How to Make a Killing Review: Riches, Revenge, and a Messy Satire

John Patton Ford’s latest commands attention from the start, delivering an engaging premise that holds the audience even when the film doesn’t fully realize its potential. Intriguing concepts and standout performances make it a film worth considering.​

Here is our version of How to Make a Killing review, which will help you decide whether it is worth spending some bucks on a cinema ticket, waiting for it to arrive on streaming platforms, or skipping it altogether.

​Plot details of How to Make a Killing (2026)​

How to Make a Killing is based on a story that first appeared on the Black List in 2014 under the title Rothchild. Before its current title, the film was also known as Huntington.​

Almost 76 years apart, but still relevant today, the film is loosely based on the 1949 British film Kind Hearts and Coronets by Robert Hamer and John Dighton. Glen Powell plays Beckett Redfellow, who is disowned by his wealthy family at birth. He wants to reclaim his wealth, for which he is ready to kill as many family members as necessary.​

Dive into the thrilling trailer here:

​Actors’ performances in How to Make a Killing (2026)

​The three prominent performances were of Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, and Jessica Henwick. Glen Powell’s Beckett was charming and suave, serving as a compelling lead man. He has a movie-star aura with a confident demeanor, which is unmistakable.​

Margaret Qualley brings a sharp edge to her portrayal of Julia, adding dynamic energy to the film. Her role’s development unfolds with intrigue, keeping viewers engaged as her motivations are revealed over the course of the story.

Jessica Henwick was sweet and captivating, just like a typical movie heroine should be. She brought the necessary warmth to the story with her character, as we finally understood why Beckett wanted all the luxuries to himself, just to provide comfort to his love of life, and that totally made sense. 

What do critics add to How to Make a Killing review?​

The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes does not view the film favorably, stating that,​

“Deploying Glen Powell’s magnetic likability to head-scratching ends, this tonally bizarre comedic thriller wants to eat its rich and have it, too.” [Source]

All the critics agree on one thing: it is fun and comedic. The story and characters are just “surface level.” A deeper work was needed in terms of narrative and emotional connection with the characters, which likely seems to be a major cause of the film’s failure to leave a mark.

The film feels like it is trying hard to please the audience, but is still coming up short. However, there were positive comments from the critics who thought that the film still managed to give the thrills, and the dark humor came to save the day.​

Fans’ reaction​

The fans were a bit positive about Glen Powell and his film. They felt that the fusion of some laughs and action was good entertainment, despite knowing that the film didn’t surprise them much.

Only a few critics recommended the film, and even they felt it was not compelling enough to justify watching it in theaters. Although the film carries a meaningful message and features some strong performances, many reviewers considered it one of those routine, formulaic movies that might be worth watching only for the performances.

​Is it worth watching?

Yes, at least once, or perhaps I should say, for Glen Powell. I say this because I consider Glen Powell one of the strongest and most rapidly emerging actors in Hollywood. I found him particularly fascinating in The Running Man (2025). Having previously appeared in several supporting roles, he has now broken out as a leading man and is beginning to showcase his acting abilities in some well-known films.​

He has his own charisma of an old-school movie star with modern-day acting versatility. He has demonstrated an impressive range and has that pull that keeps you hooked into the story, despite a subtly weak script in How to Make a Killing.

​Now, about the flick, it is worth watching due to its unique fusion of crime, satire, and dark comedy, which I found enchanting. This bold and unusual story raises a major question: how far would someone go for wealth and status?

Though I loved the supporting cast as well, it does not do much to overcome the weakness of the script. Some underdeveloped ideas of the film are still evident, such as the protagonist’s motivations and the murder schemes, which should have been explored more deeply.

The characters were thinly written; hence, I was unable to connect with them emotionally. The main character’s transformation into a murderer is not convincing enough. He is too nice to be a killer.​

What we liked

• Glen Powell’s entrancing performance
• A bold and unusual premise
• Strong supporting performances
• Dark humor and entertaining moments

What could be better

• An uneven screenplay
• Thinly written characters
• Unconvincing character transformation
• A satire that doesn’t fully land

Here is a detailed breakdown of our rating for How to Make a Killing (2026):

Story/plot	7/10
Characters and acting	7/10
Direction and pacing	7/10
Visuals and cinematography	7/10
Soundtrack/score	5/10
Themes and message	4/10
Emotional impact	4/10
Creativity/originality	4/10
Rewatchability	2/10

Our rating: 6/10​

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Is How to Make a Killing (2026) available for streaming?​

A24 is distributing How to Make a Killing (2026) (R-rated) in theaters at the moment, but the film is expected to hit streaming on March 24. 

Genre: Dark comedy, satire, drama, thriller

IMDb rating: 6.7

Rotten Tomatoes: 47 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and 78 percent on Popcornmeter

Cast:  Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Ed Harris, Zach Woods 

Director: John Patton Ford

Writer: John Patton Ford

Producers: Graham Boradbent, Peter Czernin, Adam Friedlander

Release date: February 20, 2026

Movie runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes

We’ve shared our take—what’s yours? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.