Glen Powell, known for his recent high-profile roles, leads the cast in How to Make a Killing, a new A24 thriller exploring themes of wealth, ambition, and dark comedy. The first trailer presents an intense and conflicted journey as Powell’s character, Beckett, aims to leap from outcast to heir by any means necessary in this February 2026 release, placing the Glen Powell A24 thriller squarely in the spotlight.
From Underdog to Relentless Hunter Amidst Family Intrigue
How to Make a Killing follows Beckett Redfellow, played by Glen Powell, who has spent his life on the margins of an elite family, separated by both circumstance and his mother’s disownment from the Redfellows. While seven relatives stand between him and a vast inheritance, Beckett has been forced to work humbling jobs far from the lavish world of his kin, fueling his hunger to be seen and counted among the elite. The situation escalates when a friend from Beckett’s past—portrayed by Margaret Qualley—makes a dark joke about eliminating those ahead of him in line for the family fortune. Taking the comment seriously, Beckett embarks on a dramatic and deadly path, triggering a series of suspicious deaths that pull him closer to wealth, but also draw scrutiny from law enforcement and suspicion within the Redfellow ranks.
The film blends elements of black comedy with a modern inheritance thriller, as accidents and staged misfortune claim one heir after another. Each incident deepens Beckett’s involvement, raising the stakes with every new “accident,” while exposing the eccentricities and vulnerabilities of the Redfellow family. Themes of class, resentment, ambition, and identity converge, painting a complex portrait of a man driven by years of feeling like an outsider.
A Modern Homage to Dark Comedy Classics
How to Make a Killing updates the 1949 British film Kind Hearts and Coronets for a contemporary audience, substituting aristocratic titles for billion-dollar fortunes while retaining the satirical edge of a protagonist eliminating family members to claim a legacy. In contrast to the original’s standout performance by Alec Guinness, who portrayed all the victims, this film provides Glen Powell with a roster of notable actors as targets. The supporting cast includes Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace, and Ed Harris, each providing dimension to the vivid tapestry of Beckett’s dysfunctional family and the various obstacles barring his ascent.
The script’s sharp tone and twisted humor surface as Beckett navigates the social and emotional minefield of his quest, blending suspense, violence, and moments of uncomfortable comedy. The narrative promises a complex blend of motives and consequences, keeping viewers guessing as Beckett’s actions spiral further from his blue-collar beginnings.
Glen Powell Collaborates with A24 for the First Time
Despite his extensive filmography—including his breakout in Top Gun: Maverick alongside Tom Cruise, a turn in the romantic comedy Anyone But You, a criminal pursuit in Hit Man with Adria Arjona, and thrills in the blockbuster Twisters—How to Make a Killing marks Glen Powell’s first stint as an actor in an A24 production. Prior to this role, Powell contributed as a producer for the next Texas Chain Saw Massacre installment, but How to Make a Killing brings him into the fold of the iconic indie studio as a leading man. Directed by John Patton Ford, whose previous film Emily the Criminal with Audrey Plaza won critical acclaim, this project leverages Powell’s charm and energy for a performance steeped in darkly comic undertones and moral uncertainty.
Main Cast and Characters
The film’s ensemble showcases Glen Powell in the role of Becket Redfellow, alongside Margaret Qualley in an uncredited role, and Ed Harris as Cassandra Redfellow. They are joined by Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, and Topher Grace, each portraying figures within the treacherous web of the Redfellow dynasty. The narrative’s dangerous inheritance games provide ample opportunity for these characters to display ambition, paranoia, and dark wit as Beckett’s scheme unfolds.
Audience Expectations and Release Plans
With its upcoming theatrical debut on February 20, 2026, How to Make a Killing is poised to generate buzz among fans of black comedy, suspense thrillers, and Glen Powell devotees. The partnership with A24 adds to the anticipation, given the studio’s reputation for edgy, acclaimed cinema. By adapting a classic story about greed and familial betrayal to a modern setting, the film offers a fresh perspective on the lengths some will go to for fortune and acceptance, promising surprises for audiences and a potential hit for all involved.
