How to Make a Killing is not a murder mystery; you know early on that the Redfellow heirs are going to start dropping like flies. Still, Becket Redfellow’s (played by Glen Powell) story unfolds with the suspense of a good thriller. Orphaned and disowned by his wealthy grandfather, Becket grows up aware that he is a distant and unlikely heir to the Redfellow fortune. It’s not until a meeting with his childhood friend Julia (played by Margaret Qualley) and challenges arising at work that Becket begins to seriously consider improving his position on the family tree. Becket finds himself on a journey of self-discovery, belonging and will, meeting and falling for uncorrupted Ruth (Jessica Henwick) as he works his way through the Redfellow family tree.
The Redfellow heirs are a cast of over-the-top characters, including Pastor Steven (played by Topher Grace), Cassandra (played by Bianca Amato), Noah (played by Zach Woods), and elitist family patriarch Whitelaw (played by Ed Harris). Every new exposure to his out-of-touch family complicates Becket’s choices and his sense of identity. Much of his inner conflict comes from that identity, an uncertain sense of belonging, and the women in his life impressing on it. With so much turmoil at play, Powell misses the mark on playing a character who is increasingly at odds with himself. While things are arguably going wrong for Becket, this film does some things right. Good performances and casting elevate even the most entitled archetypes that make up the Redfellows. How To Make a Killing explores themes of family, self-discovery, and social class. Each of Becket’s encounters with a Redfellow is an entertaining vignette contrasting the humble life he has made for himself with the one he aspires to.
The plot is nothing new; it’s a retelling of the 1949 British film ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’, but the character-driven story telling, eye-catching costumes and humor are enough to make the 1hr 45min run time engaging. Knowing many of the major plot points upfront does not stop How to Make a Killing from offering some fun and laughs even if, like some of its characters, some unfulfilled potential.
This film is in theaters February 20, 2026. I rate it a (3/4) 🍿
