The Thursday Murder Club
Directed by Chris ColumbusFour irrepressible retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.
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- Jeppe Ahle Nørgaard17 April 2026A really nice movie - if you haven’t read the book. It’s enjoyable and the plot is well made, but they have butchered the characters from the book which is a shame, because they could have made the same movie where they all would have been as lovable as in the original book - but now they just become arrogant shadows of themselves … If you enjoy the movie then read the book, it’s worth it! And if you haven’t seen the movie yet and consider both reading the book and seeing the movie, then, for the love of all good, start with the movie! Then you will enjoy both instead of becoming irritated on the movie afterwards.
- rg940023 January 2026There have been a ton of cozy detective stories since Knives Out exploded onto the scene. I can't definitively say if the book was trying to cash in on that craze (publishing a year after the movie), but it certainly feels like it is trying to tap into what made that movie such a success. A better comparison might be the show Only Murders in the Building which also uses an older cast. I haven't read the book, so I can't comment on how it fares as an adaptation. As a murder mystery, it is decidedly below average. There are hardly any clues to help you piece together what is happening, and the characters seem to reach logical conclusions without a ton of deduction. The reveals felt very anticlimactic. It wasn't even that they were predictable. The mystery itself was not interesting enough to elicit even caring about whodunit. The "how" is completely irrelevant in this movie. At the end of the day, like a lot of those attempts at modern murder mysteries, the show is more focused on utilizing its cast of characters to be charming and quirky versus actually developing out the mystery. This is also where I think the movie isn't just a bad murder mystery. I think it's a bad movie because it fails at this purpose as well, and I think this might be the area where it struggles more compared to its source material. The cast is extremely talented, and they all have plenty of screen presence. The problem is that outside of Helen Mirren's character, the rest don't really have a lot to do. Ben Kingsley's Ibrahim is relegated to opening pdfs and somehow computing the amount of time it takes to travel a road. Celia Imrie bakes cakes. Pierce Brosnan is probably the only one who was entertaining to me simply because his mannerisms were fun to watch. I wish more care went into these types of movies and shows because when done well, I absolutely adore them. This one is just forgettable though.
- Hakihiko15 January 2026Charming in Spots, but Uneven Overall "The Thursday Murder Club" is a film with undeniable charm and a premise that feels immediately inviting: a group of seniors with a knack for solving mysteries. It’s easy to see why the concept appealed to so many — there’s wit, warmth, and a cozy mystery vibe that could make for delightful entertainment. And in parts, it does work. The cast delivers solid, likable performances, and the chemistry between the characters is often engaging. There are genuinely funny moments and small narrative beats that capture the spirit of lighthearted sleuthing. Visually, the film is pleasant and well-paced, leaning into a comfortable tone that aligns with its cozy intentions. However, the movie doesn’t consistently live up to its promise. The script feels uneven, with some plot threads left underdeveloped and a pacing that occasionally feels sluggish. What could have been sharp, witty twists sometimes end up feeling predictable or rushed. The balance between humor and mystery never quite finds its ideal rhythm, leaving the movie wobbling between tones rather than confidently embracing one. "The Thursday Murder Club" isn’t a bad film, far from it. It’s enjoyable in many moments, largely due to the cast’s charm and a genuinely pleasant atmosphere. But it never fully capitalizes on its potential. Some scenes sparkle, others fall flat, and the whole ends up feeling more like a pleasant diversion than a memorable mystery.
The Thursday Murder Club Trivia
The Thursday Murder Club was released on 22 August 2025.
The Thursday Murder Club was directed by Chris Columbus.
The Thursday Murder Club has a runtime of 1h 58m.
The Thursday Murder Club was produced by Jennifer Todd, Chris Columbus.
Four irrepressible retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.
The key characters in The Thursday Murder Club are Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley).
The Thursday Murder Club is rated 12A.
The Thursday Murder Club is a Comedy, Crime, Mystery film.
The Thursday Murder Club has an audience rating of 5.4 out of 10.