How to Make a Killing (2026)

“How to Make a Killing” stars Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace, and Ed Harris.  Releasing on February 20, 2026, the film follows a blue-collar man seeking to reclaim his inheritance from his wealthy family.
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The film is written and directed by John Patton Ford, known for writing and directing “Emily the Criminal”.  It is loosely inspired by the 1949 film, “Kind Hearts and Coronets”, which was based on the novel Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal by Roy Horniman.  People will usually stop at nothing to claim what’s theirs, even if it means taking drastic measures to accomplish that goal.  Some measures are downright disturbing, while others are twisted enough to be surprisingly humorous.  When that someone is related to a wealthy family, they might want to reconsider keeping their money to themselves.  Amid the abundance of slashers and romantic offerings, this month occasionally offers us a satirical comedy or two to get audiences laughing at some bizarre, dark humor.  We already had one in the form of “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die”, which satirized tech-obsessed society in a darkly amusing and offbeat way.  This week, we have a comedy that satirizes the "eat the rich" scenario, showcasing that being rich doesn't always bode well.  This latest comedy thriller from writer/director John Patton Ford has Glen Powell flexing his acting and humor muscles once again as he embarks on a murder spree against the family who’s in for a rude awakening.  Is this concept really worth killing over in its execution?  Let’s find out.

The story follows Becket Redfellow (Powell), a blue-collar worker who’s also a former member of the obscenely wealthy family.  After being disowned at birth by the Redfellows, Becket spends his life in New Jersey.  One day, he embarks on a quest to reclaim the family’s inheritance that was supposed to be his.  However, to do that, he must deal with his ungrateful relatives who stand in his way, leading him to create specific plans disguised as “accidents”.  Amid his journey, Becket would eventually find himself in hot water when his consequences start catching up to him.

Knowing me, I’m usually in the mood for black comedy, even if some of its jokes are more “WTF” than hilarious.  “How to Make a Killing” seems to be another occasion to my taste, based on the trailer I saw.  It not only has Powell looking for a cinematic comeback after the mediocre box office run of “The Running Man”, but also features a traditional revenge thriller plot with a seemingly satirical bite on its “eat the rich” situation.  With these two elements in place, this movie seemed like a good fit for my twisted taste.  However, I also wouldn’t mind waiting for it to be on a streaming service if I don’t get a chance to watch it in the theater.  But, as luck would have it, I was able to see it earlier through the mystery movie event, continuing my streak of catching the smaller films early before release.  Was it worth it?  Yeah, I think it was.  However, it’s also another film where its execution would depend on people’s various expectations.

“How to Make a Killing” delivered what it promised regarding its premise.  It’s a charming, darkly humorous, and suitably entertaining killing spree involving Glen Powell murdering his rich relatives.  So, one would expect that it would also have plenty of gnarly, twisted kills to go along with Powell’s charisma, right?  Well, yes and no.  While the relatives do die in different circumstances, they’re not to the point where it’s over-the-top or gory.  Instead, the kills Powell’s character, Becket, performed were subtle or off-screen, serving as dark comedy through his sneaky strategies.  In a way, it’s not something I would call a bonkers, far-fetched, and overly bloody roller coaster.  I would say it’s a restrained yet highly charismatic rags-to-riches story that depicts how wealth can bring out people's selfishness, even those eager to regain it.  Those hoping for the film to feature grisly “accidents” in Becket’s revenge spree would likely want to pursue a different way of living the right kind of life.

However, its subtlety in the kills actually worked well in its favor, particularly in how the story is told.  With the film’s focus on its satirical depiction of wealth, “How to Make a Killing” showcases that it didn’t need to be overly violent to be a fun time.  Through his direction and screenplay, John Patton Ford uses the endearing aesthetics of the film's flawed protagonist and his filmmaking craft to highlight the humorous and entertaining “tragedy” of the character’s quest.  Regarding its premise and themes of wealth, one would assume that they know how everything would turn out.  However, Ford’s screenplay has them put the money where their mouth is, providing a few interesting surprises that flip the traditional “rags-to-riches” dilemma on its head.  Not only that, but Ford has also proven to be a confident filmmaker who blends comedy with thriller elements and maintains a smooth, steady pace throughout.  While not all of the jokes work for me, some of them still deliver on the humorously twisted aspect of Becket’s rise to the top.

Becket is certainly one of the protagonists whose flawed intentions were overshadowed by their charismatic pizazz.  This is mainly due to Glen Powell, whose special skill is…well, being incredibly charming.  Unsurprisingly, if you enjoyed Powell in his other roles because of it, then there’s no doubt that you’ll enjoy his presence in “How to Make a Killing”.  He was easily the film’s best part because he understood the assignment of who Becket is as a character.  He’s the appealing “hero” whose quest to reclaim his inheritance by murder lands him in hot water, particularly when his girlfriend, Ruth (Henwick), and his childhood friend, Julia (Qualley), are in the picture.  Through his usual mannerisms and tempting allure, Powell continues to impress with his looks, acting talent, and charm, even when playing a flawed protagonist.  Margaret Qualley also did a pretty good job conveying Julia’s seductive allure through her performance.  Julia’s one of the characters who may seem supportive and friendly at first, but then gradually shows their true colors in the third act.  Jessica Henwick delivered a decent performance as Ruth, while Ed Harris as Becket’s grandfather makes for a compelling presence, especially during the sequence involving him and Becket.

Overall, “How to Make a Killing” offers enough money in terms of charm and entertainment value to make this killing spree a pleasant watch.  It may be a bit subtle in tone regarding its twisted concept, but it was mostly offset by the charismatic, amusing flair of John Patton Ford’s approach to its “rags-to-riches” trope.  This is one of the movies that may impress one part of the audience more than another, depending on their expectations.  On the one hand, it’ll likely appease those hoping for a toned-down, yet captivating comedy that benefited from Glen Powell’s magnetic appearance.  On the other hand, it will also disappoint audiences seeking a wild bloodbath featuring Powell fighting the high-and-mighty rich people.  Personally, I don’t mind the approach it was given, as it provided a suitable yet flawed blend of dark comedy and violence worth killing for, even if some jokes are richer than others.  More importantly, it’s another reason why I should think twice before inheriting that amount of money myself. 

B-