Cillian Murphy’s “Steve” Shatters the Myth of the Big-Budget Actor

For years, critics and casual viewers alike have suggested that Cillian Murphy’s brilliance thrives only under the glow of big-budget spectacle — the searing atomic intensity of Oppenheimer or the shadow-soaked swagger of Peaky Blinders. But with Steve, Netflix’s upcoming small-scale drama directed by Tim Mielants, Murphy delivers a performance that proves subtle storytelling can capture his power just as potently as any grand cinematic canvas.

Set in mid-1990s England and based on Max Porter’s acclaimed novel Shy, Steve follows Murphy as the titular headteacher of a last-chance reform school teetering on the brink of closure. While battling bureaucratic pressures and the chaos of troubled students, Steve also wages a more private war: confronting his own mental health struggles. The trailer teases a portrait of a man stretched thin between his duty to others and the weight of his own demons, with moments of fierce resolve balanced against quiet vulnerability. One line — “You’re not alone — that’s the whole point” — lands like a thematic heartbeat, underscoring the film’s message of connection in the face of isolation.

Murphy has called the role “one of the most exposing and terrifying” he’s ever played, and it’s not hard to see why. This isn’t a performance buoyed by action set pieces or sprawling historical events; it’s anchored in the intimate, rain-streaked corridors of human emotion. His portrayal radiates the nobility of a man who refuses to give up on those who’ve been written off, even as his own foundations crack.

The choice to take on Steve feels like an extension of Murphy’s quiet empathy — a quality that has defined his career as much as his versatility. The film mirrors the struggles of Steve with those of a student named Shy (Jay Lycurgo), whose self-destructive impulses echo the headteacher’s own internal battles. Through this parallel, Murphy channels a performance that blurs the line between actor and advocate, drawing attention to the often-overlooked resilience of educators and the urgent conversation around mental health.

Reuniting with Peaky Blinders collaborator Tim Mielants and supported by a cast including Tracey Ullman and Emily Watson, Murphy steps into a story that prizes raw humanity over polished heroics. It’s a gamble in a marketplace still dominated by spectacle, but one that might resonate deeply with audiences seeking something more honest.

Premiering in select theaters September 19 before its Netflix debut on October 3, Steve is shaping up to be not just another strong entry in Murphy’s career, but a statement — a reminder that true mastery isn’t bound by budget, genre, or scale. In the right hands, even a whisper can roar.