The Thursday Murder Club: Sharp, Charming, Fun

I’ve always considered myself not just a cinephile, but also a bookworm. And if there’s one book series that has utterly stolen my heart, it’s Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club. Five novels deep (with the latest set to release this September), this series has been my constant companion—comforting, witty, and endlessly clever. As a devoted fan, I often daydreamed about what it might look like on the big screen. Would the right director capture its tone? Would the casting live up to the vivid pictures in my imagination? For once, the universe answered my prayers: Steven Spielberg greenlit the adaptation, and Chris Columbus—the man behind Harry Potter, Home Alone, and Mrs. Doubtfire—took the director’s chair.

Now, Columbus’ involvement may initially suggest a lighter, more comedic spin, smoothing out the darker edges of Osman’s sarcastic, sharp whodunits. And indeed, that’s exactly what we get: a film more in line with “cozy mystery” than the biting satire of the novels. But here’s the joy—when the cast is this good, when the chemistry crackles, and when the characters feel alive, it hardly matters that the tone shifted.

Because, honestly, this cast is a dream. Helen Mirren—my eternal queen (and the movie even jokes she “looks like a queen”)—steps into the role of Elizabeth exactly as I pictured her on the page. She’s poised, sharp, magnetic, and utterly in command. Watching her glide through danger with wit and dignity is worth the ticket alone. Pierce Brosnan, meanwhile, softens Ron’s rougher edges from the novels, bringing a flirty, roguish charm that makes him as entertaining as he is unpredictable. And yes, in a delightful twist, he’s paired with Tom Ellis (as his son Jason), giving us a “what if Lucifer was raised by James Bond?” scenario. Add Celia Imrie’s sweet, cake-baking Joyce and Ben Kingsley’s quietly insightful Ibrahim, and the Thursday Murder Club feels like a family you want to sit beside forever.

The irony doesn’t stop there. Geoff Bell, who plays Tony Curran here, recently went toe-to-toe with Mirren and Brosnan in Mobland. It almost feels like the producers decided to gather half that cast for this film—so much so that I half expected Tom Hardy to come swaggering in from Peaky Blinders! Alas, not every fan fantasy can be answered.

The screenplay makes notable changes: Ron is softened, several book characters are omitted, and the ending diverges slightly from Osman’s original plot. What could have been a biting, layered crime thriller becomes something more accessible, a warmhearted whodunit sprinkled with humor and nostalgia. Purists may miss the book’s sharper bite, but there’s no denying the performances are so good they carry the story. And in some ways, these changes allow new audiences to embrace the characters without needing to know the full backstory of all four novels.

The setting helps too. Coopers Chase isn’t just a retirement village—it’s a character of its own, with its rolling lawns, converted country-house grandeur, and even llamas wandering the grounds. It’s a backdrop that mixes English charm with just enough eccentricity to feel both real and heightened. Watching our pensioners plot over tea, cakes, and police files in puzzle rooms feels like comfort food cinema.

What I love most is how the film respects its aging protagonists. These aren’t caricatures of “old folks acting young.” They’re layered, vibrant individuals still brimming with wit, nerve, and drive. The mystery may include red herrings, shady deals, and a sociopath or two lurking about, but the real heart lies in the friendships at Coopers Chase. The laughs come not at the expense of age but from the brilliance of people who refuse to be dismissed.

Watching Elizabeth, Ron, Joyce, and Ibrahim unravel secrets while juggling cake, clever quips, and aching truths about mortality feels both comforting and invigorating. Mirren, in particular, grounds the story with emotional gravitas—especially in scenes with Jonathan Pryce, who plays her husband Stephen, slowly fading into dementia. Their moments together add a poignant layer that balances the humor with genuine heartache.
Yes, the film is cozy. Yes, it leans more toward warm chuckles than gasp-worthy twists. But it works because the chemistry is irresistible, the cast is having a blast, and Osman’s spirit of celebrating life at every age shines through. By the end, you’re not just watching a mystery unfold—you’re rooting for this unlikely quartet, this club of outsiders who prove that adventure doesn’t retire when you do.

With five novels (and counting) in the series, Netflix has the makings of a long-running franchise here. And let me tell you: I’ll happily clear my Thursdays for as many installments as they give us.

Overall: The Thursday Murder Club trades in the novels’ sharper thriller edge for something warmer, cozier, and more playful—but with Mirren leading a pitch-perfect cast, it’s an absolute delight. A loving ode to friendship, resilience, and reinvention.