personal news for both Steve and a troubled pupil named Shy (played by Jay Lycurgo).

Murphy, who also helped shape the film’s tone, describes Steve as “a love letter to teachers.” One whispered line in the film — “They’re custodians of the next generation” — has already become a talking point among early viewers for its quiet power.

A Different Side of Cillian Murphy

Murphy has spent much of his career embodying intense, complex figures, most famously Tommy Shelby in the hit BBC and Netflix series Peaky Blinders. But the actor insists that his new role is closer to his real personality than Shelby ever was.

“I’m not a psychopathic gangster,” Murphy joked in a recent BBC interview. “Playing Tommy has been a gift and a privilege, but it’s very far from who I am.”

The Irish actor, now 49, reflected on the unusual experience of aging alongside a single character. “To grow older with a character, you don’t really get to do that often. That’s the joy of long-form television,” he said. “We never anticipated that the show would have that kind of impact.”

Murphy credits Peaky Blinders’ success to “a magic formula” — sharp writing from creator Steven Knight, timing, and a distinct visual style. And while the original series ended in 2022 after six seasons, its world will continue with The Immortal Man, a follow-up film set during the early years of the Second World War, when Britain stood alone before U.S. forces joined the fight. Production wrapped in December 2024, though the release date remains under wraps. “I think it’s better to keep it a surprise,” Murphy teased.

Moving Beyond Shelby

Since Peaky Blinders closed its final chapter, Murphy has expanded his range even further. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, starred in the quiet Irish drama Small Things Like These, and lent his voice to the animated adaptation of Kensuke’s Kingdom.

With Steve, Murphy shifts from historical and epic storytelling to an intimate, deeply human narrative about educators, mental health, and the impact one adult can have on a young person’s life. The film avoids easy sentimentality, opting instead for grounded realism and quiet emotional weight.

Why Steve Resonates

Though set nearly 30 years ago, Steve feels timely. Its exploration of men’s mental health and youth vulnerability speaks to universal challenges that persist today. Murphy noted that audiences interpret the story through their own experiences: “Even though the film is set three decades ago, it’s just demonstrating that this stuff is always there.”

Early viewers say the film’s emotional impact lingers long after the credits roll — not through explosive drama but through small, devastating truths. For teachers, parents, and anyone who has relied on a mentor during difficult times, Steve may feel especially personal.

Steve is now playing in cinemas and will arrive on Netflix next month. For Cillian Murphy, it’s a chance to leave behind the shadow of Tommy Shelby and remind us that quiet acts of care can be just as powerful as any on-screen gangster empire.