The cast members ofPeaky Blindershave made some remarkable movies outside of Birmingham, and these 10 films are their absolute best. The entireShelby family treeis played by some notable actors, from Helen McCrory to Cillian Murphy and everyone in between. They all lent their talents toPeaky Blindersin exceptional fashion, but they’ve also made names for themselves in other films and TV shows. In fact, some of their best independent work is so good that it actually surpassesPeaky Blinders, which is an incredibly high bar.
It’s also quite surprising the sheer variety of movies the cast ofPeaky Blindershas touched on over the years. From acclaimed and Oscar-winning dramas to experimental horror movies and action-mystery films, they’ve branched out far and wide from the crime-ridden streets of Birmingham. It’s also worth noting that almost everyone involved inPeaky Blindershas had some successful film outing since playing a Shelby, and they’ll have a chance to make a great film as Shelbys, thanks toThe Immortal Man, thePeaky Blindersmovie. That being said, these 10 movies are the absolute best from the cast ofPeaky Blinders.
Just a year after Finn Cole joined his real-life brother Joe (John Shelby) onPeaky Blinders, he joined his fictional cousin, Ada Thorne (Sophie Rundle) inAn Inspector Calls.The 2015 movie adaptation ofAn Inspector Callsfollows David Thewlis as the titular inspector as he investigates Eva (Rundle), Eric (Cole), and the Birling family. Rundle and Cole are just parts of the knot of mysteries and secrets inAn Inspector Calls, but they both play their parts brilliantly, and the film became a great modernization of a classic stage play because of them.
One ofCillian Murphy’s best movieshappened long before he ever started playing Tommy Shelby.In28 Days Later, Cillian Murphy plays Jim, a man who wakes up from a coma 28 days after the onset of a zombie apocalypse in London.28 Days Lateris a truly historic film, both for how it revamped the zombie genre and paved the way for projects likeThe Walking Dead, but also because it completed Murphy’s rise to stardom. He’s incredible in the film, displaying all the emotions Jim was feeling in this wild situation and backing it up with an almost unprecedented level of physicality.
Before playing Arthur Shelby, the bruiser of the Peaky Blinders, Paul Anderson played another criminal enforcer inSherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Robert Downey Jr.’s second time as the famous detective inA Game of Shadowsis one of thebestSherlock Holmesmovies ever made. Anderson had a critical, albeit small, role in makingA Game of Shadowssuch a success, and it’s hard to imagine the film’s action being as compelling without his character, Colonel Sebastian Moran, Professor Moriarty’s (Jared Harris) right hand man and a perfect foil to Jude Law’s John Watson.
Annabelle Wallis likely takes the cake for the most unique horror movie made by anyPeaky Blindersstar.Wallis starred as Madison inMalignantin 2021, which follows her character as she’s beset by a spirit named Gabriel who can alter her very perception of reality. The nature ofMalignantput a lot of responsibility on Wallis' acting, and she was more than up to the task. What really makesMalignantspecial, however, is both its spine-tingling scares, its intense visuals that are unlike anything else, and its shocking twist ending that is too good to spoil.
An Inspector Callsis not the only time twoPeaky Blindersstars united in a different movie, and it wasn’t even the best time.Christopher Nolan’sInceptionfeatures both Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy in very different roles from theirPeaky Blinderscharacters, and it’s arguably one of the best and most thought-provoking thrillers ever made.Inceptionfollows a team including Eames (Hardy) as they attempt to get into Robert Fischer’s (Murphy) dreams and plant an idea there, but they have to fight through his subconscious and Cobb’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) dark past to get to that point.
The late Helen McCrory had a small but memorable role in one of thebest James Bond movies ever made, and certainly Daniel Craig’s best.InSkyfall, McCrory plays MP Clair Dowar, a fierce opponent of MI6 and Dame Judy Dench’s M just before the shootout with Silva (Javier Bardem). McCrory’s role was a central part ofSkyfall’s main question, of whether the world had moved past the need for James Bond, and though her character wasn’t likable, she played the part expertly.Skyfallalso features action, intrigue, and excitement galore, which makes it a perfect watch afterPeaky Blinders.
While Mel Gibson played Max Rockatansky most, Tom Hardy put an indelible mark on the franchise withMad Max: Fury Road.Hardy took on the mantle of Max inFury Road, a post-apocalyptic epic that sees him travel across a desert wasteland with Charlize Theron’s Furiosa in a story about redemption and running from the past.Fury Roadis the literal definition of high-octane action, and while he doesn’t speak much, Hardy did a wonderful job of putting the “mad” inMad Max.Fury Roadis perfect for anyone who has ever enjoyed an action movie: it’s really that good.
Every Tom Hardy Movie, Ranked Worst To Best
Tom Hardy has consistently shown a willingness to make bold acting choices and push the boundaries throughout his illustrious movie career.
Cillian Murphy has had some highly-acclaimed movies in his time, and one of his most moving wasThe Wind That Shakes the Barley.InThe Wind That Shakes the Barley, Murphy plays Damien O’Donovan, a man who joins the Irish Republican Army at the start of the 20th century, and charts his time through the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War.The Wind That Shakes the Barleyis a bleak and depressing movie, but Murphy’s incredible acting elevated it from a history lesson to an incredibly moving and deeply emotional journey that received 90% onRotten Tomatoes.
Helen McCrory played a supporting role as Polly Gray, but she also gave one of thebest performances inPeaky Blinders. It should be no wonder, considering how acclaimed her supporting role in Helen Mirren’sThe Queenwas.InThe Queen, McCrory plays Cherie Blair, the wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair following the death of Princess Diana. Mirren’s portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II commanded most of the attention surroundingThe Queen, but McCrory very nearly stole the show in an exceptionally well-acted and moving drama that’s still worth watching today.
The best movie from a star ofPeaky Blindershas to go to Cillian Murphy for his Oscar-winning performance in Christopher Nolan’sOppenheimer.Murphy plays the titular Robert J. Oppenheimer in Nolan’s epic, and he provides a nuanced and utterly intriguing look at a highly complicated historical figure. Murphy’s performance, coupled with Nolan’s incredible visuals and the fascinating real history it’s based on, madeOppenheimera massive hit. Every second of its three-hour runtime is enthralling, even if you know nothing about nuclear physics or World War II. It’s certainly the next best thing after seeing the stars ofPeaky Blindersin the show itself.
