A24's New Glen Powell Thriller Movie Based On 77-Year-Old Classic Is Dividing Critics & Audiences On Rotten Tomatoes

A24’s new movie, How to Make a Killing, is finding some redemption with audiences.

The new crime thriller stars Glen Powell, who portrays a disowned illegitimate child in the heavily wealthy Redfellow family. Due to the contingencies with the family’s inheritance, the outcast sets a plan to knock out every one of his relatives at any cost.

Critics were mixed about How to Make a Killing, ultimately earning a 47% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, with the movie now in theaters, moviegoers had a different experience, finding it to be an engaging popcorn flick. As of writing, the audience score is at a solid 75%, which is a huge contrast with the critics’ reaction. This would also mark the biggest divide between critics and audiences for a Powell movie since 2023’s Anyone But You. How to Make a Killing currently has a 28-point difference.

Reviews of How to Make a Killing noted a few positive aspects, including Powell’s charming performance with an essence of Patrick Bateman and the sharp stylistic visuals in depicting Beckett’s murderous escapade. However, the movie suffers from issues with inconsistent pacing, a lack of humor, and a contrived approach to the “eat the rich” theme.

Credit: Ilze Kitshoff /© A24 /Courtesy Everett Collection

Although audiences are generally in favor of How to Make a Killing, the Powell-starring movie isn’t performing well commercially, as it made a three-day total of $3.3 million at the domestic box office. As a new release, it ranked just no. 6 in the box office charts behind Wuthering Heights, GOAT, Send Help, Crime 101, and I Can Only Imagine 2.

This would be a second straight box office disappointment for Powell, following the Stephen King remake of The Running Man. How to Make a Killing itself has a $40 million budget, which means that it may become a flop for A24.

Despite what will look to be a box office bomb, there is still a chance of a rebound. Given Powell’s star power and A24’s reputation, it’s possible that the black comedy thriller could find success on streaming. It already has strong word of mouth from audiences, which will be key in building attraction. Currently, there are no details of when How to Make a Killing will be available on digital or streaming.

In addition, Powell still has a chance to find some box office redemption in 2026, with the science fantasy, The Great Beyond, set for release in November. It’s directed by J.J. Abrams and also stars Jenna Ortega, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Merritt Wever, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Alongside Powell, the supporting cast features Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace, and Ed Harris. John Patton Ford wrote and directed How to Make a Killing, while producers include Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin. The film is loosely based on the 1949 British movie Kind Hearts and Coronets, which itself was influenced by Roy Horniman’s 1907 novel Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal.

How to Make a Killing is now playing in theaters.