Early Buzz Hails Glen Powell’s How to Make a Killing as Razor Sharp

Glen Powell keeps leaning into charming menace, and it seems to be paying off. His new R-rated dark comedy-thriller, How to Make a Killing, just screened for critics, and the early chatter is largely upbeat: sharp satire, big laughs, and a star turn that knows exactly how dark to go without losing the audience.

Writer-director John Patton Ford centers the movie on Becket Redfellow (Powell), a man tossed from his ultra-rich family at birth. Years later, Becket decides the best path back to the fortune they denied him is through the family tree… one branch at a time. The film plays cat-and-mouse with just how deliberate those deaths are, but the aim is the same: claw back what he was never supposed to have.

'A razor-sharp, wickedly funny black comedy... one of his best performances yet.'

- Jairo Jiménez

Powell is the headline here. Multiple critics zeroed in on his 'twisted' charisma and how he steadies the movie even as it leans into outrageous territory. One called him a 'devilishly charming' lead who keeps the absurdity grounded with sheer presence. And if you like Powell in scoundrel mode, early word says you will very much like him here.

The other hook is the pairing with Margaret Qualley, which several reactions labeled 'explosive' and 'electric.' Qualley plays Julia Steinway, Becket's childhood friend, and brings what one critic called a slightly deranged energy that clicks with Powell's volatility. Jessica Henwick also comes in for strong notices, with one reaction calling her the film's beating heart and a much-needed anchor for Becket's chaos. A few critics even confessed they found themselves unexpectedly rooting for Becket, which is a neat trick for a guy who may or may not be murdering his way to a will reading.

'A devilishly charming' turn from Powell that 'grounds the film amid its absurdity.'

- Matt Neglia

Not everyone was fully sold. One early take chalked it up as a simple, a-bit-sloppy but undeniably fun crime caper, arguing Powell's charm papers over some thin spots in the writing. Fair. But the broader consensus pegs this as a biting, high-energy romp with enough teeth to stand out among the current wave of eat-the-rich stories.

'Proof that Glen Powell should always play weird guys!'

- Rachel Leishman

• Cast: Glen Powell (Becket Redfellow), Margaret Qualley (Julia Steinway), Jessica Henwick, Ed Harris, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace

How to Make a Killing hits US theaters on February 20, 2026. It follows Powell's run in 2025's The Running Man remake, which means he's spending back-to-back years being the guy you maybe shouldn't trust but definitely want to watch.