The Thursday Murder Club ★★★★

Released: 28^th August 2025

Director: Chris Columbus

Starring: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, David Tennant, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Richard E Grant

Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club was a literary sensation in 2020, leading to a string of imitators and a new wave of interest in cosy crime. With three sequels and a fifth book in the series about to be published, an adaptation of some kind was inevitable. Steven Spielberg and Amblin won the rights and now a theatrical adaptation from Chris Columbus (Harry Potter, Mrs Doubtfire, Home Alone) arrives on Netflix.

We follow four old aged pensioners in a retirement community: Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), a retired spy, Ron (Pierce Brosnan), a former trade unionist, Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley), a retired psychiatrist and Joyce (Celia Imrie), the newest member of the group, a retired nurse. Rather than simply wasting away the hours, the quartet spend their time investigating cold cases. They are finally allowed to investigate a fresh murder when someone involved in their community drops dead in suspicious circumstances.

With the novel proving so successful, the casting of the foursome is vital to its success and having four such beloved actors works a treat here. Mirren’s Elizabeth is spiky and anchors things while Brosnan is relishing his West Ham supporting Ron, continuing his recent renaissance. The interplay between them is a delight. It feels like a distant cousin to the hugely successful Best Exotic Marigold films that featured some of Britain’s best-loved actors in their twilight years.

The supporting cast is also a treat with David Tennant as a slimy property developer, Naomi Ackie playing a rookie cop who allies herself with the pensioners and Jonathan Pryce as Elizabeth’s husband Stephen, suffering from the early stages of memory loss.

Fans of the books can rest assured that the tone of the novels is kept intact with Osman on hand throughout and an Executive Producer. It is wholly accessible to those who haven’t read the books yet and should easily drive-up interest in the series.

The Thursday Murder Club wonderfully brings Richard Osman’s source material to life with Chris Columbus, reminding us of why he enchanted so many with Home Alone, Mrs Doubtfire and the first two Harry Potter films. Beyond having a cast to die for, it is great fun playing like a hybrid of The Best Exotic Marigold and Only Murders in the Building, but with plenty of its own distinct joys. It would be a big surprise if this series didn’t continue and we see the sequels brought to life in the coming years.