Cillian Murphy's Overlooked 2005 Thriller Is A Must-Watch On YouTube

It's pretty hard not to like actor Cillian Murphy — at least, it is for us. Whether he's sporting a mustache for a forgotten 2016 action comedy with Brie Larson or delivering Academy Awards-worthy performances in films like Christopher Nolan's 2024 historical epic "Oppenheimer," we're pretty likely to tune in if we see his name anywhere near a flick. So when we found this Murphy-led action-thriller streaming for free, we felt compelled to stop everything we were doing and take a look.

2005's "Red Eye" is what happens when horror-movie icon Wes Craven joins forces with Murphy and "Mean Girls" actress Rachel McAdams to give audiences one more reason to be afraid of flying. Though critics seem to favor this one more than audiences, this 85-minute thrill-ride is good for fans of Murphy or McAdams. The film also earned both lead actors nominations at the 2006 Saturn Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actress, respectively.

While we think the flick is worth a watch, Cillian Murphy expressed some mixed feelings about the project. In a 2005 interview with GQ Magazine, the actor said the quiet part out loud, "I love Rachel McAdams and we had fun making it, but I don't think it's a good movie. It's a good B movie." Fair enough, but we think "Red Eye" works well for what it is, even if it doesn't rank among Murphy's all-time great perfomances.

A growing clas of free streaming services and apps cater specifically to grazing viewers. You can find "Red Eye" streaming for free on YouTube, making this one pretty easy to catch. Directed by Wes Craven, who brought the world "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Scream", "Red Eye" offers a nice rainy day-diversion when you're looking for something new and off-beat.

The story follows Lisa Reisert (McAdams), a hotel manager taking a late-night flight to Miami, Florida. While waiting for her plane due to a weather delay, she randomly meets Jack Rippner (Murphy) in an airport bar. They find themselves seated together on the flight, and the overly charming Rippner reveals to Reisert that he needs her help with a high-profile assassination. Reisert initially demures, but Rippner comes prepared to blackmail her into playing along with his murderous plot. Along with McAdams and Murphy, "Red Eye" also stars Brian Cox and Jayma Mays, among others.

On Rotten Tomatoes, "Red Eye" holds an 80% Tomatometer score and a 64% Popcornmeter score. In a review for Stream on Demand, critic Sean Axmaker states that "horror pop-meister Wes Craven proves to be a good hand at crafting a simple, straightforward, surprisingly effective thriller with a minimum of gimmickry." 

The flick is available for free (with ads) on YouTube and streaming with subscription on Starz and Paramount+.