He’s not a superhero.
He doesn’t carry a gun.
But Steve is the head teacher of a last-chance reform school. He is one of the most heroic characters you’ll see all year.
In Steve (2025), director Tim Mielants (Peaky Blinders, The Night Manager) delivers a gripping, heartfelt drama. It unfolds over just one intense day. The film offers a glimpse into a man’s life. He is holding together broken kids. Meanwhile, his own world slowly falls apart.
STEVE, starring Cillian Murphy and Jay Lycurgo, is now playing on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/tVTimLRybp
— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) October 3, 2025
Cillian Murphy stars in a career-defining role. This quiet British gem shows that real battles aren’t fought on battlefields. They’re fought in classrooms, hallways, and hearts.
If you love character-driven stories like The King’s Speech, An Education, or Mr. Holland’s Opus, Steve will hit deep.
A Teacher’s Battle: Discipline, Compassion, and Survival
The film centers on Steve, the devoted headteacher of St. Crispin’s Academy, a small reform school for teens who’ve been kicked out of every other system.
His students?
- A teen with anger issues after losing his mom.
- A girl running from an abusive home.
- A quiet boy with a talent for art but no belief in himself.
Steve doesn’t just teach them.
He fights for them.
Listens to them.
Believes in them when no one else does.
But today is different.
Today, he’s also fighting his own war.
Behind his calm face:
- His wife is leaving him.
- His health is failing.
- The school faces closure due to budget cuts.
And yet he shows up.
Every bell.
Every crisis.
Every tear.
As one fan tweeted:
“This isn’t a movie about teaching. It’s about staying human when everything pulls you down.”
Cillian Murphy Is Steve – And You Won’t Forget Him
Cillian Murphy doesn’t play Steve.
He becomes him.
No flashy lines. No dramatic speeches.
Just quiet strength, subtle pain, and moments of unexpected humor.
You see it in the way he:
- Calms a student’s panic attack with a simple hand on the shoulder.
- Hides his coughing fits in the staff room.
- Smiles through heartbreak during parent-teacher meetings.
Murphy’s performance is so natural, so grounded, it feels like watching a real person not acting, but being.
Tracey Ullman brings warmth as Mrs. Bell, the no-nonsense deputy head who’s seen it all. She’s tough, funny, and fiercely loyal to Steve.
Jay Lycurgo stands out as Kai, a troubled teen testing boundaries and slowly learning to trust.
Together, they create a school that feels real, messy, and full of hope.
Why This Movie Feels So Real
Steve doesn’t rely on big plot twists.
It uses realism to break your heart.
Key moments that stick:
- A student throws a chair. Steve doesn’t yell. He says, “I know you’re not angry at me.”
- Steve finds a hidden drawing of himself labeled “the only good adult.”
- In a silent scene, he stares at a family photo then puts it facedown on his desk.
Writer Max Porter (author of Grief Is the Thing with Feathers) crafts dialogue that’s sparse but powerful. Every word matters.
The cinematography is muted grays, browns, soft light mirroring the emotional weight of the story.
One teacher said:
“I watched this at 2 AM after grading papers. I cried. Because this is my life.”
❓ PAA Method: Answering What Fans Are Asking
Let’s tackle top Google queries using the People Also Ask (PAA) strategy:
❓ Who plays the lead in Steve (2025)?
Cillian Murphy stars as Steve, the headteacher. Known for Oppenheimer, Peaky Blinders, and 28 Days Later, this is one of his most emotionally layered roles yet.
❓ Is Steve based on a true story?
No. But it’s inspired by real-life reform schools in the UK. The struggles of students and teachers reflect actual challenges in underfunded education systems.
❓ What is the message of Steve?
The film shows that kindness is courage. One caring adult can change a child’s life. And sometimes, saving others helps us save ourselves.
❓ Where can I watch Steve (2025)?
The film is now showing in select UK and Irish theaters. It will stream on BBC iPlayer and Netflix UK starting April 10, 2025 with global rollout by May.
❓ Did Steve win any awards?
Yes. It received a BAFTA nomination for Best Leading Actor (Cillian Murphy) praised for its “quiet power and emotional truth.”
Final Thoughts: A Quiet Masterpiece About Big Things
Steve doesn’t shout.
It whispers.
And that’s what makes it unforgettable.
Smart writing.
Brilliant acting.
A story that reminds us:
Teachers don’t just educate.
They rescue.
They rebuild.
They stay.
As one viewer said:
“We celebrate doctors and soldiers. But men like Steve? They deserve medals too.”
So turn off distractions.
Watch this one close.
And let it remind you sometimes, the strongest heroes wear ties, not capes.
Because in the end, hope doesn’t come from grand gestures.
It comes from showing up every single day.
Watch & React
🎥 Watch: Official trailer – Steve 2025
📢 See: Cillian Murphy on playing a real-life teacher
💬 Comment below: Who was the teacher who changed your life?