Cillian Murphy’s “absorbing” Irish drama climbs up Netflix’s trending top 10

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Cillian Murphy’s highly praised film, Small Things Like These, is performing well on Netflix after becoming available on the platform earlier this week.

The film is based on Claire Keegan’s 2021 novel and tells the story of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries. These were institutions run by the Roman Catholic Church where around 30,000 women – often unmarried mothers, girls with problems at home, or those who had experienced abuse – were made to work very hard without pay.

In the film, Cillian Murphy plays Bill Furlong, a coal merchant in 1980s New Ross. He uncovers the horrifying abuse happening at the local convent and bravely risks everything – including his family’s safety – to help the women who are suffering there.

The drama, directed by Tim Mielants and written by Enda Walsh, is currently sixth in Netflix’s UK movie rankings. According to Flix Patrol, the top three films are Apex, Hypnotic, and Unwelcome.

Critics are loving Small Things Like These, with a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 124 reviews. Time Out specifically highlighted Cillian Murphy’s performance as deeply moving.

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According to Digital Spy, the show builds its emotional impact through understated storytelling rather than overt action. Though some viewers might find the pace slow, much is communicated without being directly stated – mirroring the secretive nature of the Laundries at the time. The ending is sudden, but suggests a possible, though not definite, glimmer of hope for what’s to come.

I just read a review in Empire Magazine that really hit home. They said the movie isn’t about flashy action, but a really thoughtful look at how good people can end up letting terrible things happen, and more importantly, what we can do to actually stop it. It’s a pretty heavy topic, but it sounds like the movie tackles it in a really interesting way, focusing on those small, everyday moments that can make all the difference.

Honestly, most people don’t seem to love this game. It’s got a 6.7/10 on IMDb, which suggests it’s pretty slow-paced. I read one review that called it really engaging, but even that person said the ending felt super rushed and out of nowhere.

One person described the film as significant and well-acted. Another admitted it wasn’t hugely entertaining, but explained that wasn’t its intention, and acknowledged its subtly powerful effect was hard to ignore.

Small Things Like These is available to stream on Netflix now.

The latest issue of Living Legends, a beautifully illustrated 100-page tribute to Sir David Attenborough, is now available! You can find it at newsstands or purchase it online.

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2026-05-02 02:19