How to Make a Killing is a rare misfire for A24 — a serial killer story should not be this boring
TechRadar Verdict
How to Make a Killing has all the ingredients for a great A24 movie, but even a star-studded cast isn’t enough to make it very interesting.
Pros
- +
The casting is great, we can’t deny that
- +
Margaret Qualley delivers another strong performance
- +
Some genuinely funny moments
Cons
- –
It’s a bland remake of Kind Hearts and Coronets and doesn’t offer anything new
- –
The pacing isn’t good, and it feels longer than it is
- –
Easily Glen Powell’s weakest performance
- –
The cinematography pales in comparison to other A24 greats
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How to Make a Killing was one of my most anticipated new movies of 2026. Unfortunately I was left feeling underwhelmed by A24’s latest venture, which doesn’t stand up against a catalog of greats.
Remakes are risky enough as it is, but Kind Hearts and Coronets is an especially tough act to follow. The iconic 40s movie brought something new to the table, with Alec Guinness especially stealing the show as he played eight members of the same wealthy family.
How to Make a Killing | Official Trailer HD | A24 – YouTube
Considering this is a movie about a man who murders his wealthy family as an act of revenge, it is disappointing that it ended up being as boring as it is. Becket’s mother was exiled after she became pregnant as a teenager, and on her deathbed, told a young Becket that he should fight for the life he “deserves” to have. He does, but it’s not all that exciting to watch.
There are some positives to be found in this movie, though. Margaret Qualley always delivers a great performance, no matter what she’s in. She blew me away as Sue in The Substance, which I called the best body horror of 2024.
She’s entertaining to watch here, too, as Julia Steinway, Becket’s childhood friend and crush, whom he hopes to win the heart of. Scenes involving them are perhaps my favorite part of the movie, and I did like some of the humor, but ultimately, this is a disappointment for A24, a studio I usually have a lot of love for.
If you’re in the mood for a run-of-the-mill dark comedy with a few laughs and some notable names, you might want to see this now that it’s out in theaters, or perhaps wait to see if it arrives on any of the best streaming services.
Disappointingly, it’s one of those forgettable movies that you’ll likely watch just once. But perhaps it will do its job of keeping you entertained for a couple of hours.
How to Make a Killing is in theaters worldwide now.
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