How to Make a Killing Movie Review

How to Make a Killing (2026)

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Written by: John Patton Ford (written for the screen by), Robert Hamery & John Dighton (inspired by "Kind Hearts and Coronets" screenplay by), Roy Horniman (inspired by "Kind Hearts and Coronets" based on the novel "Israel Rank" by)
Directed by: John Patton Ford
Starring: Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace, Ed Harris
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, Becket stops at nothing to reclaim his inheritance no matter how many relatives stand in his way.

Verdict
This wants to explore two sides of happiness, whether it's being content with your meager circumstances or stumbling into an obscene amount of money. There's just no nuance or back and forth pull between these two states. Becket lands on a plan of deception and crime. Hesitant at first, he jumps so quickly into it with little conflict when he should be torn between a fresh start and this greed. These two paths are at conflict, at least they should be. Just a couple of scenes exploring Becket's personal turmoil could make this so much better. He's faced with a fulfilling and comfortable life or a path of revenge and an obscene amount of money. Where's the tension between these choices?
It depends.

Review
This is inspired by the British film Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) which in turn was loosely based on the novel Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal (1907).

The movie begins with Becket (Glen Powell) sitting in a jail cell explaining to a priest how he came to be imprisoned. He states there's more to the story as the priest gives him last rites. What landed him on death row starts with his mother. She was disowned from her wealthy Redfellow family when she became pregnant at eighteen and refused to give up her child. On her own, she raised Becket to be cultured despite their meager resources. Unfortunate circumstances land him in foster care.

While Becket could still inherit the estate's fortune, there are seven heirs ahead of him. Sadly for Becket, his dreams of being rich are distant if not altogether impossible.

Glen Powell plays Becket Redfellow

As an adult, Becket runs into his childhood crush Julia (Margaret Qualley). He's embarrassed, working as a suit salesman. She's still in a completely different social circle. She tells him if he ever inherits the fortune to give her a call. That's what gives him the idea of killing the heirs ahead of him. He quickly dismisses the idea, but when he loses his job due to nepotism, it only increases his resolve to strike back at the rich and get his rightful inheritance.

Becket plots to murder an insufferable cousin that's in line for the fortune. It's an action that's easier than he imagined, tying him to an anchor and sending him off the side of a yacht. In turn Becket manages to take his dead cousin's job as a broker due to nepotism. He states he's not qualified and his uncle tells him that never matters. Becket has moved up in the world with few repercussions. He plots the end of another cousin, Noah (Zach Woods), a pot smoking 'artist.' Becket doesn't feel much remorse, staging another accident. That leads to an FBI investigation as two family members set to inherit a large estate have perished suspiciously. Additional complications arise when Becket falls for his cousin's girlfriend, Ruth (Jessica Henwick).

Becket has a great job, a new girlfriend, and a seriously upgraded station in life. That's not enough. It's greed pure and simple. He could be completely happy, but it's not enough. He also discovers he's adept at eliminating his family. With five down, it seems he likes the thrill of the kill more than the inheritance. Since this started with him on death row, we know he got caught. How?

Margaret Qualley plays Julia Steinway

Julia calls on Becket, wanting his skills as a broker. It's clearly more than that. She's bored in her marriage and likes to revel in the power she has over Becket. She figures out Becket's misdeeds, extorting him for money as her husband has squandered vast sums. Never underestimate the greed of the desperate.

Becket ends up imprisoned for murdering Julia's husband. She concealed her husband's suicide note, agreeing to release the note only if Becket signs his entire inheritance over to her. Being on death row, he agrees. I don't understand how she isn't liable for obstruction of justice or a related crime. I always thought she was bad news, but she's just evil.

Glen Powell plays Becket Redfellow

Becket lost a life with Ruth that would have made him happy, opting for his revenge quest. Now he's tied to Julia, and as he stated at the beginning, money can buy happiness. That's the path he took. We don't know if he'll still feel the same after that journey.

This wants to explore crossing that line and how things spiral out of control, but Becket goes from 1 to 100 in no time. This never finds a balance between greedy revenge against this comfortable life with Ruth. Becket never hesitates in throwing away his new life with Ruth for more money. I wish this explored that nuance better. While it's clear greed fuels him, if that's all there is to it why would he even waste time on Ruth. This should have been more of a struggle as Becket weighs happiness and a fulfilling relationship against status and the wealthy social circle for which he yearned.