The Wasteland Reviewer

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026) Written Review

Are you ready for the final chapter in the tale of Tommy Shelby and the Peaky Blinders? Netflix brought this BBC show to the States and got a massive hit on their hands. Peaky Blinders has been a cultural phenomenon about a family of Romani gangs in Birmingham as they have navigated some of the biggest geopolitical issues between World War I and World War II. Tommy (Cillian Murphy) is now a recluse as he attempts to write a book to explore and overcome the ghosts that haunt him from the past. But his estranged Romani son, now the leader of the Peaky Blinders, gets caught up in plot to crash the British economy by the Nazis and a British traitor. Steven Knight writes this closing chapter as Tommy rides into battle one last time. 

How does director Tom Harper capture the spirit of this beloved series? From the opening sequence, you know that you are watching Peaky Blinders. The film is shot incredibly with bold cinematography, high energy, and plenty of aura to go around. The opening sequence captures the cinematic language of The Immortal Man perfectly with a sharp combination of slow motion, hard rocking music, a heavy vibe, and sharp editing. There is a punk, brash attitude that has always defined this series and Harper brings that back for this final entry. The music from Antony Genn and Martin Slattery is brash, powerful, and electric. The way this film propels forward with electricity and power is quite impressive. The cinematography in the film is sharp, dynamic, and impressive. George Steel and Ben Wilson are impressive as they allow the camera to loom, move in engrossing ways, and hold the audience’s eyes to the screen. 

Does this story from Knight stick the landing for this beloved franchise? This is the final tale of Tommy Shelby, and it is quite satisfying in that mission. Tommy is haunted by the ghosts of his past including the looming cloud of Arthur (his brothers) death since the end of the series. This becomes the big emotional element that Tommy must confront and overcome which is so powerful. The key dynamic of the film is Tommy confronting the fact that his Romani son has taken the reins of the Peaky Blinders and is doing horrible things. This dynamic (in theory) is the true core of the film). The way the film navigates their dynamic is less complex than it should have been. Duke, Tommy’s son, is a two-note character who is erratic and has daddy issues. The film would have benefited from a deeper and more complex character. The film adds in an interesting layer with the Romani Queen, Tommy’s former lovers’ sister, who adds a mysticism to the film that is quite an interesting layer. The film is certainly Peaky Blinders and puts Tommy’s family in danger and Knight does not shy away from death. The interesting layer is the geo-political foundation with a British traitor attempting to flood the UK with counterfeit money by leveraging Duke Shelby. This traitor also attempts to layer in a pseudo-paternal relationship is quite interesting.

Does the cast bring the goods for this final run for Peaky Blinders? Cillian…Murphy. This man. His presence as Tommy has always been intense, confident, and powerful. His stature, walk, and overall body language is fully released as ever. There are vulnerability and fracturing sanity that Murphy can convey through his eyes and stare. Simply magnetic. Murphy is joined by such a talented cast as well to fill this film out. Rebecca Ferguson is so compelling and alluring as the Romani Queen from Tommy’s past. There is something quite magnetic and thrilling about her presence. The way she uses her eyes is so unique and a distinct element that she brings to her performances. Duke could have been deeper in the writing, but Barry Keoghan does deliver a strange and intense presence to the character that makes him hard to navigate. Sophie Rundle has excellent chemistry with on screen brother, Tommy, which carries over from the series. Stephen Graham is not in the film much but effortlessly slides into this environment (charisma, rough edge, accent, and all). Tim Roth is a slimy, smarmy, little creep of an English businessman who is willing to sell out his own country to end the war and become rich with the Nazis. Peaky Blinders has always been known for its excellent villain casting and a talent like Roth fits right in. 

Are you emotionally prepared for The Immortal Man? As a stand-alone film this is impeccably directed and there is plenty to appreciate about its technical elements. The story also is quite compelling and intriguing with its father/son dynamic and its grander geopolitical issues. As a fan of the show, this delivers an expected yet impressively satisfying conclusion to the tale of Tommy Shelby and his Romani gangster family.