| How to Make a Killing | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Patton Ford |
| Screenplay by | John Patton Ford |
| Based on | Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal by Roy Horniman |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Narrated by | Glen Powell |
| Cinematography | Todd Banhazl |
| Edited by | Harrison Atkins |
| Music by | Emile Mosseri |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | StudioCanal |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 105 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
|
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15 million[2] |
| Box office | $6 million[3] |
How to Make a Killing is a 2026 black comedy thriller film written and directed by John Patton Ford, loosely inspired by the 1949 British film Kind Hearts and Coronets by Robert Hamer and John Dighton. Glen Powell stars along with Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace, and Ed Harris in the supporting cast.
How to Make a Killing was released in the United States by A24 on February 20, 2026, and will be released in the United Kingdom by StudioCanal on 11 March 2026, and in France on March 25, 2026. The film has so far received mixed reviews from critics.
Plot
On death row for murder, Becket Redfellow converses with a priest on why he ended up there to begin with. As a child, Becket is raised by his single mother, Mary, who was exiled from the wealthy Redfellow family for choosing to keep her teenage pregnancy. He befriends the more affluent Julia Steinway. Prior to her death, Mary stresses to a young Becket that he should fight for the life he "deserves" to have.
After encountering a married Julia and getting demoted from his job as a suit salesman, an adult Becket decides to eliminate the remaining Redfellows in order to claim his inheritance to the family fortune. Becket first kills his cousin Taylor and meets Taylor's father Warren at the funeral, who offers him Taylor's old job at a financial investment firm. While planning the murder of his other cousin Noah, Becket befriends Noah's girlfriend Ruth. After killing Noah, two FBI agents approach Becket, discussing the two suspicious deaths, though they do not accuse Becket of murder. After Becket pretends to not know whether he is eligible for the inheritance. Julia appears in Becket's office, claiming her husband Lyle is broke and asks for a loan, which he denies. Becket and Ruth begin dating and move in together. Despite being rapidly promoted in his job and content with his relationship with Ruth, Becket kills three more Redfellows: Steven, Cassandra, and MacArthur. Warren, who Becket is unable to bring himself to kill, has a heart attack and dies, leaving only one more living Redfellow: Becket's grandfather Whitelaw.
As Whitelaw invites Becket to dinner at his mansion on the night of Becket and Ruth's engagement party, Julia reveals to Becket that she has evidence of his murders, which she will reveal unless he gives her money immediately (delivered to her husband Lyle). Becket complies, going to Lyle's office to hand-deliver a check to him. Becket forgoes his engagement party to go to the mansion, where he meets Whitelaw, who locks the doors and attempts to kill him with a shotgun. Becket kills Whitelaw in self-defense, making him the sole inheritor to the fortune. At a celebratory party at the mansion, Becket is approached again by the FBI agents, who arrest him for the murder of Lyle, who was found stabbed to death in his office using a letter opener that Becket touched when he delivered the money, leaving fingerprint evidence.
24 hours before he is set to be executed, Julia visits Becket in jail. During the meeting, she notes that there was a suicide note written by Lyle that was withheld from the trial. Becket pressures Julia to release the note, which she agrees to only if Becket signs over the entire Redfellow fortune to her. Becket reluctantly agrees. Julia then releases the note as promised. With Becket's innocence proven, he is set free. Ruth waits for him outside the prison, only to return his mother's locket to him and leaves afterwards without saying a word to Becket. Becket sees Julia waiting for him with the Redfellow family driver, and the two travel to the Redfellow family mansion together.
Cast
- Glen Powell as Becket Redfellow
- Grady Wilson as young Becket
- Margaret Qualley as Julia Steinway, Becket’s childhood friend
- Maggie Toomey as young Julia
- Jessica Henwick as Ruth, Noah’s girlfriend
- Bill Camp as Warren Redfellow, Becket's uncle and Taylor’s father
- Zach Woods as Noah Redfellow, Becket's cousin
- Topher Grace as Pastor Steven J. Redfellow, Becket's cousin
- Ed Harris as Whitelaw Redfellow, Becket’s grandfather
- Bianca Amato as Cassandra Redfellow, Becket’s aunt
- Raff Law as Taylor Redfellow, Becket's cousin and Warren's son
- Alexander Hanson as McArthur Redfellow, Becket's uncle
- Sean Cameron Michael as Charles, Whitelaw's butler
- Stevel Marc as Brad Matthews, an FBI agent investigating the Redfellow murders
- Phumi Tau as Megan Pinfield, an FBI agent investigating the Redfellow murders
- Adrian Lukis as Father Morris
- James Frecheville as Lyle, Julia's husband
- Nell Williams as Mary Redfellow, Becket's mother
Production
Ford's screenplay originally appeared on the 2014 Black List under the title Rothchild. In 2019, Jon S. Baird signed on to direct the film, with Shia LaBeouf and Mel Gibson starring.[4] Development of the film resumed in March 2023, with plans for Ford to direct the film himself. The film, retitled Huntington, was reportedly inspired by the 1949 film Kind Hearts and Coronets by Robert Hamer and John Dighton.[5]
In January 2024, Glen Powell was cast in the lead role,[6] and Margaret Qualley and Ed Harris joined in May 2024.[7] Jessica Henwick, Topher Grace, Zach Woods, Raff Law and Bill Camp joined the cast in June 2024, with principal photography commencing.[8][9] The film was shot in Cape Town, employing hundreds of local South African cast, crew, and extras.[10] In November 2025, Powell told The Hollywood Reporter that the film would be getting a new title, which was revealed a week later as How to Make a Killing.[11][12]
Release
How to Make a Killing was released in the United States by A24 on 20 February 2026,[13] and will be released in the United Kingdom by StudioCanal on 11 March 2026.[14] The film is scheduled to be released in France on March 25, 2026.[14]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 47% of 144 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Deploying Glen Powell's magnetic likability to head-scratching ends, this tonally bizarre comedic thriller wants to eat its rich and have it, too."[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 51 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[16]
Benjamin Lee of The Guardian called the film "stylishly made", but ultimately "a real mess."[17]
References
- ^ "How To Make a Killing (2026)". Irish Film Classification Office. 13 January 2026. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
- ^ Anthony D'Alessandro (2026-02-22). "'GOAT's Got Game Over 'Wuthering Heights' In U.S. With $17M, But Jacob Elordi & Margot Robbie Pic Hugs $151M+ WW Cume – Box Office Update". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ^ "How to Make a Killing- Box Office and Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (13 May 2019). "Shia LaBeouf & Mel Gibson Set For Satire Rothchild from Stan & Ollie Director Jon S. Baird; HanWay Launches Sales — Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (8 March 2023). "Emily the Criminal's John Patton Ford Prepping Comedic Thriller Huntington". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (22 January 2024). "Glen Powell Finds Next Star Vehicle in Thriller Huntington Inspired by Brit Classic Kind Hearts and Coronets; Studiocanal & Participant Aboard with A24 Closing in on Domestic". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (1 May 2024). "Studiocanal and A24 Team on Revenge Thriller Huntington Starring Glen Powell; Margaret Qualley and Ed Harris Join Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (7 June 2024). "Jessica Henwick Among Those Joining Glen Powell in Studiocanal's 'Huntington'; First Look Unveiled as Production Begins". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (25 June 2024). "Bill Camp Latest to Join A24 & StudioCanal's Revenge Thriller Huntington". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Daries, Aiden (13 June 2024). "Glen Powell and Margaret Qualley film Huntington in Cape Town". CapeTown Etc. Highbury Media.
- ^ Davids, Brian (2025-11-12). "Glen Powell Says Tom Cruise Taught Him "How Not to Die" on 'The Running Man'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ^ Gajewski, Ryan (2025-11-19). "Glen Powell's A24 Thriller 'Huntington' Gets New Title, Early 2026 Release". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 20, 2025). "Glen Powell A24 Movie 'Huntington' Re-Titled, Sets February 2026 Release". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "How to Make a Killing". StudioCanal. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ^ "How to Make a Killing". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "How to Make a Killing". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ^ Lee, Benjamin (2026-02-18). "How to Make a Killing review – how to make a pointless remake". The Guardian. The Guardian.
