Whodunnit? Richard Osman's 'The Thursday Murder Club' | Netflix Film Review

Richard Osman's 'The Thursday Murder Club' Netflix Film Review

Four irrepressible retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunnit on their hands.

As though an episode of ‘Murder, She Wrote’ met a ‘Knives Out’ story, ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ (2025) is a simple, easy-to-watch, entertaining crime drama that should thank its cast for their marvelous and memorable portrayals. 

Richard Osman’s book series is beloved, and it is hard to replicate pages to screen faultlessly, but this film did a fine job. The casting choices were the glue holding the film together; Mirren, Brosnan, Imrie, and Kingsley effortlessly brought to life their characters from the books. Each of them delivered in comedy and charm. I would easily sit down to watch a whole series of these movies… which I have no doubt Netflix will do. 

‘The Thursday Murder Club’ wasn’t quite as thrilling as I would have liked; the crimes got resolved a little too quickly for my liking. I wanted more drama, more close calls, and more mystery. Although, this is a very easy watch, and it caters to the wide audience who love the books. 

This is not a grisly tale; this is a subdued, charming British tale of murder, family, and friendship. Don’t expect to be enthralled in the mystery but instead captivated by the character building, the coziness of the set design, and the charming portrayal of the elderly living in Cooper’s Chase. I was invested in their lives, their relationships, and I fell in love with their story. 

As I’ve said, the cast were exceedingly perfect for this film; each of the club members felt like they’d jumped out of the book, and Naomi Ackie was a brilliant addition to their group. She truly held her own in this stacked cast of professionals, and I loved seeing her embrace the comedy and have fun. Along with Tom Ellis, David Tennant, Daniel Mays, Jonathan Pryce, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, and Richard E. Grant. A very impressive cast for a very playful film. 

Although I rave about the characters, it didn’t go unnoticed that a few were slightly underdeveloped. I hope with time we get to understand Ibrahim more and get to see a little more of Joyce’s cheekiness from the books.

This film, which I assume to be the first, centered mostly around Elizabeth, and I hope to lift the curtain more in time, but if not, we always have the books to read!

In saying that, I did enjoy this film. It was fun, it was enticing at times, and it kept me engaged. I think the cast are to thank for that, and I genuinely want to see more of them. 

Although I rave about the characters, it didn’t go unnoticed that a few were slightly underdeveloped. I hope with time we get to understand Ibrahim more and get to see a little more of Joyce’s cheekiness from the books.

When the original story is so compelling and beloved, it is hard to fully do justice for those who want to see it all. This film altered a lot; it cut down the story, but that is to be expected from a book adaptation. Although, Netflix should have considered turning this into a TV series, giving the story more time to breathe and the audience more time to invest in the crime. ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ could have benefitted from more detail and nuance over a handful of episodes. 

In saying that, I did enjoy this film. It was fun, it was enticing at times, and it kept me engaged. I think the cast are to thank for that, and I genuinely want to see more of them.

Netflix delivered a memorable murder mystery, again. Whodunnits seem to be Netflix's newest specialty!

Probe Points 

★★★