Just Like 'The Running Man', Glen Powell's New Movie Is a Disappointing Flop With 45% on RT

Glen Powell is an actor who has been enjoying success for the past couple of years. With roles in Anyone But You, Top Gun: Maverick, and Twisters his career seemed destined for continued growth.

However, 2025 has brought changes. First, The Running Man flopped, and now the new thriller How to Make a Killing is disappointing both critics and audiences.

John Patton Ford's movie, inspired by the British classic Kind Hearts and Coronets, turned out to be a pale shadow of its inspiration.

What Is 'How to Make a Killing' About?

Becket Redfellow is the son of a woman who was cast out by her wealthy family for having an affair with a musician of humble origins. She raised him alone and, before her death, instructed him to live a dignified life. Left an orphan, Becket took this instruction in a peculiar way.

After losing his job, he decided that justice meant reclaiming his mother's birthright. To do so, he must eliminate all heirs to the Redfellow fortune.

He begins hunting down his wealthy relatives and kills them one by one.

'How to Make a Killing' Is Simply Too Unconvincing and Superficial to Care About

The main problem with How to Make a Killing is how implausible the main character's transformation is. We're shown that Becket was raised by his mother to be good and decent. There are no hints of hidden darkness or psychological trauma other than the most obvious: being orphaned.

Then, a couple of not-so-catastrophic life failures transform him into a cold-blooded killer and this is presented as a given without any struggle or internal conflict.

Glen Powell tries – he's charming even as a monster. However, his efforts are thwarted by the emptiness of the script. We never learn how this calculating criminal was formed, where he acquired his skills and composure, or how he covers his tracks.

'How to Make a Killing' Is Full of Faceless Characters and Black Comedy That Falls Flat

The supporting characters in How to Make a Killing are a complete disappointment. The relatives that Becket methodically exterminates are so caricatured and faceless that you forget about them the second they leave the screen.

Even Margaret Qualley's performance is lackluster – her character, Julia, exists in a vacuum for most of the movie, and by the end, she merely serves as a plot twist.

The most offensive thing is that the movie is marketed as a black comedy, however, there's no dark elegance, subtle irony, or cheeky sarcasm. How to Make a Killing doesn't make you laugh, scare you, or make you think.

It simply exists, reminiscent of an amoral fairy tale for adults where the main character magically achieves his goal without facing any obstacles.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'How to Make a Killing'?

• How to Make a Killing has 45% from critics and 75% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.7/10.

• On Letterboxd, How to Make a Killing scored 3.3/5.0.

Where to Watch 'How to Make a Killing'?

How to Make a Killing is currently playing in theaters.