The Thursday Murder Club (2025)

📅 Premieres August 28, 2025 | 🎥 Streaming on Netflix

Adapted from Richard Osman’s global bestseller, The Thursday Murder Club makes its highly anticipated screen debut under the skilled direction of Chris Columbus — a filmmaker known for blending heart, humor, and humanity in hits like Mrs. Doubtfire, Home Alone, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. With this Netflix original, Columbus brings his signature warmth and emotional intelligence to the cozy crime genre, delivering a film that is as witty and well-paced as it is deeply moving.

🎬 Directed by Chris Columbus: The Right Man for the Mystery

Chris Columbus has always had a knack for stories that balance character-driven emotion with entertainment that resonates across generations. In The Thursday Murder Club, he proves once again that he can handle an ensemble cast with finesse, while elevating the material into something cinematic and soul-stirring.

Under his direction, the tone hits that sweet spot between playful and poignant. He never leans too far into farce or melodrama, letting the characters — especially the retirees — carry both the humor and the heart of the film. It’s easy to imagine this becoming a classic in the same way Mrs. Doubtfire or The Help found loyal audiences.

👥 Character Chemistry, Framed Just Right

Thanks to Columbus’s experienced hand, the interactions between Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim shine with genuine intimacy and warmth. Their rapport never feels forced — instead, it’s rich with life experience, unspoken understanding, and just the right dose of sharp wit.

🎞️ Visual Storytelling

Columbus doesn’t need flashy visuals to impress. His approach here is restrained, tasteful, and always in service of the story. He uses the idyllic English countryside not just as a backdrop, but as a subtle contrast to the dark undercurrents of the mystery. The pacing — deliberate but engaging — gives audiences time to sit with each reveal and savor the humor without ever feeling rushed.

🧠 A Director Who Understands Emotional Stakes

While the mystery is clever and twisty, Columbus ensures that what lingers is the emotional resonance. These characters aren’t just solving a murder — they’re proving to themselves, and the world, that life doesn’t end at retirement. Under Columbus’s guidance, The Thursday Murder Club becomes more than a whodunit. It becomes a celebration of second acts, unlikely friendships, and the enduring joy of curiosity.

⭐ Final Verdict (Updated):

4.5/5 stars

With Chris Columbus at the helm, The Thursday Murder Club is everything fans could hope for: smart, heartfelt, and masterfully told. It’s a warm mystery with teeth, reminding us that adventure — and relevance — has no age limit.

Mark your calendars for August 28, 2025, and don’t be surprised if this becomes one of the standout streaming films of the year.