Cillian Murphy criticizes press tours as a broken model because everyone ends up so bored

As Cillian Murphy's Oppenheimer press tour winds down and he heads into the final weeks of Oscar campaigning for his Best Actor nomination in Christopher Nolan's atomic biopic, he also reflects on the promotional process. 

In a recent GQ cover story, Murphy admitted that if it were solely up to him, there might not have been a press tour at all. He candidly expressed his belief that press tours are an imperfect model and suggested that films should handle the bulk of their promotion independently.

(Also Read: Christopher Nolan admits to feeling a bit intimidated by Robert Downey Jr. during their Initial encounter for Batman Begins )

Cillian Murphy's Candid Critique

Referring to Hollywood's press tour system as "a broken model," Murphy admitted feeling somewhat relieved when the SAG-AFTRA strike coincided with the opening weekend of Oppenheimer, as it meant a temporary pause in press opportunities. "The model is... everybody is so bored," he remarked.

Despite the absence of traditional press opportunities for its actors, Nolan's Oppenheimer emerged as a box office sensation, alongside its release counterpart, Barbie. With global earnings exceeding $955 million, Nolan's film now holds the title of the highest-grossing biographical drama in cinematic history.

Behind the Scenes

Reflecting on both his personal and professional experiences, Murphy shared with GQ, "Many of my films I haven't seen. I know that Johnny Depp would always say that, but it's actually true. Generally, the ones I haven't seen are the ones I hear are not good."

One movie he did watch in his career, albeit not particularly enjoying it, was Red Eye, Wes Craven's 2005 psychological thriller featuring Rachel McAdams as a hotel manager unwittingly drawn into a terrorist's assassination plot while on a plane. Murphy further commented, "I love Rachel McAdams, and we had a good time making it. But I don't think it's a good movie. It's more of a solid B-movie."

In a 2021 interview with Uproxx, Murphy shared his critique of Red Eye, reflecting on his earlier years as an actor when he was particularly critical of his performances. This is not the first time he criticized the movie. Murphy previously knocked the film, describing it as a B-movie, but he praised Rachel McAdams for her excellent performance in it.

(Also Read: Christopher Nolan admits to feeling a bit intimidated by Robert Downey Jr. during their Initial encounter for Batman Begins )