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How to Make a Killing

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General Review

Parent's Guide to How to Make a Killing

How to Make a Killing (2026) is a black comedy thriller distributed by A24, centering on Becket Redfellow, a man disowned from his obscenely wealthy family. Fueled by his mother's dying wish and a sense of entitlement, Becket embarks on a darkly humorous quest to eliminate the seven relatives ahead of him in the line of inheritance. The film is framed by Becket recounting his murderous tale to a priest while on death row. Directed by John Patton Ford and starring Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, and Ed Harris, the movie explores themes of greed, class conflict, and dysfunctional family dynamics through a satirical lens. It is rated R for strong language, violence, and some suggestive content, making it appropriate for mature audiences.

Things to Consider

High4

Violence

The film's central plot involves the protagonist, Becket Redfellow, systematically murdering seven of his relatives to inherit a fortune. Violence is depicted frequently and includes various methods of killing with some graphic details.

Examples include Becket tying an inebriated relative's leg to an anchor and sending him to a 'watery grave,' a character dying from a bomb explosion, and another being killed by an arrow impaling their throat. The Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) rated the film with "Strong violence, injury."

Profanity

The film features frequent use of strong, crude language throughout, contributing to its R-rating.

Scary & Intense Content

The film is a dark comedy thriller involving a protagonist on death row recounting his serial murders, which creates an intense and potentially disturbing atmosphere, despite comedic elements.

Disrespect & Rebellion

Disrespect and rebellion are central themes, as the protagonist's entire motivation stems from defying his family's disownment and rebelling against legal and moral norms to claim an inheritance through murder.

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Medium3
Romance and Sexual ContentSubstance UseAnti-Christian Themes
Low2
LGBTQ & Gender IdentityWitchcraft & Occult
Medium3

Romance and Sexual Content

The movie contains moderate romantic and sexual content, including suggestive dialogue, revealing attire, and implied sexual activity, without explicit graphic scenes.

Substance Use

The movie includes depictions of alcohol consumption and hints at drug use or a 'strung-out' character, suggesting that substance use is present in the narrative.

Anti-Christian Themes

The film features elements that could be perceived as irreverent towards Christian themes, including an unrepentant murderer recounting his story to a priest without seeking absolution, and a satirical portrayal of a Christian pastor.

Low2

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

Searches for LGBTQ+ content specifically related to "How to Make a Killing (2026)" did not yield any direct information about LGBTQ+ characters or themes within the movie itself. While some search results mentioned other films with LGBTQ+ representation, these were distinct from the content of the requested media.

Witchcraft & Occult

No instances or themes of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, or supernatural elements were identified in the available content reviews or plot summaries for this film.

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How to Make a Killing (2026) presents a worldview deeply rooted in materialism and self-serving ambition, with its central character, Becket Redfellow, driven to murder his relatives for a vast inheritance. This directly contradicts core biblical teachings that condemn murder (Exodus 20:13) and warn against the dangers of greed, as articulated in 1 Timothy 6:10, stating, 'For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.' While the narrative implicitly functions as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of avarice, fulfilling a 'biblical warning,' it does so through the actions of a protagonist who appears largely unrepentant. The portrayal of character morality is ambiguous at best, as Becket commits heinous acts without clear remorse, even when recounting them to a priest on death row. Moral accountability is presented within the confines of secular justice (death penalty) rather than spiritual reckoning, as Becket shows little interest in genuine confession or redemption. Family values are depicted as severely fractured, characterized by disownment, betrayal, and violence rather than nurturing relationships. Faith representation, particularly through the figure of a 'scummy, strung-out Christian musician' pastor and Becket's dismissive attitude towards the priest's role, suggests a cynical or caricatured view of religious figures and practices. The film lacks overt themes of sacrifice, forgiveness, or grace, instead focusing on the dark psychological and practical consequences of a relentless pursuit of wealth.

Additional Context

Best For Ages

R-rated; recommended for mature audiences aged 17+ due to strong violence, pervasive crude language, suggestive sexual content, and themes of murder and moral ambiguity.

Good to Know

The film is a black comedy thriller, and its comedic tone may temper the perceived severity of some concerns for certain viewers, but the explicit descriptions of violence and dark themes remain. The movie is a loose re-imagining of the 1949 British film 'Kind Hearts and Coronets.'

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