Support Us
Sign Up
Penned by English television presenter turned author Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club novel was released back in 2020 to exceptionally high praise. The fastest-selling adult crime debut in recorded history, the now-series is a global phenomenon. Today, five years and five books later, the on-screen adaptation is finally releasing on Netflix, promising as much charm, fun, and intriguing crime as the books. Starring Helen Mirren (the Fast and Furious franchise) and Pierce Brosnan (Mamma Mia), amongst other prominent talent, the story follows four septuagenarian friends living in a retirement community, who form the ‘Thursday Murder Club’ to solve cold cases for fun. However, when a shady property developer is found dead, the four find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Competently acted, charming, and entirely inoffensive, The Thursday Murder Club doesn’t provide the most clever case or loud laughs, but entertains nonetheless.
The best element of The Thursday Murder Club is undoubtedly its personality. From the get-go, it’s a charming, fun watch full of color and vibrancy in all areas. In terms of characters, all members of the club bring something fresh and likable to the group, whether it’s a proclivity for nosiness, a penchant for making delicious cake, or a tenacity to get things solved. They’re a lively, interesting bunch who both embrace their age but never let it stand in their way. Even the police team that winds up working the case and the property owner of Coopers Chase are distinct and memorable. It’s not just the characters themselves that are interesting and jump off the screen, but the location they’re placed in, also. A retirement community may not sound like the most intriguing setting for a crime comedy, but the house itself is utterly stunning in its grandness, and each room is filled with the same vibrant energy our characters emit. Although real murders are occurring and multiple crimes have been committed, it never takes itself too seriously and prioritizes fun and entertainment, which ultimately helps it succeed as best it can. It may be cheesy and corny, but it matches the story well.
Speaking of the story, the writing is a mixed bag overall. It’s a very good job our characters are so dynamic and animated, as the mystery at the core is not the most intriguing. Whilst it certainly boasts a couple of clever twists and reveals that you may not see coming, and often harks back to the likes of old school Agatha Christie, an over-reliance on happenstance and cheating the system prevents it from feeling as clever as its predecessors. There are a few too many plot conveniences, and despite our septuagenarians being particularly charming, they do glean the information and clues they need a little too easily. Never taking itself too seriously, the script is full of quips and jokes. Plenty of the laughs land, and it does have a cheeky, charming nature that helps the script to entertain, but the further the run-time progresses, the easier it is to see said laughs coming. Often relying on the tropes of the elderly to make its audience laugh, including slow driving and uncertainty around technology, they don’t feel the most clever or inventive. The humor will undoubtedly appeal to that generation more – if anything, it’s a movie that’ll make your grandparents laugh.
A very good cast was pulled together to bring these characters to life, and as expected, everyone is fantastic. Leading the group is Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best, a headstrong individual who cares for her husband whilst stopping at nothing to solve the cases, whether they be real or fake. Mirren is a natural when it comes to leading a movie, and though it’s not her most memorable role to date, she delivers nonetheless. The rest of the club is made up of a quirky Pierce Brosnan, clever Ben Kingsley (Shutter Island), and lovable newcomer Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones’s Diary), who all have great chemistry together as our titular group. Their friendship is a joy to watch, and each cast member delivers the comedy perfectly. Naomi Ackie (Mickey 17) stands out in her supporting performance as Donna De Freitas, a policewoman fresh on the scene after serving the London Met previously. Although she isn’t the force’s first choice to be on this case, she certainly impresses once she’s on it, just as Ackie does with her performance. Ackie has such a natural ability to make any character she plays instantly likable, and The Thursday Murder Club is no exception. We also receive good performances from David Tennant (Jessica Jones), Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean), and Richard E. Grant (Saltburn), amongst many others, making for quite the ensemble.
Overall, The Thursday Murder Club isn’t a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and as far as its target demographic is concerned, it will undeniably be a hit. Good performances paired with a digestible plot make for easy viewing, and though the central mystery and trope-fueled humor leave much to be desired, it’s so easy to like due to its natural charm, stellar cast, and lively tone and visuals.
Grade: C
Follow us on MSN for more content like this.
The Thursday Murder Club
Four septuagenarian friends living in a retirement community form the Thursday Murder Club to solve cold cases for fun. But when a shady property developer is found dead, the four find themselves in the middle of their first live case.
Release Date: August 28, 2025
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Helen Mirren , Pierce Brosnan , Ben Kingsley
