# Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Review: Tommy's Last Stand > Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man brings Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby back for a brooding wartime crime film, a handsome send-off built for the show's fans. Canonical: https://celluloidscore.com/reviews/peaky-blinders-the-immortal-man-review/ Published: 2026-06-20 Last updated: 2026-10-02 Author: Kaiser Khan — Founder & Editor Language: English Review basis: direct-viewing Spoilers: none Editorial approval: 2026-10-02 Viewing confirmed: 2026-10-02 ## Verdict Yes for fans of the series, who will relish Cillian Murphy's return; newcomers should watch the show first, as the film leans heavily on its history. ## Is Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man worth watching? **Yes, if you already love the series. The Immortal Man is a handsome, brooding feature-length return for Tommy Shelby, anchored by another haunted performance from Cillian Murphy, and it gives the saga a big-screen scale it always seemed to crave.** Tom Harper directs with confidence, and the smoke-and-shadow atmosphere is as seductive as ever. The reservation is that the film assumes intimate knowledge of the show and relies on fan affection to paper over a fairly familiar crime plot, so newcomers will be lost and even devotees may find it more elegy than surprise. ## What is Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man about? Years after the events of the television series, Tommy Shelby ([Cillian Murphy](https://celluloidscore.com/stars/europe/ireland/cillian-murphy/)) is drawn back to Birmingham during the Second World War, as new threats emerge that endanger both his family's future and the city itself. Old loyalties and old enemies resurface, and Tommy, the man who has survived everything, is forced to confront what his legend has cost those around him. [Barry Keoghan](https://celluloidscore.com/stars/europe/ireland/barry-keoghan/), Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth are among the new faces who complicate his return. [Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man](https://celluloidscore.com/movies/peaky-blinders-the-immortal-man/) was directed by Tom Harper from a screenplay by Steven Knight, who created the original BBC series. It is a British film in English, runs 112 minutes, and continues the story that the six television series built. ## Cillian Murphy's weary, haunted Tommy Murphy's performance is the film's centre of gravity. He has played Tommy for more than a decade, and he brings a deep sense of weariness to the character here: the famously cold eyes now carry age and exhaustion, and every decision seems weighed against past losses. The film gives him long, quiet close-ups that let the audience read his thoughts, and it is a reminder of why this role made him a star before his Oscar-winning turn in Oppenheimer. The new cast members bring fresh energy. Barry Keoghan adds a volatile, unpredictable presence that disrupts Tommy's control, and Rebecca Ferguson brings stillness and gravity. Tim Roth relishes his role as a formidable adversary. Several familiar faces from the series return, and their appearances will give longtime fans real pleasure. ## Harper gives the saga its big-screen moment Tom Harper, who directed episodes of the original series, knows its visual language intimately, and he scales it up effectively. The film is soaked in industrial atmosphere, with smoke, fire, rain and deep shadows, and the wartime setting adds new textures of blackout streets and ruined buildings. The trademark slow-motion walks, anachronistic music cues and stylised violence are all present, and they look spectacular on a larger canvas. The screenplay, however, is less adventurous than the direction. Knight's story follows the series' familiar patterns of betrayal, revenge and family loyalty, and much of its emotional weight depends on the audience's history with the characters rather than what the film itself establishes. ## Where it leans on the faithful The film's reliance on the series is its biggest limitation. Character relationships, past traumas and old feuds are referenced rather than explained, and newcomers will struggle to understand who these people are and why they matter. Even for fans, the plot can feel like an extended finale rather than a fully standalone story, and some new characters are underdeveloped. At under two hours, it also has to compress a great deal, and some threads feel rushed. ## Who should watch Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man? It is essential for fans of the series, who will appreciate the chance to see Tommy Shelby's story continue on a grander scale. Newcomers should start with the television show, ideally all six series, before watching. The film contains frequent violence, strong language and dark themes, in keeping with the show, so it is suitable for adults. Fans of British [crime](https://celluloidscore.com/genres/crime/) and period [drama](https://celluloidscore.com/genres/drama/) will feel at home. If you enjoy it, try these: - Legend, for another stylish British gangster story built around a charismatic central performance. - Road to Perdition, a moody period crime film about loyalty and the sins of fathers. ## The verdict Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is a handsome, atmospheric farewell to Tommy Shelby, carried by Cillian Murphy's commanding performance and Tom Harper's cinematic eye. Its dependence on the series and familiar plotting keep it from being more than a fan-focused event, but for those invested in the Shelbys, it is a satisfying return. ## Related title - [Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026)](https://celluloidscore.com/movies/peaky-blinders-the-immortal-man/) ## Editorial - [Editorial standards](https://celluloidscore.com/about/editorial-policy/) - [Report a correction](https://celluloidscore.com/about/corrections/)