The Thursday Murder Club (2025) [Film Review]: A Warm, Witty Crime Comedy That Values Its Seniors

The Thursday Murder Club review: Chris Columbus directs a gentle, entertaining crime comedy that leans on star power and smart casting. Adapted from Richard Osman’s bestselling novel, the film finds humor and heart in an elderly quartet who refuse to be sidelined.

Premise & Adaptation

Katy Brand, Suzanne Heathcote, and Richard Osman’s screenplay transposes the novel’s cozy mystery to the screen with fidelity to its premise: four retirees at an upscale community meet weekly to solve cold cases — and get pulled into a fresh, messy murder. The plot mixes corporate greed, local corruption, and red herrings; it’s engineered more for charm and twists than for deep psychological excavation, and that’s largely by design.

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Performances — The Film’s Heart

Helen Mirren anchors the film as Elizabeth, a steely former operative who leads the group with dry wit and a palpable edge; it’s a performance that reminds you why she remains magnetic on screen. Pierce Brosnan’s Ron brings fire and bluster, Ben Kingsley’s Ibrahim supplies intelligence and quiet observation, and Celia Imrie’s Joyce adds warmth and welcome comic timing. Supporting turns from David Tennant, Naomi Ackie, Jonathan Pryce, and Richard E. Grant add texture without stealing the show. The ensemble elevates material that could otherwise have felt lightweight.

Direction & Tone

Chris Columbus — whose background spans family comedies and crowd-pleasers — opts for a restrained, amiable tone. The film isn’t flashy: the visuals are polished but reserved, and Columbus emphasizes character beats and pacing over stylistic bravado. That conservatism pays off: the movie never makes its older characters a punchline. Instead, it treats them as capable, cunning, and fully human.

Themes & Representation

What stands out is the film’s refusal to sentimentalize or patronize. Aging here is not a gag; it’s a lens for agency. The world underestimates the characters and uses that to their advantage — a satisfying reversal that gives the caper its moral backbone. While character backstories are sketched rather than explored in depth, the chemistry among the leads keeps the emotional center intact.

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Verdict — Who Will Enjoy It

Overall Rating: 6.5 out of 10

This adaptation won’t satisfy viewers seeking gritty realism or intense thrills, but for fans of warm whodunits and ensemble-led comedies, it’s a delight. The Thursday Murder Club is an affectionate, often funny screen translation of a beloved book — a crowd-pleasing mystery buoyed by impeccable casting and a clear respect for its characters. Critics looking for smarts and heart will find both in generous supply.