Although Cillian Murphy isn’t too fond of his 2005 psychological thriller Red Eye, the thriller co-starring Rachel McAdams is an underrated genre gem. Cillian Murphy has an impressive career. Since he first rose to prominence in the early ‘00s with roles in Disco Pigs, Intermission, 28 Days Later, and Cold Mountain, the star has gone on to headline both commercial blockbusters and acclaimed dramas. The same year that he played the hammy comic book villain Scarecrow in Batman Begins, Murphy also won critical acclaim for his central turn in the unforgettable war drama The Wind That Shakes the Barley.

However, not all of Cillian Murphy’s movies and TV shows impressed the star. Murphy was recently interviewed by GQ and asked about his career thus far. The Oppenheimer star admitted that he wasn’t overly impressed with 2005’s psychological thriller Red Eye, directed by the late Wes Craven.Red Eye is largely a one-location thriller where Rachel McAdams’ unassuming heroine gradually realizes that the charismatic man sitting beside her on a late flight is a terrorist who has devious plans in store. When asked about the project, Murphy said “I don’t think it’s a good movie. It’s a good B-movie.”

Why Cillian Murphy Doesn’t Like Red Eye

The Oppenheimer star called his early hit a B-movie

Red Eye is underrated and a lot better than many single-location thrillers.

When asked about Red Eye in 2021, Murphy shared similar thoughts on Craven’s movie. He opined that the project was “kind of a schlocky B movie,” noting that Rachel McAdams was excellent in the movie, but saying that he felt he didn’t give “a very nuanced performance.” The star is wrong on this account for numerous reasons. Red Eye is an underrated thriller movieand Murphy’s surprisingly strong performance is central to its success, alongside a stellar McAdams. While it isn’t Wes Craven’s best movie, Red Eye is still underrated and a lot better than many single-location thrillers.

Red Eye is undeniably campy, and the fact that Murphy’s character is named “Jackson Rippner” doesn’t help it beat the schlocky B-movie allegations. However, as a post-9/11 portrait of paranoia, a sly satire on the War on Terror, and a tense, pulpy thriller, Red Eye is tough to beat. Unlike most depictions of terrorism in the early ‘00s, Craven’s movie doesn’t rely on stereotypes to chill viewers. Murphy’s Rippner feels like a real threat instead of a campy villain and McAdams sells both their early flirtations and her gradually rising terror with ease and charm.

What Critics Thought Of Red Eye When It Came Out

Even Roger Ebert was a fan of Red Eye upon release

Earning $96 million on a budget of $26 million, Red Eye was a big hit with critics upon release.

Although Red Eye isn’t Cillian Murphy’s best horror movie, the psychological thriller was a big box office success. Earning $96 million on a budget of $26 million, Red Eye was a big hit with critics upon release. The New York Times called Red Eye “nifty” and “tense,” commending the “depth of intensity” McAdams brought to the role while calling Murphy’s Rippner “picture-perfect.” Rolling Stone was even more positive, dubbing Red Eye the “best thriller of Summer 2005.” Although Variety was less complimentary in its assessment, the magazine did single McAdams’s performance out for praise.

However, the most interesting review came from the late critic Roger Ebert, whose kind words directly contradicted Murphy’s take on the movie. For Ebert, Red Eye was a solid thriller that was “relentless,” and although the critic had his kindest words for McAdams, he also noted Murphy’s “ability to modulate his character” in a way that avoided cheesiness, outlandish melodrama, or unintentional comedy. This is a pivotal point, since Red Eye’s ending could have felt ludicrous once the characters exited their flight and escaped to the real world. However, McAdams and Murphy ensure even the wildest moments stay grounded.

Red Eye Is Not One Of Cillian Murphy’s Best Movies (But It’s Good)

Craven’s movie helped Murphy’s star to grow

It is easy to see why Murphy would single out Red Eye as a movie of his that isn’t good, since the project is more unabashedly commercial than many of his earlier roles. Having starred in 28 Days Later in 2002 and with a supporting role in Batman Begins a few months before the release of Craven’s movie, Murphy was already a rising star in Hollywood but Red Eye helped elevate him even further. Since then, the star has appeared in a wide range of major studio projects, from the good (Inception, A Quiet Place Part II), to the middling (In Time, Tron: Legacy), to the bad (Transcendence), but his work has always been exemplary.

However, although it signaled a shift from his usual work, Red Eye is far from a bad movie. Craven’s thriller balances the director’s usual skillful handling of suspense set pieces with character work that feels authentically fresh, surprising, and clever. Despite the actor’s claims to the contrary, Murphy is great in Red Eye and his performance is perfectly counterbalanced by McAdams. The duo elevate what could have been a middling effort into a delightful thriller, and Craven’s typically strong direction ensures that Red Eye, while not Cillian Murphy’s greatest movie, is still a success.