---
title: "Peaky Blinders: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/peaky-blinders/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/tv/peaky-blinders"
critics_score: 72
critics_reviews: 8
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Peaky Blinders (2013): what the critics said

Critics' score 72 from 8 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 2 negative.

## The Guardian

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 September 2013. 

The critic finds the series magnificent and a beautiful, engrossing story of demobbed squaddies in postwar Birmingham, shot with passion, style, rough humour and much rain. Cillian Murphy and Sam Neill deliver standout performances in this stylish drama.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/sep/14/peaky-blinders-wipers-times-review)

## Radio Times — David Butcher

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic calls Peaky Blinders a classy crime saga with a killer soundtrack and rare accents, blending violence, sadness and cinematic panache. At its core it explores grief, love and family as both allies and enemies, with Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby as one of the great screen gangsters.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-stool5/peaky-blinders/)

## The Times — Hugo Rifkind

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 14 September 2013. 

The critic praises the series as a strong, stylish debut that rehabilitates the Brummie accent and delivers a menacing, high-quality gangster drama set in post-WWI Birmingham. The lavish sets, strong cast including Cillian Murphy and Helen McCrory, and overall execution stand out as highlights.

[Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/hugo-rifkind-on-tv-these-gangsters-of-brum-put-the-accent-on-menace-tqwkxjwjvw0)

## The Telegraph — Neil Midgley

Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 19 September 2013. 

The glossy production values and deft weaving of period context are praised, but the unrelenting gloom and lack of endearing qualities in the central character make it hard to care about the anti-hero or invest in the story.

[Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10321416/Peaky-Blinders-BBC-Two-review.html)

## Variety — Brian Lowry

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 29 September 2014. 

The series is a handsome but hollow British import that feels like a wan wannabe gangster drama despite its meticulous period trappings and strong cast. It offers an interesting window into post-WWI Birmingham but lacks connection to the characters and relies on heavy-handed flourishes.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2014/tv/reviews/tv-review-netflixs-peaky-blinders-1201314584/)

## Den of Geek — Louisa Mellor

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 5 September 2013. 

The series is a stylish, intelligent and exhilarating British period drama that builds a meticulously detailed world full of compelling characters. It stands out for its strong performances, especially Cillian Murphy's restrained lead turn and Sam Neill's powerful antagonist, along with striking visuals and an anachronistic soundtrack.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/peaky-blinders-episode-1-spoiler-free-review/)

## The Ringer — Kevin Clark

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2022. 

The critic praises Peaky Blinders as a stylish, over-the-top, and absurdly fun ride of a television show that delivers exactly what viewers want. They highlight the strong performances, particularly Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby, and the show's crowd-pleasing nature despite its cheesiness.

[Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2022/06/10/tv/peaky-blinders-season-6-finale-tribute-legacy-impact)

## Digital Spy — Alex Fletcher

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2013. 

The opening episode delivers an exhilarating and gritty take on post-WWI Birmingham gang life that rises above typical period dramas with its sharp pacing and strong character work. Cillian Murphy's restrained, magnetic performance as the anti-hero Tommy Shelby is singled out as a highlight.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a514949/peaky-blinders-review-did-the-british-boardwalk-empire-cut-it/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/peaky-blinders.md