How to Make a Killing
| 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 |
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| Language | English |
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 and is an executive producer on the film, 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 in the United Kingdom by StudioCanal on 13 March 2026. The film received mixed reviews from critics.
Synopsis
Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, blue-collar Becket Redfellow will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way.
Cast
- Glen Powell as Becket Redfellow
- Margaret Qualley as Julia Steinway, Becket’s childhood friend
- Jessica Henwick as Ruth, Becket’s girlfriend
- Bill Camp as Warren Redfellow, Becket's uncle
- 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
- Sean Cameron Michael as McArthur Redfellow, Becket's uncle
- Motsi Tekateka as a detective investigating the Redfellow murders
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.[2]
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.[3] In January 2024, Glen Powell was cast in the lead role,[4] and Margaret Qualley and Ed Harris joined in May 2024.[5] Jessica Henwick, Topher Grace, Zach Woods, Raff Law and Bill Camp joined the cast in June 2024, with principal photography commencing.[6][7] The film was shot in Cape Town, employing hundreds of local South African cast, crew, and extras.[8] 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.[9][10]
Release
How to Make a Killing was released in the United States by A24 on 20 February 2026[11], and in the United Kingdom by StudioCanal on 13 March 2026.
Critical reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 51% of 72 critics' reviews are positive.[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 53 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[13]
Benjamin Lee of The Guardian called the film "stylishly made", but ultimately "a real mess."[14]
See also
References
- ^ "How To Make a Killing (2026)". Irish Film Classification Office. 13 January 2026. Retrieved 13 January 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.
- ^ "How to Make a Killing". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media.
- ^ "How to Make a Killing". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc.
- ^ Lee, Benjamin (2026-02-18). "How to Make a Killing review – how to make a pointless remake". The Guardian. The Guardian.