A mere five years ago, British television presenter Richard Osman took the literary world by storm with his debut novel, The Thursday Murder Club. The first in the now five-book series sold over one million copies in the UK alone, and immediately caught the attention of none other than Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment. Set against the backdrop of an upmarket retirement village with an endearing ensemble cast of characters, it’s easy enough to see why The Thursday Murder Club was a perfect addition to the ever-growing slate of delightful British mysteries.
Best known for directing Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the first two Harry Potter films, Chris Columbus makes his grand return to Netflix with The Thursday Murder Club, after directing The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two five years ago. Columbus’ filmography might seem incongruous with bringing to life a quaint British mystery, but he proves that his keen understanding of friendship, community, and family — and his unmatchable ability to put together an ensemble — are the exact right ingredients required to deliver what may very well be one of Netflix’s best films of 2025.
‘The Thursday Murder Club’ Features an Unbeatable Ensemble
The titular “Thursday Murder Club” is composed of Ron Ritchie (Pierce Brosnan), a twice-divorced retired union leader; Ibrahim Arif (Sir Ben Kingsley), a well-read, retired psychiatrist; and Elizabeth Best (Dame Helen Mirren), a clever woman who keeps her past under wraps. Each week, they meet to go over old case files to pass the time like Agatha Christie characters, including a cold case that was once investigated by one of their founding members. When the case proves hard to crack, they enlist Joyce (Celia Imrie), a retired nurse and recent addition to Cooper’s Chase, to assist them. While trying to unravel the mystery, a new murder throws the retirement village into chaos as the money-grubbing no-good landlord Ian Ventham (David Tennant) schemes to destroy the community. The murder club manages to rope in a local police officer, PC Donna de Freitas (Naomi Ackie), to join their case-cracking investigation. On the periphery of the core cast is Ritchie’s son, Jason (Tom Ellis), a washed-up former world champion boxer who has been making a go at celebrity reality TV. Out of all the secondary characters, Ellis is a clear stand-out, and perhaps that’s because he’s more like Gary than Lucifer here. He has always thrived in roles that allow him to feel like the charming bloke next door, and paired with Brosnan he’s dynamite.
Like the novel, The Thursday Murder Club is a very straightforward mystery that some viewers will be able to solve in advance of the big reveal. The simplicity of the mystery allows audiences to focus more on the ensemble cast as they try to unravel the case, and that is where the best elements of the film lie. While The Thursday Murder Club isn’t a straightforward comedy, it has its fair share of funny moments that will elicit light chuckles. Mirren and Imrie have brilliant chemistry, and their sleuthing hijinks feel perfectly at home alongside the likes of Rosemary & Thyme’s dynamic crime-solving duo. Similarly, Brosnan and Kingsley’s shenanigans while outwitting DCI Hudson (Daniel Mays) provide quite a bit of levity and allow both actors to play against the types of roles they’ve made their careers out of.
The Thursday Murder Club is keenly attuned to crafting a rewatchable movie, without forcing the viewer to think beyond the fact that landlords are high key the worst. The film also brings an air of British sensibility to the table, and the innate air of familiarity that the cast has with each other (particularly Mirren, Brosnan, and Kingsley) makes all the difference in crafting a believable pay-off in the end — and pushing the audience to want to see how they might solve their next mystery together — if we hopefully get a sequel.
‘The Thursday Murder Club’ Is an Open-and-Shut Case
The Thursday Murder Club is a delightfully charming movie that hits all the highs of the cozy murder mystery genre without any of the negatives. The film manages to subvert expectations at every turn, while still delivering a final act with just enough twists to entertain audiences who manage to pick up on the “who” in this whodunit. Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote have delivered a tight and well-crafted script that understands how to thread the needle of a good mystery, while still focusing on the characters that audiences fall in love with along the way — both good and bad. The script is never too heavy-handed with its charm, and it does well at crafting its twisty narrative.
With Columbus behind the camera, The Thursday Murder Club is given the right direction to feel like an old favorite, including some fun homages to classic mystery tropes. Credit is owed to the film’s cinematographer, Don Burgess, and editor, Dan Zimmerman, who, together, have crafted a visually intriguing film with sharp cuts and pacing that is just right. It’s no surprise that The Thursday Murder Club‘s gorgeous production design — complete with lush exterior sequences and cozy interiors — is the creation of James Merifield, who has brought to life other, timeless films like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Austenland.
The film may not reinvent the wheel or do anything particularly groundbreaking, but it does draw attention to the fact that Hollywood has largely forgotten that actors in their “twilight years” are still fully capable of leading ensemble casts and delivering memorable performances that aren’t solely defined by being a younger character’s parent. In fact, these characters use their age and the experience that comes with it to their advantage, while playing into the preconceived notions of what is expected of them. It’s Only Murders in the Building meets Book Club in all the best ways, and Netflix should go ahead and greenlight the next four novels to be adapted as quickly as possible.
The Thursday Murder Club debuts on Netflix on August 28.
The Thursday Murder Club
The Thursday Murder Club is a delightful murder mystery with an impeccable cast.
- Release Date
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August 28, 2025
Pros & Cons
- The Thursday Murder Club’s greatest strength is its incredible cast who are presented with a splendid opportunity to play against type.
- The script threads the needle on the murder mystery, while leaving room for chuckle-worthy and misty-eyed moments.
- The Thursday Murder Club contains all the best parts of British mysteries, while still delivering a jam-packed movie with mass appeal.
