Steve (2025)
Cillian Murphy stars in this raw Irish drama about a head teacher holding a reform school together through one punishing day.
Steve - Movie Information
- Original Title: Steve
- Release Year: 2025
- Directed by: Tim Mielants
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 19, 2025
- Alternative Titles: 史蒂夫 (CN)
- Production Companies: Big Things Films
- Production Countries: Ireland
Steve - Plot
Over one intense day, the devoted head teacher of a last-chance reform school strives to keep his students in line while facing pressures of his own.
Steve - Trailer
See the tension unfold in the official trailer for Steve:
A quiet storm of emotion.
Where to Watch Steve
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Steve - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Tim Mielants
Main Cast
- Cillian Murphy
- Tracey Ullman
- Jay Lycurgo
- Little Simz
- Douggie McMeekin
- Youssef Kerkour
- Roger Allam
- Emily Watson
- Archie Fisher
- Araloyin Oshunremi
Writers
- Max Porter
Producers
- Alan Moloney
- Cillian Murphy
Steve - FAQs
What is Steve about?
Steve follows a fiercely dedicated head teacher at a last-chance reform school as he fights to hold everything together over the course of one pressure-cooker day. Cillian Murphy plays the title role, navigating volatile students, institutional friction, and his own quiet personal struggles in a taut, emotionally charged drama.
Is Steve based on a book?
Yes, Steve is adapted from a novel by Max Porter, who also wrote the screenplay. Porter is celebrated for his experimental, emotionally raw literary voice, and that sensibility carries through into the film's intense, stripped-back storytelling.
Where can you stream Steve?
You can catch Steve on Netflix — it's available on both the standard plan and Netflix Standard with Ads. So whether you're a subscriber or on the ad-supported tier, you're covered.
Does Steve take place over a single day?
Exactly. The entire film unfolds over one intense, relentless day at the reform school. That real-time compression is central to the film's tension — there's no breathing room, no reset button. Every scene builds on the last, making the pressure feel genuinely suffocating by the end.
Who are the main actors in Steve?
Cillian Murphy leads the cast as Steve, the embattled head teacher. He's joined by Tracey Ullman, Little Simz, Jay Lycurgo, Emily Watson, Roger Allam, and Youssef Kerkour — a remarkably strong ensemble that gives the film serious dramatic weight.
What is the age rating for Steve?
Steve is rated R, reflecting its unflinching portrayal of a volatile reform school environment. Expect raw language, emotional intensity, and scenes of confrontation that earn the rating. It's definitely aimed at mature viewers.
Is Steve worth watching for Cillian Murphy fans?
Absolutely. Murphy carries the film almost entirely on his shoulders, delivering a restrained yet deeply felt performance that's a world away from his Peaky Blinders persona. If you loved his quieter, more internalised work, Steve is exactly the kind of role that showcases what he does best.
Who composed the music for Steve?
The score was composed by Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow, the duo behind the unsettling soundscapes of Ex Machina and Annihilation. Their work here brings a similarly tense, atmospheric quality to Steve's pressure-filled single day.
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