Peaky Blinders Movie Wows Critics as Cillian Murphy's Netflix Sequel Soars on Rotten Tomatoes

Peaky Blinders Movie Wows Critics as Cillian Murphy's Netflix Sequel Soars on Rotten Tomatoes
Image credit: Legion-Media

Peaky Blinders storms back in select theaters this week before a Netflix rollout on March 20, 2026 — and early reviews are on fire. Critics are hailing the Cillian Murphy–led sequel, with Rotten Tomatoes buzz signaling a blistering return for the Shelbys.

Tommy Shelby is suiting up one more time. The Peaky Blinders movie rolls into select theaters this week before landing on Netflix March 20, 2026, and the first wave of reactions is exactly what fans wanted to hear: loud, glowing, and very pro-flat-cap.

Early verdict: Tommy still runs the table

Titled Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, the film premiered with a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, putting it among Cillian Murphy's highest-rated big-screen turns. Critics are zeroing in on two things: Murphy being completely locked in as Tommy, and how seamlessly this plays as a continuation of the series rather than a tacked-on epilogue.

"A resoundingly confident drama." — Peter Bradshaw
"The closing frames prove to be a fitting sendoff for him as well as his long, sad saga. For what could very well be the last time, he and Murphy burn bright." — Chase Hutchinson
"A rousing elegy to an underworld saga par excellence and, in particular, to a ruthless and tormented gangster whom, in Murphy's expert hands, stands as an undisputed crime-fiction icon." — Nick Schager

Others praised the movie's cinematic heft and veteran swagger, calling it a handsome reminder of why the series always felt built for the big screen. There is also love for how it frames history from street level, pairing trench-coat deals with the drumbeat of global events without losing sight of the people trying to survive both.

Story and setting

Birmingham, 1940. With World War II closing in, Tommy hauls himself back from a self-imposed exile to face the reckoning he has dodged for years. Family and country hang in the balance while he wades into the fire, forced to pick a path: own the legacy he built or torch it. By order of the Peaky Blinders.

Cast and crew

Cillian Murphy leads as Tommy Shelby, joined by:

  • Rebecca Ferguson
  • Tim Roth
  • Sophie Rundle
  • Ned Dennehy
  • Packy Lee
  • Ian Peck
  • Jay Lycurgo
  • Barry Keoghan
  • Stephen Graham

The script comes from series creator Steven Knight, with Tom Harper directing.

Release plan

The film opens in select theaters this week and starts streaming on Netflix on March 20, 2026.