'How to Make a Killing' Review: Glen Powell Leads a Slick, Stylish ‘Eat the Rich’ Caper
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Jack Ransom - March 20, 2026
How to Make a Killing is inspired by the 1949 Ealing outing Kind Hearts & Coronets. Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, a blue-collar (Glen Powell) will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way.
This is the second ‘Glen Powell takes on the system and a bunch of rich assholes - whilst keeping out of the clutches of the law’ flick that we have had recently (with last year’s thoroughly entertaining The Running Man being the other). This is a solid, easy watch that is destined for cool weekend afternoon/evening viewings, yet is worth a cinema viewing for its slick stylisation.
Having not seen Kind Hearts & Coronets, I didn’t know anything thing prior to the trailers dropping and you very much get the film you expect. The film operates with a somewhat non-linear structure: opening in the present, with Becket (Powell) recounting his childhood and through the events that led him to where he is at the film’s beginning (of which I won’t spoil). It works effectively at telling the tale and sets a smooth pace that does find itself feeling a little slow at times and due to the nature of Beckett’s quest it can feel a little stop start and repetitive.
The film does attempt to flesh out what is a straightforward goal with a Becket’s love life increasing the tension, heart and stakes of getting caught: on one side there’s new found love with Ruth (Jessica Henwick), on the other his childhood crush (Margaret Qualley) returns with a, let’s just say, ruthless updated attitude.
His rising burgeoning financial career begins to rouse doubts of his end goal and if he is actually already satisfied with what he has. The interactions with the extended family members are mostly fleeting with some of the kills being blink and you’ll miss them levels of quick (the funeral bell bong transition never gets old), but the variety of set ups are good fun.
Stylistically the film looks excellent (still need to see director John Patton Ford’s previous flick Emily the Criminal). It has a gritty, thick hue to the proceedings that emphasises the shadows and makes the mundane surroundings drip with a cool vibe, before expanding into the myriad of glamorous, ultra-rich homesteads, yachts, galleries and bustling Wall Street offices. The mansion finale turns the dial up with a burst of scrappy splattery action.
Glen Powell is charming as hell as expected. He captures Beckett’s drive, his seamless integration into the family web and also his growing bravado, cockiness and later internal conflict at what his mission could lead to for both him and the handful he has grown attached to. Margaret Qualley is a riotous, persistent, unpredictable seductive force of nature and Jessica Hemwick brings a grounded, charming and kind slice of reality to the flick. Familiar faces Topher Grace, Bill Camp and Ed Harris also deliver in their support roles and both Raff Law & Zach Woods are suitably obnoxious, scummy and brash as the younger Redfellows.
How to Make a Killing is a solid ‘eat the rich’ caper with a stylish, slick aesthetic, a consistent pace and fun performances. There are twists, turns and tension to keep you hooked, a few laugh-out-loud lines and easy going vibe to the whole thing. It can feel a little disjointed at points, and certainly has traits and tropes you will have seen many a time before.
'How to Make a Killing' is out now in cinemas worldwide.
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