How to Make a Killing

How to Make a Killing — Release Date: 20 February 2026.
Written and directed by John Patton Ford, the black comedy thriller stars Glen Powell in the lead role of Becket Redfellow — a man determined to claw back the fortune he believes is rightfully his. The film, produced and released through A24, draws loose creative influence from the classic 1949 British dark satire Kind Hearts and Coronets, shaping its tone into a wickedly playful exploration of greed, entitlement and ambition. Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace, and Ed Harris join Powell in an ensemble that frames the story within a wealthy American family whose power and legacy hold deeper fractures beneath polished appearances.

The narrative follows Becket, disowned from birth and raised far from the privilege of his lineage. Life has made him resourceful, bold, and increasingly bitter toward the prosperous Redfellow clan that cast him aside. When the possibility of reclaiming his inheritance resurfaces, Becket’s desperation turns strategic — and his quest spirals into morally grey territory. Each relative represents both an obstacle and an opportunity, pushing Becket further into a darkly humorous chain of schemes where charm, manipulation and ruthless resolve intersect. The film balances suspense with satirical bite, examining how far a man can go when the world tells him he is owed something — and how easily wealth can corrode what is left of conscience.

The project’s origins track back to Ford’s earlier script Rothchild, which appeared in the 2014 Black List and evolved across several development phases. After initial casting iterations in 2019, Ford took full creative control in 2023. Principal photography began in mid-2024, filmed largely in Cape Town with extensive local crew involvement, shaping the film’s visual identity through a mixture of stylish estate interiors and sharply contrasting working-class backdrops.

With a tone that blends dark humour, inheritance warfare and character-driven suspense, How to Make a Killing positions itself as a slick, morally playful thriller built around Glen Powell’s anti-hero arc — a story where the path to wealth is paved with charm, chaos, and possibly a trail of bodies.