Did Cillian Murphy Just Coin ‘ROMO’? What It Means and Why the Internet’s Already Using It

Summary:

• Cillian Murphy coins new term ROMO at TIFF, reflecting on not being part of Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’.

• ROMO gains popularity as introverts relate to ‘Relief of missing out’, praising Murphy’s quip as their motto.

• Fans embrace ROMO over FOMO, declaring it their new life motto and joking that introverts finally have their king.

Cillian Murphy has given us many unforgettable performances, from Scarecrow in Batman Begins to his Oscar-winning turn in Oppenheimer. But at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), he may have delivered something else destined for cultural canon: a new phrase.

While promoting his latest film Steve alongside Tracey Ullman, Jay Lycurgo, Simbi Ajikawo, director Tim Mielants, and writer Max Porter, Murphy was asked about Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey. For the first time in years, he won’t appear in a Nolan film. 

“I have ROMO: ‘Relief of missing out.’ I can’t wait to see it. If any director in the world could tackle ‘The Odyssey’, it’s going to be Christopher Nolan,” Murphy joked.

Cillian Murphy reacts to not being part of Christopher Nolan’s ‘THE ODYSSEY’

“I have ROMO: ‘Relief of missing out.’ I can’t wait to see it. If any director in the world could tackle ‘The Odyssey’, it’s going to be Christopher Nolan.”

(Source: @Variety) pic.twitter.com/1sIniFkBPm

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 6, 2025

ROMO vs. FOMO: A New Mood for Introverts

The quip instantly struck a chord. The phrase many of us already know and use often, FOMO—fear of missing out—dominates memes, marketing, and late-night doomscrolls. Murphy’s flip-side acronym feels like a perfect mix and mood for introverts. 

Social media users quickly latched on. On X, fans praised the line as “the most Cillian Murphy thing ever” and declared ROMO their “new life motto.” One user wrote, “Forget FOMO. I’m living in ROMO from now on. Thanks, Cillian.” Another joked, “Introverts finally have their king.”

Murphy has been one of Nolan’s most consistent collaborators, appearing in six of his films including Inception, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer. Their partnership is so cemented in Hollywood that Murphy’s absence from The Odyssey is notable in itself. Still, he emphasized nothing but excitement for Nolan’s next work:

“If any director in the world could tackle The Odyssey, it’s Christopher Nolan. He is one in a million. He’s been a huge part of my life as an actor. I can’t wait to see what he does with it.”

Cillian Murphy on not being in ‘The Odyssey’: “”I have ROMO: ‘Relief of missing out.’ No, I can’t wait to see it. If any director in the world could tackle ‘The Odyssey,’ it’s going to be Christopher Nolan.”
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Could ROMO Become the Next FOMO?