Cillian Murphy names his favourite sci-fi movies
With blues eyes that could pierce a bowling ball and a nuanced sense of command that captivates audiences at will, Cillian Murphy has established himself as one of the most beloved and well-crafted screen presences of his generation. The prolific actor is widely recognised for his collaborations with directors Danny Boyle and, perhaps most famously, Christopher Nolan.
The Cork-born Peaky Blinder has a body of work that includes titles such as Boyle’s 28 Days Later and Sunshine, as well as Nolan’s Batman films and the mind-bending Inception, efforts which contributed to a gradual but mightily impressive rise through Hollywood—one where he has refused to be pigeonholed. Nor has he pandered to any particular genre.
However, science fiction is perhaps where the heights of his talents make themselves known. That is not to say that his other roles have been remotely wanting, but it is often so difficult to bring humanity to the lofty plots of sci-fi that actors end up mere vehicles of the storyline. No such predicament has ever befallen the emotionally invigorating Irishman. Murphy himself is a fan of the genre, and, as he described in an interview with Ian Winterton, his tastes are much in line with those of collaborator Danny Boyle.
Asking a sci-fi fan for a list of favourites is an often loaded question, with an abundance of titles across a variety of sub-genres making it hard to choose from. However, Murphy’s answer to this question is relatively common, with Star Wars being a seminal film for the actor, as it was for many film fans. “I did at least grow up absolutely loving Star Wars,” said Murphy, though he states, “I was never into the Star Trek movies or the series really.”
Murphy’s love for Star Wars may have played a part in his appreciation for the genre, but he goes on to explain that his tastes are far removed from George Lucas’ sci-fi fairy-tale: “Like Danny [Boyle], my sci-fi tastes are along the lines of Alien, 2001, Solaris.” Unlike the family fun of Star Wars, Murphy’s choices here imply a love for the philosophical side of sci-fi cinema, with movies like 1979’s Alien displaying a near dystopian future run by corporate greed.
The star of Boyle’s 2007 sci-fi film Sunshine also shares an appreciation for sci-fi fans and their culture, describing his experience with conventions and the realisations that came to him as a result. “I went to the ComiCon convention in San Diego, which was intense,” Murphy said, referring to the time he gave a press conference in front of thousands, “It was mad, but you realise that they’re the people who buy the tickets. They’re the people who know these characters as well as you do, so you have to make movies that they enjoy.”
Murphy’s quiet and often understated performances may have been influenced by his love for his favourite sci-fi films, especially when considering his passion for 2001: A Space Odyssey and Solaris. In fact, it isn’t hard to imagine Murphy in the role of Kris Kelvin or playing the delicate part of an android in the Alien franchise.
While his more recent work is grounded in reality, with films like Nolan’s Dunkirk and Oppenheimer among Murphy’s most celebrated, his connection to science fiction through director Danny Boyle and his appreciation for the contemplative, often philosophical nature of the genre has clearly influenced his career. If you’re stealing the show from cavalcade of the undead, you’re doing alright.
Cillian Murphy’s favourite sci-fi movies:
- Star Wars (George Lucas, 1977)
- Alien (Ridley Scott, 1979)
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)
- Solaris (Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972)
