THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB (NETFLIX) (2025)

straightforward

SYNOPSIS: Four irrepressible retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their causal sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands. Based on Richard Osman’s bestselling novel. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

When one of the characters in The Thursday Murder Club mutters, “Uh, just be patient,” he isn’t far from the truth.

Directed by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Mrs Doubtfire) and produced by Steven Spielberg, The Thursday Murder Club is a British whodunit that boasts perhaps the finest ensemble of Hollywood “retirees” ever assembled. With Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley leading the cast, you’d expect a murder mystery compelling enough to draw such talent and you’d be right.

Adapted from Richard Osman’s best-selling novel, the story takes place in Coopers Chase, a seemingly ordinary retirement home. Hardly the typical setting for a murder mystery. But here, four eccentric residents—Elizabeth (Mirren), Ron (Brosnan), Ibrahim (Kingsley), and newcomer Joyce (Celia Imrie), a former nurse form a club dedicated to solving cold cases. Don’t worry too much about how or why this club began; the film dives straight into their latest investigation: the decades-old unsolved murder of Angela Hughes, dating back to 1973.

Trouble soon arrives closer to home when Tony (Geoff Bell), one of Coopers Chase’s co-owners, is found dead after his partner Ian (David Tennant) announces plans to sell the land for new apartments. Naturally, suspicion falls on Ian. But, as with any good mystery, the truth is never so simple. Elizabeth and her team join forces with rookie police officers Donna (Naomi Ackie) and Chris (Daniel Mays) to untangle the web of clues.

The Thursday Murder Club feels like an old-school mystery in the spirit of Agatha Christie. Its closest modern comparison might be the witty Only Murders in the Building rather than big-budget Christie adaptations like Murder on the Orient Express or Death on the Nile. There are no flashy visuals or CGI distractions here, just straight-forward storytelling and seasoned performances.   

Mirren is the undeniable star, bringing both charm and enigma to Elizabeth, whose mysterious background hints at ties to MI6. Brosnan adds some much-needed humor, while Kingsley and Imrie hold their own amidst the lively proceedings. Supporting appearances from Jonathan Pryce and Richard E. Grant, though brief, are delightful.

Columbus approaches the adaptation with the same warm sensibilities similar to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel with the exception of a murder mystery twist. The pacing is leisurely, sometimes too leisurely. The investigation is engaging but rarely mind-bending, and the film avoids action or violence altogether. In fact, the most “explosive” moment is Elizabeth maneuvering her Aston Martin through a chaotic cobblestone street.

Ultimately, The Thursday Murder Club won’t appeal to everyone. Younger audiences especially may find its slow-burn pacing trying, as the story doesn’t truly take off until about half an hour in. Still, for fans of cozy mysteries and sharp performances, it’s a charming watch. With at least four more books in the series, here’s hoping Columbus and Netflix keep the franchise going before Mirren and company grow too old to chase murderers.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee