‘The Thursday Murder Club’ debuts on Netflix tomorrow
The Thursday Murder Club, the film adaptation of TV presenter Richard Osman’s bestselling debut murder mystery novel is about to make its streaming debut on Netflix. The film was written for the screen by Katy Brand and is directed by ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Harry Potter’ director Chris Columbus.
Osman’s debut novel was first published in 2020 and was met with huge critical and commercial success. It was followed by The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed, and The Last Devil to Die, which were published in 2021, 2022, and 2023 respectively.
What is it about?
According to the synopsis:
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. Directed by Chris Columbus, the film is the latest to be produced through the Netflix and Amblin Entertainment partnership.
Who are the main characters?
Elizabeth Best (Helen Mirren)
Elizabeth, the natural leader of her group, is sharp-witted, intelligent, brave, and resourceful. She’s very guarded about her past, only sharing that she worked in “international relations,” but she has a useful network of contacts. She’s very devoted to those she loves—especially her husband, Stephen—she’s currently trying to shield him from the fact that he’s in the early stages of dementia.
Ron Ritchie (Pierce Brosnan)
Ron Ritchie, a die-hard West Ham fan, is the comedian of the gang. Known as “Red Ron” from his days as hardened trade union representative, he still game for a good fight for whatever cause he believes in. He’s a widower who has been married multiple times. Ron is father to a son, Jason, his pride and joy, and a former champion boxer turned TV celebrity. Ron is very close to Ibrahim, whom he affectionately calls “Ibsy.”
Ibrahim Arif (Ben Kingsley)
Ibrahim is a confirmed bachelor, a respected psychiatrist and is of Egyptian descent. He’s softly spoken, kind, polite, empathetic and cultured. Though he can be cautious and sometimes pedantic, his analytical mind and thoughtful insights are highly valued by his friends, especially Ron.
Joyce Meadowcroft (Celia Imrie)
Joyce is a recently widowed former nurse, is the newest member of Coopers Chase. She is the mother of a very successful hedge fund manager, Joanna. Joyce is a kind, warm, and empathetic woman with an endearing nature—especially with Elizabeth— that makes her very likable. She loves to bake, and her cakes are a useful asset to the club. Although she sometimes misunderstands situations, she’s a quick thinker and an asset in a crisis.
Who is in the cast?
Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie are joined by some of Britain’s finest acting talent, including Daniel Mays (Line of Duty) as DCI Chris Hudson, David Tennant (Broadchurch) as Ian Ventham, Jonathan Pryce (Slow Horses) as Stephen, Naomi Ackie (Mickey 17) as Donna de Freitas, Richard E. Grant (Withnail and I) as Bobby Tanner, Henry Lloyd-Hughes (Indian Summers) as Bogdan, and Tom Ellis (Lucifer) as Jason.
Watch the trailer here:
The Thursday Murder Club is now showing in select UK cinemas this week and will be available on Netflix as of Thursday 28th August 2025.