--- title: "How to Make a Killing: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/how-to-make-a-killing/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/how-to-make-a-killing" critics_score: 48 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # How to Make a Killing (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 48 from 10 reviews: 1 positive, 4 mixed, 5 negative. Most critics find How to Make a Killing a pale copy of Kind Hearts and Coronets, the Ealing film it reworks. The word that recurs is bite: the class satire is called blunt, toothless or shallow, the murders throwaway, the script underwritten. What praise there is clusters on the cast. Glen Powell is generally judged charismatic and well cast, though several reviews think him too reserved or too bland for a man killing his relatives, and Margaret Qualley’s scheming turn is singled out more than once, with The Hollywood Reporter saying she almost makes the film worthwhile. The Financial Times objects that the remake drops the original’s multi-role casting. The spread is fairly wide, from two-star dismissals to a scattering of firm defences: Slant calls it a shrewd retooling with old-school flair, and The Wrap and /Film read it as a sharp take on American wealth. The dissenters are outnumbered, and the mixed reviews settle on serviceable. ## Empire — Lou Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 12 March 2026. The megawatt charisma of Powell and Qualley, dry humour and brisk pacing keep the story entertaining as the protagonist dispatches his relatives. It remains only decent rather than outstanding, lacking the uniqueness of the Ealing original it reimagines. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/how-to-make-a-killing/) ## Radio Times — Max Copeman Rating 3/5. The eat-the-rich thriller is a serviceable if unspectacular addition that feels more like a distant relative than an heir to Kind Hearts and Coronets. The critic singles out Powell’s charismatic presence and the strong comedic passages from supporting cast. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-gk5g45/how-to-make-a-killing/) ## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong Rating 2/2/2. 11 March 2026. It is a lacklustre satire about a disinherited rich kid scheming against his family. The critic singles out the absence of bite in the social satire and calls for an end to eat-the-rich films. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/how-to-make-a-killing) ## RogerEbert.com — Richard Roeper Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 20 February 2026. The critic praises the choice of source material but finds the film uninvolving overall. The cast is strong but the execution lacks the bite and social commentary of similar dark comedies. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/how-to-make-a-killing-glen-powell-film-review-2026) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 20 February 2026. The remake lacks the bite and crackle of its Ealing inspiration and the class satire is blunt. The critic singles out the throwaway murders and lack of procedural tension or twists. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/how-to-make-a-killing-review-2026) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 18 February 2026. The wan thriller/dark comedy offers little payoff despite star power. The critic singles out the glib, underwritten script and lack of buzz or commercial prospects. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/how-to-make-a-killing-review-glen-powell-is-out-for-murder-in-glib-underwritten-crime-dud/5214042.article) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 March 2026. The film is a conventional but uninspired remake of Kind Hearts and Coronets that fails to capture the original's charm or moral edge. Glen Powell's lead performance is too reserved and the story ends up feeling like a watered-down sentimental comedy despite the murders. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/how-to-make-a-killing-review-glen-powell-b2935373.html) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Rating ★★☆☆☆. 12 March 2026. This botched update of Kind Hearts and Coronets sees Glen Powell attempt to slay his way to fortune in a story loosely based on the classic, but it ignores key strengths like the multi-role casting and feels redundant. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/c073bbed-2481-4c55-8833-cf85676064f6) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland 18 February 2026. The critic calls it a limp kill-the-rich satire hobbled by an oddly dull script and a tone that matches it. The loose adaptation of Kind Hearts and Coronets fails to deliver bite or sharpness despite its star-packed cast. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/how-to-make-a-killing-review-glen-powell-1235179909/) ## Los Angeles Times — Amy Nicholson 18 February 2026. The morally bleak comedy delivers a strong opening and clever twists in its reworking of a classic story. Ford's cynicism about crime paying off feels timely but the film is ultimately too smart for its own good. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-02-18/how-to-make-a-killing-review-glen-powell-margaret-qualley-jessica-henwick) ## Sight and Sound 13 March 2026. The film is fun enough at first but too shallow to be a satisfying satire. The critic singles out the lack of sharp critique, limited character insight and the drag from too many murders. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/how-make-killing-glen-powell-goes-american-psycho-this-slick-listless-eat-rich-comedy) ## Slant Magazine — Alexander Mooney 18 February 2026. The critic praises it as a shrewd, refreshing retooling of an Ealing classic that rejects easy caricature in favor of brittle humanity and grim irony. Ford's direction and the film's old-school flair while commenting on American ambition are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/how-to-make-a-killing-review-glen-powell-john-patton-ford/) ## The Guardian 11 March 2026. The critic finds this update of Kind Hearts and Coronets a pale imitation that loses the original's class satire and icy elegance. Glen Powell is game but bland in the lead role, and the film never matches the source's brilliance or wit. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/mar/11/how-to-make-a-killing-review-one-man-on-a-bloody-quest-for-his-inheritance) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck 19 February 2026. The critic finds the black comedy toothless and not funny enough, lacking darkness or sufficient investment in the characters. Margaret Qualley's energetic, winking performance as a scheming femme fatale is singled out as a highlight that almost makes the film worthwhile. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/how-to-make-a-killing-review-glen-powell-margaret-qualley-1236509885/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis 19 February 2026. The film is a cheerily cynical comedy about entitlement and murder that starts with promise but grows forced and self-satisfied. Ford assembles an appealing ensemble around Powell but the story remains thin. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/movies/how-to-make-a-killing-review.html) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin 11 March 2026. The film is unnecessary and uninspiring, struggling to strike any tone and lacking humour or purpose as a remake. It follows the original plot but feels redundant and fails to capture the source material's spirit. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2026/03/11/how-to-make-a-killing-review/) ## The Times — Tom Shone 14 March 2026. Glen Powell brings an edge of darkness to the role of a handsome hero plotting to kill for inheritance, but the film isn't daring enough and only plunges its knife halfway in. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/how-to-make-a-killing-isnt-daring-enough-it-plunges-its-knife-only-halfway-in-ldq0xg86b) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman 18 February 2026. Glen Powell carries the screw-loose thriller with yuppie treachery in this watchably weird reimagining of the classic. The film mixes greed, romance and murder with more on its mind than homicide. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/how-to-make-a-killing-review-glen-powell-margaret-qualley-1236666029/) ## /Film — Bill Bria Rating 7/10. 18 February 2026. The critic calls it a sharp satire on the American dream and wealth disparity, transposing the plot of Kind Hearts and Coronets to modern New York with Glen Powell perfectly cast in the lead. It leans more into wry, subtle satire than broad comedy or laughs. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/2104095/how-to-make-a-killing-review/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating 6/10. 18 February 2026. The critic finds the film a fun but flawed thriller that prioritizes its "eat the rich" message over crafting a compelling story or thriller elements, resulting in something that doesn't offer new insights. Glen Powell and Margaret Qualley are praised for their performances. [Read the review](https://collider.com/how-to-make-a-killing-review-glen-powell-margaret-qualley/) ## Paste Rating C. 18 February 2026. The review criticizes the film for Glen Powell delivering a predictable performance and the story offering simple, thin observations on capitalism without committing to either comedy or satire. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/how-to-make-a-killing-review) ## The Wrap 18 February 2026. The critic praises John Patton Ford's skillful Americanized update of "Kind Hearts and Coronets," highlighting its scathing take on income inequality and dynastic wealth. Glen Powell's charismatic performance as the vengeful protagonist and the strong ensemble provide comic bite and keep the film fleet-footed. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/how-to-make-a-killing-glen-powell-a24-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/how-to-make-a-killing.md