The Thursday Murder Club

We’re The Thursday Murder Club

The Thursday Murder Club starts out in black and white, flashing back to a late Full Moon lit foggy night in London. We hear Helen Mirren narrate the events as we them. There is a scream, then a woman falls out a window with a knife in her chest. A masked man runs….and we fade to color and see a cork bulletin board with details of the case and three people standing in front of it discussing the murder…..

Helen Mirren stars as Elizabeth Best, a retired pensioner residing in the upscale Cooper’s Chase Retirement Village outside the seaside Village of Fairhaven in Kent, United Kingdom. She lives there with her husband Steven who is battling the onset of dementia. It is Thursday and she is in the jigsaw puzzle room with Ron Ritchie (Pierce Brosnan), a former Trade Union Official, and Ibrahim Arif (Ben Kingsley), a retired Psychiatrist. They are discussing a murder cold case from the 1973 they are attempting to solve. They have drawn out the details of the case on a display board and are discussing the details trying to find something perhaps the police missed when…….

Joyce Meadowcroft (Celia Imrie) and her daughter walk into the room. She apologizes for seemingly interrupting but wonders if this isn’t the Puzzle room, to which Elizabeth replies, “It is except on Thursdays, Thursdays it is The Thursday Murder Club.” Joyce replies, “Oh, ok” and the two move on exploring the retirement Village. Elizabeth notices that Joyce barely flinched at the site of the murder photo and deduces that she must be someone used to seeing such things, such as a trauma nurse. Convinced that Joyce might be able to help them with their case, the three head to find Joyce. They catch up with her and Joyce confirms that Elizabeth is right, she is a retired Hospital trauma nurse. Elizabeth asks her to help with the case and she readily agrees.

As the four amateur sleuths get acquainted over cake they get further involved in trying to crack the cold case. As they are out walking the grounds they overhear Tony Curran and Ian Ventham, the two co-owners of The Retirement Village, arguing heatedly. The next day Tony Curran is found murdered, bludgeoned to death in his home. Sensing that the rift between Tony and Ian may have resulted in Tony’s death, The Thursday Murder Club see an opportunity to really put their skills to the test in a real life homicide that involves the future of their retirement home.

And that’s where the real antics begin, chasing down clues, involving and manipulating the local police department, and anyone else they think can help them crack their case. They all put their individual skills to work, Ron helps organize a protest as Ian tries to break ground on new construction, Abrahim constantly makes note and deciphers clues and information using his psychiatrist background to see beyond the obvious, Elizabeth pulls on her MI5 background to really kick things in gear, and Joyce brings common sense and cake at every turn.

It is a comedic, light- hearted whodunit with thrills and mystery at every turn, based on a group of amateur sleuths at a posh retirement home. There is mystery, intrigue, unexpected twists and turns, and action as The Thursday Murder Club work their game. Honestly I don’t know how you could go wrong with these three; Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsly. It was great, I thoroughly enjoyed it, a good bit of fun ole’ chap! You know what I think, I think you should…….

2025 Netflix

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 58min

Comedy ~ Crime ~ Mystery ~ Thriller

Directed by: Chris Columbus

Starring: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie

We’re The Thursday Murder Club

FROM NETFLIX TUDUM:

The newest resident of Coopers Chase retirement village, Joyce (Celia Imrie), learns about the Thursday Murder Club the same way the audience does: while giving her daughter a tour of the grounds, they admire the sprawling gardens, the painting and archery classes, and even the jigsaw room. But when she opens the door expecting to find seniors hunched over puzzle pieces, she instead finds the members of the titular club poring over photos of a grisly cold case from the 1970s. Joyce, a recent widow in search of community, is in luck, The Thursday Murder Club needs someone with medical expertise, and with Joyce’s past career as a trauma nurse (as well as her offering of delectable sponge cake), she earns temporary membership.

Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, and Celia Imrie in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

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Based on the bestselling book by Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club is adapted by Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote and directed by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). Osman was inspired to write the novel after visiting his mother’s retirement village and pondering the expectation “that you’ve reached a certain stage in your life and that’s it,” he says. “The Thursday Murder Club have lived these extraordinary lives. Take these people who are underestimated, who have these incredible skills, put them together, and they can achieve anything.”

The film takes place at a quaint country estate and stars some of the UK’s most renowned actors. Helen Mirren (The Queen, Gosford Park) plays ex-M15 spy Elizabeth, the steadfast leader of the crew. Speaking to Tudum, Mirren, who described the novel as “unputdownable,” immediately connected with Elizabeth, noting how intuitive the process of getting into character was. “For once I thought, ‘I’m just going to be myself,’ ” says the Academy Award-winning actor. “The best Elizabeth I can be is just to be who I am.”

Sir Ben Kingsley and Pierce Brosnan in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

Pierce Brosnan (The World is Not Enough, Mamma Mia!) plays good-humored former labor organizer Ron, who isn’t afraid to get into character to help with a case. “I love that he’s like a bull in a china shop at times,” says Brosnan of his character.

As Ron’s best friend, Ibrahim, Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More) found a balance that made his character an ideal detective. “He’s clearly empathetic because he’s a psychiatrist and he needs to interpret patterns of human behavior,” says the actor. “Now he can bring those same skills to a forensic quest to solve unsolved police cases through empathy, knowledge of patterns of human behavior, compassion, and imagination.” Rounding out the club is newcomer Joyce, played by Imrie (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Diplomat). “Where a retirement village could seem like the end, she gets here and it’s actually uplifting and fun and she finds friends,” says the actor.

Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, and Celia Imrie in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

After all, Mirren points out that her posse’s hobby stems from a universal place of curiosity and care about the world around them. “One of the things that keeps one alive and engaged in life at whatever age you are is a curiosity and questioning about the world, and a sense of constantly learning,” she says.

Says Brosnan, “You’re dealing with life and death, and it’s coming from the perspective of people who are in their 70s and 80s. You have to find the answer to the crime, why that person took another person’s life, and the meaning of that. But it’s about the humanity of these men and women and the unexpected relationships that unfold.”

But, Imrie notes, “Friends are so important when you get to a certain age. So, it’s a rather wonderful blossoming for everyone, actually.”

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We’re The Thursday Murder Club

Make some popcorn,

Grab a beverage,

and Stream This Movie

On Netflix!

The Thursday Murder Club

was based on The 2020 Novel

by Richard Osman.

The Thursday Murder Club Coming To Netflix Thursday August 28, 2025

We’re The Thursday Murder Club

FROM NETFLIX TUDUM: