In a world where social media makes you feel like you’re missing out on everything, Cillian Murphy just tossed us a lifeline. The Oppenheimer star isn’t sweating his absence from Christopher Nolan’s upcoming The Odyssey. Instead, he’s championing a fresh mindset: ROMO (Relief of Missing Out). Trust us, this quirky gem might be the chill pill you need to conquer 2025.
Chatting on a late-night couch, Murphy was reminded of his six-film run with Nolan, capped by his Oscar-winning turn in Oppenheimer.
“You’re not in The Odyssey,” the host pointed out, noting Nolan’s star-studded cast reunion. Murphy’s response? A sly grin and a new word: “ROMO.”
“It’s a real gift to go and see Chris’s films and watch them without having the terrible burden of looking at my own stupid head,” Murphy said. "I guess it's the opposite of FOMO."
In another interview, when asked if he had FOMO over seeing trailers or set photos, he said:
“I have ROMO. Relief of Missing Out.”
If you’re new to the Murphy-Nolan saga, buckle up. Their partnership kicked off in 2005 with Murphy as the sinister Scarecrow in Batman Begins.
They kept the magic going with The Dark Knight (2008), Inception (2010), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Dunkirk (2017), and the history-making Oppenheimer (2023), where Murphy’s portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer earned him Oscar gold, and Nolan nabbed Best Director.
Six films of intense, story-driven brilliance later, it’s no shock that Murphy’s cool with a breather. Murphy explained why skipping The Odyssey doesn’t bother him:
“It’s a real gift to watch Chris’s films without worrying about my own role. ROMO lets me enjoy it fully.”
FOMO – that jittery fear of missing out – has been a buzzword since the early 2000s, fueled by Instagram brags and TikTok trends. These endless highlights can leave you glued to your phone, chasing a hit of connection. Studies link FOMO to anxiety, sleepless nights, and even burnout, as the pressure to keep up takes its toll.
But ROMO? It’s like a warm hug for your brain. It’s about flipping the script – celebrating what you’re not doing to focus on what matters. Instead of obsessing over missed parties, projects, or events, it’s about savoring your own path, whether that’s binge-watching Netflix or diving into a new hobby.
Then there’s JOMO, the Joy of Missing Out, which takes it a step further. Public speaking and personality development coach Winnie Chawla nails it in a recent LinkedIn post:
“I used to feel FOMO watching others race ahead. I doubted myself – was I doing enough? But I embraced ROMO, finding relief in letting go of what didn’t serve me. That led to JOMO: the joy of owning my choices, carving my own path, and thriving at my own pace.”
Chawla’s insight hits home:
“Adaptability isn’t about keeping up with everything – it’s about choosing what aligns with your values, letting go of the rest, and evolving with grace.”
(Rh/Eth/VK/MSM)