The Thursday Murder Club (2025) Review: A Charming Whodunit with Wit, Heart, and Deadly Secrets 🔍✨

The cozy mystery gets a star-studded revival in The Thursday Murder Club, a delightful crime comedy directed by Chris Columbus. Based on Richard Osman’s bestselling 2020 novel, the film trades dark grit for sharp humor, heartfelt bonds, and a touch of British eccentricity. Released in theaters on August 22, 2025, before its Netflix streaming debut on August 28, it has already earned glowing reviews — and for good reason.

“You’re never too old to dig up the truth.”

🕵️‍♀️ The Story: Murder, Mischief, and the Most Unlikely Detectives

Set in the idyllic retirement village of Coopers Chase, the story follows four unlikely sleuths:

• Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), a sharp-witted former MI6 spy.

• Ron (Pierce Brosnan), a fiery ex-union leader.

• Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley), a methodical psychiatrist.

• Joyce (Celia Imrie), a retired nurse with hidden sharpness behind her gentle smile.

Together, they form The Thursday Murder Club, a group that meets to solve cold cases — until real blood is spilled in their own community. When local developers, mobsters, and hidden pasts collide, the elderly detectives must untangle a web of lies before the killer strikes again.

What begins as a seemingly cozy investigation spirals into corporate betrayal, buried bodies, and long-buried grudges — all with a playful wink that keeps the audience hooked.

🎭 Performances: Legends at Play

The film’s biggest charm lies in its cast.

• Helen Mirren is magnetic as Elizabeth, balancing icy spy instincts with moments of vulnerability.

• Pierce Brosnan brings roguish warmth as Ron, blending charm and fatherly grit.

• Ben Kingsley gives Ibrahim a layered depth, often stealing scenes with subtle humor.

• Celia Imrie is the film’s beating heart as Joyce, whose diary-like observations provide both comedy and poignancy.

Supporting roles sparkle too — David Tennant is slick as the scheming Ian, Naomi Ackie’s Donna offers youthful energy as the police ally, while Jonathan Pryce lends gravitas as Elizabeth’s husband.

The ensemble feels like a finely tuned orchestra: every performance distinct, but working together in harmony.

🌀 Direction & Tone: A Cozy Murder with a Dark Edge

Chris Columbus masterfully balances the warmth of community with the sharp sting of crime. The tone dances between laugh-out-loud comedy and genuine suspense, capturing the novel’s spirit.

The murder scenes carry weight but never overwhelm with brutality. Instead, they serve as catalysts for character growth and witty exchanges. Columbus leans into the theme that life, even in old age, is full of mystery, love, and second chances.

Thomas Newman’s score adds whimsical tension, while the English countryside setting offers a blend of coziness and hidden danger — perfect for a whodunit.

🔍 What Makes It Work

• The Humor: Elderly detectives poking fun at their own aches while outsmarting both crooks and cops is endlessly entertaining.

• The Mystery: Twists keep piling up — from shady developers to mob connections and shocking confessions.

• The Heart: At its core, this is a film about friendship, legacy, and the fight to stay relevant in a world that overlooks the elderly.

📝 Final Verdict

The Thursday Murder Club is a charming, clever, and heartfelt whodunit that proves age is no barrier to adventure. With a stellar cast, witty dialogue, and a mystery that balances coziness with genuine stakes, it’s both a love letter to the original novel and a crowd-pleasing cinematic treat.

⭐ Rating: 4/5 – A cozy, clever murder mystery with irresistible charm.

As Elizabeth quips, “The dead can’t talk — but lucky for us, the living can’t keep their mouths shut either.”

With its mix of humor, heart, and suspense, The Thursday Murder Club feels destined to become the next comfort-watch mystery franchise.