The new Netflix film Steve, starring Oscar winner Cillian Murphy, tells the powerful story of a headteacher fighting to protect his students while battling his own personal struggles. The movie, which began streaming on October 3, 2025, follows a single, chaotic day at a reform school for troubled young men. Murphy plays Steve, a dedicated but deeply tired teacher who uses alcohol and pills to cope with the pressures of his job and a past tragedy.
The film is based on Max Porter’s 2023 novel Shy and reunites Murphy with director Tim Mielants, who he previously worked with on Small Things Like These. At the heart of the story is the connection between Steve and a student named Shy, who is trying to navigate his own anger and feelings of abandonment. The movie explores heavy themes of mental health and addiction, set against the backdrop of a school system stretched to its breaking point.
What Is the Story of ‘Steve’?
Set in 1996, the movie takes place at Stanton Wood, a fictional residential school in the UK that acts as a last-chance home for troubled teenage boys. The school is underfunded and operates in a state of constant crisis. On the day the film follows, a documentary crew is visiting the campus, interviewing staff and students, which adds to the tense atmosphere.
Steve is the headteacher, a man described by himself as “very, very tired.” He is deeply caring toward his students but is privately struggling with addiction to prescription painkillers and alcohol. His deputy, Amanda, played by Tracey Ullman, supports him but also worries about his well-being. The school’s future is thrown into jeopardy when Steve learns that the property has been sold and Stanton Wood will be shut down in six months.
The film’s emotional core revolves around Steve’s relationship with a student named Shy, portrayed by Jay Lycurgo. Shy is a sensitive and angry teenager who uses his Walkman to drown out the world with drum and bass music. Early in the film, his mother severs contact with him during a painful phone call, leaving him feeling completely alone. As Steve’s day spirals further out of control, Shy reaches a critical point of despair.
Who Are the Key Characters and Actors?
The film features a strong ensemble cast, with Cillian Murphy leading as the complex headteacher.
- Cillian Murphy as Steve: Murphy plays the titular character, a headteacher who is both a dedicated mentor to his students and a man wrestling with profound personal guilt and addiction. His performance has been described as “superb” and “visceral.”
- Jay Lycurgo as Shy: Lycurgo plays the troubled student who forms a special connection with Steve. His performance has been widely praised, with critics calling him the film’s “secret weapon” and his acting “heartbreaking.”
- Tracey Ullman as Amanda: Ullman plays Steve’s deputy and most supportive colleague, who understands the immense pressures of their work.
- Simbi Ajikawo as Shola: Also known by her stage name Little Simz, Ajikawo plays a new, calm teacher at the school who must navigate a difficult environment, including facing sexual harassment from a student.
- Emily Watson as Jenny: Watson plays the school’s therapist, who is trying to help the students while also noticing Steve’s downward spiral.
The cast also includes Roger Allam as a pompous MP who visits the school and a group of young actors who bring the volatile student body to life.
What Happens at the End of the Movie?
The ending of Steve is intense and leaves some elements open to interpretation. After learning that his mother has cut him off, Shy fills a backpack with rocks and walks into a pond on the school’s grounds, intending to end his life. Steve, who is intoxicated and disoriented from pills and alcohol, realizes Shy is missing and finds a note. He stumbles through the dark to find him.
The film does not show Steve physically pulling Shy from the water. Instead, it is suggested that Shy, in his darkest moment, remembers Steve’s care and encouragement. He chooses not to go through with his plan. He leaves the water and returns to the school, where he uses the rocks to smash a window—an act of destructive but life-affirming rage, showing he is still fighting.
Meanwhile, Steve returns home to his family. In a final, ambiguous scene, he climbs into his attic with a bottle of alcohol, leaving his ultimate fate unclear. He may be hiding the bottle, or he may be giving in to his despair. Before this, he records a tender tape for the teacher Shola, describing the strengths and potential of each of his students, showing that his care for them remains his most defining quality.
Cillian Murphy has said that the ending is for the audience to decide, noting, “I think it’s up to the audience to interpret. Yeah.” He also suggested that those looking for answers should read the original novel, Shy.
How Has the Movie Been Received?
Steve has received generally positive reviews from critics. On the review site Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 77% approval rating. The critical consensus states that while the film piles on crises for its hero, “Cillian Murphy’s superb performance keeps it grounded in reality.”
Many reviews highlight the powerful acting, particularly from Murphy and Jay Lycurgo. One review from IMDb notes that “the whole room was quite emotional by the end,” praising the “touching story with great writing and bold direction.” However, some critics, like those at The New York Times and Rolling Stone, found the film’s many melodramatic elements to be exhausting or cluttered, even while acknowledging the strength of the lead performances.
The film had a limited run in theaters starting September 19, 2025, before its global release on Netflix on October 3, 2025.
Also Read: Is Cillian Murphy’s Steve Based on a True Story? Details Explored
