If there is anything to give a shock to the system, it is discovering that Pierce Brosnan is now an actor who can star in a movie about wrinkly pensioners investigating a murder mystery in their retirement home. That is exactly what has happened, and in the blink of an eye, the ‘90s James Bond is now leading the movie adaptation of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, which has landed a killer Rotten Tomatoes score ahead of its August 28, 2025, Netflix release.
Directed by Harry Potter and Mrs. Doubtfire helmer Chris Columbus, The Thursday Murder Club pulls together an impressive cast headed up by Brosnan, Helen Mirren, and Ben Kingsley, alongside Celia Imrie, Naomi Ackie, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Tom Ellis, Jonathan Pryce (who previously played the villain in Brosnan’s Bond movie, Tomorrow Never Dies), Richard E. Grant, and David Tennant. Steven Spielberg produces the movie, while author Osman acts as executive producer. The synopsis of the movie reads:
“Based on Richard Osman’s international bestselling novel of the same name, The Thursday Murder Club follows four irrepressible retirees — Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) and Joyce (Celia Imrie) — who spend their time solving cold case murders for fun. When an unexplained death occurs on their own doorstep, their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn as they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.”
How Does ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ Fare With Rotten Tomatoes Critics?
What immediately strikes home about The Thursday Murder Club is that it does not try to be something it is not. Critics have immediately taken a shine to the “cozy” mystery filled with British icons that is “charming” and “quaint,” and, above all else, very funny. This has landed the film a 90% Tomatometer score as its limited theatrical run begins this weekend ahead of its Netflix premiere on August 28.
Kristy Puchko of Mashable says, “The Thursday Murder Club is a sensationally funny, warm, and smart crime-comedy with a crackling ensemble.” Vicky Jessop of London Evening Standard calls it “a celebration of life, and isn’t it fun watching pensioners run rings around the rest of us.” MovieWeb’s own Julian Roman says:
“You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to solve the puzzle, though; logical deduction will reveal the truth with rapt attention. There’s admittedly a lot going on here, and the story may have worked better as a limited series than a feature. But the cast is incredible, and the settings are absolutely delightful.”
Of course, The Thursday Murder Club isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, with some feeling the whole thing plays out like a sleepy game of Cluedo, and is a little too lazy for its own good. Audiences will obviously give their opinions when the film is freely available, and with a strong fandom behind the tales of the Cooper’s Chase retirement village, it will surely be appearing on Netflix’s most-watched lists in the coming weeks.
The Thursday Murder Club
- Release Date
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August 28, 2025
- Runtime
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118 minutes
- Director
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Chris Columbus
- Writers
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Katy Brand, Suzanne Heathcote
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