Almost four years after we last waved goodbye to the Shelby family in "Peaky Blinders" season 6, Steven Knight has reassembled Tommy (Cillian Murphy), the surviving members of his family, and a handful of fresh faces for "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man," a feature-length addition to the Shelby saga.
The new "Peaky Blinders" movie did get a limited theatrical run, but as of today (Friday, March 20), you can now dive into this latest chapter and stream it on Netflix. Seeing as I had the chance to see it ahead of its Netflix release, I figured now's the perfect time to share whether I (as a "Peaky Blinders" fan) would recommend adding it to your watchlist.
- Rating: 3/5 stars
- Verdict: "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" is a solid extra helping of Steven Knight's crime drama, with much of the swagger and style of the show that came before. It's a capstone to a beloved show that I think (mostly!) sticks the landing, even if it takes a little while to get going, and never quite hits the heights of some of the series' most memorable moments."
- Premiere date/time: Available to stream now
- Where to watch: Stream "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" on Netflix
What is 'Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man' about?
"Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" takes us back to Birmingham in 1940. Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) has retreated fully from his life at the head of the family to wrestle with his demons, and his past, while his estranged, chaotic son Duke (Barry Keoghan) has taken over as the leader of the Peaky Blinders... but that self-imposed exile can't last forever.
When the future of his family and the very country are threatened by a secret Nazi plot, Tommy's forced to return to Birmingham to face his demons, take control of the situation, and mount a plan to save both his family and his nation.
In addition to Murphy and Keoghan, "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" also features Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Stephen Graham, Sophie Rundle, Packy Lee, Jay Lycurgo, Ian Peck, and Ned Dennehy.
'Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man' is an entertaining end to a top-tier TV saga
Effectively, "The Immortal Man" feels like it exists to close the book on this chapter of Steven Knight's story, in order to make space for the show's forthcoming sequel series. It plays like an extended episode and stands as a solid enough cap to the Shelby saga.
Undoubtedly the single biggest reason "Peaky Blinders" captured imaginations is surely the character at its hearts, and Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby proved, to me, to be every bit as magnetic here as he's been before. Murphy's criminal lynchpin may have retreated from Birmingham and his criminal life and become consumed by ghosts from his past, but he still possesses that same sheer presence. Admittedly, it doese take him a while to get going, but once he's back in action, he's on riveting form.
The wider cast that've been assembled put in good work too; the shifting relationship between Tommy and his son Duke makes for a satisfying arc, though other new additions (Tim Roth and Rebecca Ferguson) feel a little underserved, even if they're entertaining to watch.
If you adore the series for its swagger, personality, and bravado, it still delivers in that department. It's replete with dramatic walks into the frame, boasts chic, stylish costuming, in-your-face needle-drops, and bursts of memorable, punchy action to keep you locked in between the brooding drama, and it builds to a conclusion that felt all but inevitable.
"Victory lap" is the phrase I keep coming back to the more I reflect on the movie. "The Immortal Man" is content with serving up an intense extra helping of some of what we've enjoyed across the series' run, though some moves, such as the lack of appearances from some notable characters, might disappoint.
As someone who's been watching since the very beginning, I think I'm happy with how things panned out. It functions as an entertaining exercise in clearing the deck for whatever the team has planned in the show's new era, but I think I liked rather than loved it, all the same.
Verdict: 'The Immortal Man' sure is more 'Peaky Blinders'
I think the easiest way to decide whether to watch the "Peaky Blinders" movie will simply be to ask yourself whether you've been longing for another season ever since the show wrapped. If the answer's yes, then you'll probably get a kick out of the new "Peaky Blinders" movie.
"Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" has the drama, the action, and all the personality of the show that preceded it, but it never eclipses those preceding episodes, either, and I don't think newcomers will get nearly as much out of the film as long-time viewers.
All in all, I think it's a compelling enough coda for the acclaimed British crime drama, and I think it's worth streaming just to see Cillian Murphy step back into Shelby's shoes again.
"Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" is now streaming on Netflix.
