JustWatchWhat is The Thursday Murder Club About?
The Thursday Murder Club is an adaptation of Richard Osman’s bestselling novel. Every Thursday at the Coopers Chase Retirement village, four friends meet to discuss real-life cold cases and attempt to solve them. When one of the village’s owners is mysteriously killed, they find themselves with an active mystery to solve. But will these four amateur sleuths find the murderer before their home is closed forever?
Our Honest The Thursday Murder Club Review
The Thursday Murder Club feels very British. It’s a classic whodunnit, drawing inspiration from Agatha Christie and similar cosy crime novelists, and is best enjoyed on a Sunday afternoon with a big pot of tea.
It may be a bit long, but it’s full of charm, and the central mystery kept us gripped to the screen. Gather some strawberries, cover them in full-fat cream, and settle down for a delightful afternoon in front of the TV. And despite the grisly subject matter, it’s one you can watch with your Grandparents too.
The four leads are a likeable bunch and all play off well against one another, and you can tell they’re having fun together. There’s a delightfully slimy turn from David Tennant to enjoy as well.
What Do the Critics Think of The Thursday Murder Club?
The Thursday Murder Club was generally well-received by critics and currently has a 78% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The cast and the plot were well received, but there was some criticism for the running time.
- “Sometimes all you need is a nice, safe, and utterly pleasant piece of cinematic diversion that doesn’t insult your intelligence and is made with sturdy, workmanlike competence.” – Sarah Michelle Fetters, MovieFreak.com.
- “Great actors and a director who gets how to make a movie like this work: What more could you want?” – Robert Levin, Newsday.
- “As a mystery, The Thursday Murder Club lacks bite, but as a cosy crime drama it is a pleasant watch—one that works best as a reminder that friendship and cleverness don’t fade with age.” – Udita Jhunjhunwala, Livemint.
- “This is an actor’s vehicle. There may be something bittersweet about the suggestion here that a shrinking pool of great performers is available and appropriate to a story like this. But any poignancy in “The Thursday Murder Club” is purely intentional.” – John Anderson, Wall Street Journal.
- “Grab your nan, put the kettle on and enjoy some exceedingly fine thesps hamming it up royally.” – Philip De Semlyen, Time Out.
What Awards and Nominations did The Thursday Murder Club Receive?
As of September 2025, The Thursday Murder Club has not received many nominations, and the only one we could find was the 2025 ReFrame Stamp Feature winner. We wouldn’t be surprised if it picked up a few more though, such as the following:
- Best Acting Ensemble at the Critics Choice Awards.
- Best Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy at The Golden Globes.
- Best Adapted Screenplay at the Satellite Awards.
- Best Adapted Screenplay at the Online Film Critics Society Awards.
- Best Casting at the Online Film & Television Association.
Upload Season 4 Cast & Crew
Chris Columbus is one of those guys that Hollywood turns to whenever there’s a need for a crowd-pleasing blockbuster. He cut his teeth as a screenwriter on Gremlins (1984) and The Goonies (1985), then showed McCauley Culkin how to destroy Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern twice, in Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2 (1992).
Dame Helen Mirren is a celebrated British actress and about as close to royalty as it’s possible to get, without actually being in line for the throne. As Elizabeth Best, she’s the unofficial leader of the Murder Club and is a steely, immovable force.
Celia Imrie puts in a spirited turn as the Murder Club’s newest member. She plays a recently retired trauma nurse, whose knowledge of injuries helps them tackle the case. She’s also effortlessly likeable, her excitable nature making her a natural foil to Elizabeth’s more taciturn approach.
Renowned actor Ben Kingsley brings an intellectual heft to the film as Ibrahim Arif, a retired psychiatrist. And he’s so delightful, we were finally able to forgive that ‘Mandarin Swerve’ from Iron Man 3.
The former James Bond has a fantastic time as an old rogue enjoying his retirement. He’s a divorced former union leader with an inquisitive mind and a knack for public speaking, and his complex relationship with his son lends an extra edge to the story. And yes, it has been over twenty years, but he’s still 007.
Fun Facts About The Thursday Murder Club
- When we first meet the Murder Club, they’re discussing a cold case named ‘The Woman In The White.’ This was also the title of Wilkie Collins’s 1859 book, which is widely regarded as the first detective novel.
- This is the third time Pierce Brosnan has worked with director Chris Columbus, after Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief (2010).
- Reunites Pierce Brosnan and Jonathan Pryce, twenty-seven years after they worked together on Tomorrow Never Dies (1997).
- Richard E. Grant filmed all of his scenes in a single day.
Themes of The Thursday Murder Club
The Thursday Murder Club movie might focus on four pensioners trying to solve a murder, but there’s a real warmth behind it. You get a genuine sense of community from the residents of Coopers Chase, and retirement has given them a new lease on life. They are in their later years, but they’ve lost none of their wits or intelligence and are a highly resourceful group.
That said, there is an undercurrent of fleeting mortality here. Elizabeth’s husband is suffering from dementia, while another resident is in a coma and close to death. The four principal characters are surrounded by death and must be aware that their time is limited, but they choose to embrace life all the same.
How Does The Thursday Murder Club Compare to Chris Columbus’s Other Work?
Chris Columbus used a sabotaged stairlift to launch a pensioner out of an upstairs window in Gremlins, but he’s much nicer to them here. The film has a spirited and generally light-hearted tone, although a darker edge does sneak in occasionally. As such, it could be considered to have a slightly nastier vibe than his work on Home Alone or Mrs. Doubtfire, but only just. It’s still an engaging and entertaining romp.
Upload handles heavier topics than his previous work, but is similarly rewarding. Parks & Recreation is especially popular in the Compare TV office, and we’ve not had any staff complaining about Upload.
Iconic Scenes from Upload Season 4
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The exterior scenes at Cooper’s Chase were filmed at Englefield House in Berkshire, along with the dining room, library, stairs and corridors. The crew built an entire graveyard on the site and was given strict instructions by a botanist about where they were allowed to dig.
- Production designer James Merifeild compared Joyce to Mary Berry, due to her love of baking and warm personality.
- Richard Osman was concerned about a few changes to the story and approached producer Steven Spielberg about them. He felt these were ignored, but still trusted Spielberg with his decisions, claiming, “He made E.T. I didn’t make E.T.”
- Director Chris Columbus was determined to make Coopers Chase the “Hogwarts of the retirement community.” He strongly believed that it had to be an aspirational place that people would want to retire to.
- There were multiple scenes in the novel set in a seaside town, but these were switched to London for the film. This was due to practical reasons; it was far easier to reach London from Berkshire.
What’s the Soundtrack Like for The Thursday Murder Club?
The Thursday Murder Club score was composed by Thomas Newman, a veteran of the film industry. It consists of classic instrumental pieces, all designed to enhance the sense of mystery around the film. A few of the melodies are reminiscent of the signature Harry Potter theme, and there is a similar sense of wonder at work.
It only lasts for forty minutes and does feel short, but it’s atmospheric and enchanting. Put it on while reading crime fiction and you’ll have a delightfully involving night.
Best Quotes from The Thursday Murder Club
- “There’s been a murder, an actual murder!” – Joyce is perhaps a little too excited when one of the retirement village owners is killed.
- “She’s a nun!” – Joyce improvises an excuse for why Elizabeth must speak with a specific Police Officer.
- “Let’s just say, I have a wide portfolio of skills.” – Elizabeth remains tight-lipped about what she did before retirement.
- “I feel like we’re in one of those Sunday night dramas about two bright-eyed, feisty old lady detectives outsmarting the Police at every turn.” – Joyce describes her partnership with Elizabeth.
- “You look just like the Queen!” – Joyce’s husband makes a suitably meta-comparison.
What People Are Asking About The Thursday Murder Club
Richard Osman wrote the original novel, but it was adapted for the screen by Suzanne Heathcote and the comedian Katy Brand.
There were five books in the series when this film was first released, although the last one – The Impossible Fortune: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery – had not been published.
As of September 2025, it had not been confirmed if any of the sequel novels would be adapted into films. But as the first film was a success, we’d be surprised if we didn’t see more of them showing up on Netflix in the coming years.
It’s already been released. The Thursday Murder Club movie release date was August 28th 2025. You can watch The Thursday Murder Club on Netflix or buy a digital copy on platforms like Prime Video or Apple TV.
Dancing On Ice is a British TV show where celebrities are trained to ice skate and compete in figure skating competitions. It’s a popular show, but it isn’t prestigious and is associated with “washed-up” celebrities trying to stay in the public eye. Tom Ellis’s character Jason is training for it, and it’s an in-joke about how his career is fading.
Of note, there was an Australian version called Torvill And Dean’s Dancing On Ice. It was cancelled after one season and has largely been forgotten.
