The 'Disappointed Cillian Murphy' meme stems from various public appearances and roles of the Irish actor, most notably during the high-pressure press tours for Oppenheimer and his role as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders. Fans began noticing his incredibly intense, often weary-looking facial expressions, interpreting them as a state of existential dread or being 'dead inside.' These images resonated globally as a way to express feelings of social exhaustion, professional burnout, or the quiet realization of a mistake. Today, the template is a staple for depicting anyone who is simply finished with a situation but remains stoically present.