Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders
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Peaky Blinders

"London's for the taking."

8.5
Yr 2013
Status Ended
Drama Crime
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Series Brief

Overview

A gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham, England and centered on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby, who means to move up in the world.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 82 /100

Peaky Blinders is widely regarded as a high-quality crime drama, praised for its superb performances—particularly Cillian Murphy’s turn as Thomas Shelby—and its striking cinematography. Fans and critics often celebrate the show's intense atmosphere, compelling writing, and its unique visual style, frequently noting it as a gripping journey into the life of a Birmingham crime family.

While the series receives significant acclaim, critical reception is not entirely unified. Some reviewers have noted that the narrative structure can eventually become formulaic, with predictable cycles of conflict and resolution. Additionally, early reviews occasionally questioned the show's stylistic choices and its sometimes theatrical tone, which some felt undercut the seriousness of the depicted violence.

“A Masterpiece of Crime, Clan and Cinema.”

“The writing is fantastic, the cinematography is beautiful and the performances are superb.”

“Some seasons of it might even break into ‘it’s a great show’ territory but after a while, it just got to be a little… formulaic.”

“A drama of uncommon quality, but it's not for kids.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • CA • UK
Sky Go
UK
BBC iPlayer
UK
Why fans love it

Peaky Blinders anchors its brutal crime drama in the soot and smoke of 1919 Birmingham. It operates as a distinct family epic, mapping the internal hierarchies of the Shelby clan as they leverage illegal gambling and sheer intimidation to climb the social ladder. The series grounds its 1920s setting in a persistent sense of threat, utilizing the sharp violence of its outlaw protagonists to define their status within the English underworld.

Cillian Murphy leads this atmosphere of calculated ambition, portraying a boss whose reach extends far beyond traditional bookmaking. The narrative thrives on the friction between established order and those willing to alter it through illicit means. It remains a stark character study, focusing on the tactical maneuvers required to survive when murder is a routine professional tool.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 12
Longest run 36 eps
Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy
as Thomas Shelby
36 episodes
Paul Anderson
Paul Anderson
as Arthur Shelby
36 episodes
Joe Cole
Joe Cole
as John Shelby
20 episodes
Helen McCrory
Helen McCrory
as Polly Gray
30 episodes
Iddo Goldberg
Iddo Goldberg
as Freddie Thorne
6 episodes
Sophie Rundle
Sophie Rundle
as Ada Shelby
36 episodes
Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody
as Luca Changretta
6 episodes
Dave Simon
Dave Simon
as Lancaster Officer Mulchay
4 episodes
Show 67 more
Charlie Murphy as Jessie Eden 7 episodes Aidan Gillen as Aberama Gold 9 episodes Natasha O'Keeffe as Lizzie Stark 24 episodes Sam Neill as Major Chester Campbell 12 episodes Finn Cole as Michael Gray 28 episodes Ian Peck as Curly 27 episodes Tom Hardy as Alfie Solomons 14 episodes Ned Dennehy as Charlie Strong 26 episodes Anya Taylor-Joy as Gina Gray 11 episodes Sam Claflin as Oswald Mosley 11 episodes Noah Taylor as Darby Sabini 6 episodes Kingsley Ben-Adir as Col Ben Younger 7 episodes Harry Kirton as Finn Shelby 26 episodes Kate Phillips as Linda Shelby 19 episodes Annabelle Wallis as Grace Burgess 17 episodes Tony Pitts as Sergeant Moss 13 episodes Jack Rowan as Bonnie Gold 4 episodes Samuel Edward-Cook as Danny Whizz-Bang 3 episodes David Dawson as Roberts 3 episodes Charlie Creed-Miles as Billy Kimber 4 episodes Neil Bell as Harry Fenton 5 episodes Lobo Chan as Mr. Zhang 3 episodes Charlotte Riley as May Carleton 6 episodes Kevin Metcalfe as Scudboat 3 episodes Andy Nyman as Winston Churchill 3 episodes Daniel Fearn as King Maine 4 episodes Dorian Lough as Mario 3 episodes Paul Bullion as Billy Kitchen 3 episodes Rory Keenan as Donal 3 episodes Simone Kirby as Irene O'Donnell 3 episodes Sam Hazeldine as Georgie Sewell 5 episodes Josh O'Connor as James 3 episodes Adam El Hagar as Ollie 5 episodes Alfie Evans-Meese as Finn Shelby 6 episodes Jordan Bolger as Isaiah Jesus 14 episodes Stephanie Hyam as Charlotte Murray 3 episodes Alexander Siddig as Ruben Oliver 6 episodes Wendy Nottingham as Mary 5 episodes Gaite Jansen as Princess Tatiana Petrovna 6 episodes Alex Macqueen as Patrick Jarvis MP 3 episodes Dina Korzun as Grand Duchess Izabella 4 episodes Jan Bijvoet as Grand Duke Leon Petrovna 4 episodes Paddy Considine as Father John Hughes 4 episodes Jenson Clarke as Charles Shelby 4 episodes John Gorman as Johnny the Prison Guard 4 episodes Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Esme Shelby 16 episodes Simon Wan as Han 3 episodes Naomi Yang as Li 3 episodes James Frecheville as Jack Nelson 4 episodes Andrew Sheridan as Plain Clothed Sabini Officer 3 episodes Charlene McKenna as Captain Swing 5 episodes Stephan Bessant as George 3 episodes Benjamin Zephaniah as Jeremiah Jesus 13 episodes Packy Lee as Johnny Dogs 20 episodes Emmett J. Scanlan as Billy Grade 3 episodes Daryl McCormack as Isaiah Jesus 7 episodes Pauline Turner as Frances 6 episodes Amber Anderson as Diana Mitford 5 episodes Conrad Khan as Duke Shelby 3 episodes Callum Booth-Ford as Karl Thorne 4 episodes Billy Jenkins as Charles Shelby 4 episodes Orla McDonagh as Ruby Shelby 4 episodes Wanda Opalinska as Rosemary 3 episodes Brian Gleeson as Jimmy McCavern 5 episodes Graeme Hawley as Niall Devlin 4 episodes Luca Matteo Zizzari as Matteo 4 episodes Will Marwood as Charles Shelby 4 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Visual Effects Editor
Lauren Mullally
Director of Photography
Simon Dennis Si Bell Laurie Rose George Steel
Line Producer
Matthew Patnick Brian Kaczynski
Production Design
Richard Bullock Stephen Daly Grant Montgomery
First Assistant Director
Steve Robinson Jon Midlane
Director
Tim Mielants Tom Harper Anthony Byrne David Caffrey
Casting
Layla Merrick-Wolf
Editor
Paul Knight Mark Eckersley Christopher Barwell Mark Davis Matthew Cannings Celia Haining
Third Assistant Director
Sophie Kenny
Stunts
Cristian Knight Erol Mehmet
Executive Producer
Jamie Glazebrook David Mason
Makeup Designer
Laura Schiavo
Stunt Coordinator
Jason White
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Peaky Blinders overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

england gypsy corruption gangster outlaw murder drugs criminal period drama historical british history protection racket illegal gambling historical drama bookmaker 1920s 1910s birmingham modern history violence suspenseful
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
September 12, 2013
Status
Ended
Origin
GB
TMDB Votes
11,294