The world of Peaky Blinders is expanding again. While fans wait for the upcoming film The Immortal Man starring Cillian Murphy, now is the perfect time to learn about the real gang that inspired the hit series. A documentary titled The Real Peaky Blinders exists to separate fact from fiction, and knowing whether to watch it can help you prepare for what is coming next.
The Peaky Blinders TV series ended in 2022 after six seasons, but the story of Tommy Shelby will continue on the big screen. Netflix confirmed in December 2024 that filming wrapped on The Immortal Man, with Cillian Murphy returning as the famous Birmingham gangster. New cast members include Barry Keoghan, Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, and Stephen Graham. Creator Steven Knight described the film as an explosive chapter with the Shelby family at war, set during World War II.
With the movie on the horizon, many viewers are searching for content to fill the Peaky-shaped hole in their watchlists. The 2022 docufilm The Real Peaky Blinders offers a factual look at the actual gang that roamed Birmingham in the late 1800s.
What Is The Real Peaky Blinders Docufilm?
The Real Peaky Blinders is a documentary series that first aired in March 2022. It runs for two episodes and digs deep into the true history of the street gang that terrorized Birmingham, England, at the end of the 19th century. The series explores how this mass gang movement started in industrial cities and later evolved into more organized crime in the early 1900s.
Unlike the fictional drama starring Cillian Murphy, this documentary does not follow the Shelby family. Instead, it presents historical facts, archival footage, and expert interviews to paint a picture of what life was really like for the original Peaky Blinders. The second episode looks at the birth of organized crime in Britain, covering figures like Billy Kimber whose gang clashed with London’s Sabini gang and Alfie Solomon during the racecourse wars of 1921.
Where to Watch The Real Peaky Blinders
The documentary is available on streaming platforms. Viewers can find The Real Peaky Blinders on Prime Video and the Discovery Channel. Availability may vary depending on your region. For audiences in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India, checking Prime Video is the best starting point.
Some sources indicate the documentary aired on the Discovery Channel, so subscribers to services that include Discovery content may also have access. Always verify current streaming availability in your specific location, as licensing agreements change regularly.
Should You Watch It Before The Immortal Man?
This depends on what you want from your Peaky Blinders experience. If you enjoy understanding the real history behind fictional stories, The Real Peaky Blinders provides valuable context. It shows how much the TV series and upcoming movie drew from actual events while also taking creative liberties.
The documentary helps viewers appreciate how writer Steven Knight transformed a relatively small, localized street gang into the epic Shelby family saga. The real Peaky Blinders were not as organized or powerful as the TV version portrays them. They were mostly teenagers and young men involved in petty crime, robbery, and street violence. The signature flat caps and razor blades sewn into caps? That detail comes from history, though historians debate how commonly razors were actually used.
For fans preparing for The Immortal Man, watching this docufilm offers background on the world Tommy Shelby inhabits. It explains the social conditions, the industrial setting, and the real gang conflicts that shaped Birmingham. When the movie releases, you will better understand which parts of the story are rooted in reality.
What We Know About The Immortal Man Movie
The upcoming film has generated significant excitement since production wrapped. Netflix confirmed the completion on social media with a photo of Cillian Murphy and Barry Keoghan smiling on set in full costume. The movie is being directed by Tom Harper, who directed episodes of the original series.
Steven Knight has given small hints about what to expect. He told Netflix’s Tudum site the film will be full-on Peaky Blinders at war. The story takes place during World War II, following the events of season six where Tommy Shelby appeared to leave his criminal life behind. Returning cast members include Sophie Rundle as Ada Shelby, Ned Dennehy, Packy Lee, and Ian Peck.
The film is being made in association with BBC Film and will stream on Netflix worldwide. While no exact release date has been announced, Steven Knight mentioned in January 2026 that an announcement would come relatively soon. Given that filming finished in late 2024, a 2026 release window seems realistic.
Other Related Content to Watch
Beyond The Real Peaky Blinders docufilm, another series may interest fans. A show called Original Gangsters with Sean Bean is scheduled for release in November 2025. The first episode focuses on the real Peaky Blinders, with Sean Bean guiding viewers through industrial Birmingham to understand how city ruffians battled police and each other. Other episodes cover Al Capone, Stephanie St. Clair, and The Krays.
This upcoming series offers another chance to learn about the factual gangsters who inspired so much fiction. While The Real Peaky Blinders from 2022 remains the most directly relevant documentary for now, Original Gangsters will provide fresh content when it arrives.
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Making Your Choice
For viewers with time before The Immortal Man releases, The Real Peaky Blinders serves as an educational companion piece. It runs only two episodes, making it a quick watch that enriches your understanding of the setting. The documentary does not spoil anything from the TV series because it covers real history, not fictional plotlines.
If you prefer to keep the TV show and movie as pure entertainment without historical comparisons, you can skip the docufilm without missing any story connections. The movie will stand on its own as a continuation of the Shelby family drama.
Either way, the return to the Peaky Blinders world promises to deliver the style, tension, and drama that made the series a global hit. With Cillian Murphy back in his Oscar-winning form and a stacked cast joining him, The Immortal Man is shaping up to be a major event.
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