Saagar Kote
‘How to Make a Killing’ delves into the fascinating life of Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell), who comes from a rich family and is seen as the heir to its fortunes and wealth since his childhood. However, he leads a modest life as an adult, after being denied his birthright by other family members. His life takes a turn when his childhood friend, an attractive girl named Julia Steinway (Margaret Qualley), crosses his path. When she casually suggests that killing his relatives would enable him to claim his family’s wealth, he takes it as a challenge. Driven by revenge against his relatives and willing to go to extreme lengths to secure what is his, Becket starts killing his family members one after the other.
However, as the cops and his remaining relatives suspect that something might be wrong, Becket must fight against all odds to secure victory in this violent battle, impress Julia, and gain billions of dollars. Directed by John Patton Ford, the comedy thriller is based on the novel ‘Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal’ by Roy Horniman, and also loosely inspired by the director Robert Hamer’s film ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets.’ If you are looking for movies similar to ‘How to Make a Killing,’ this list will be of interest to you.
10. A Simple Favor (2018)
Helmed by Paul Feig, ‘A Simple Favor’ deals with the life of Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick), who is a single mother leading a modest life. She meets Emily Nelson (Blake Lively), a rich woman who is also her son’s best friend’s mother. The contrasting lives of the two mothers converge as they build an unlikely friendship. Through her conversations with Emily, Stephanie also gets acquainted with Sean Townsend (Henry Golding), Emily’s husband. Everything seems to go fine, until Emily shockingly goes missing. Clueless about what happened, Stephanie becomes obsessed with finding her friend and learning the truth. The comedy mystery film, based on the eponymous novel by Darcey Bell, reflects ‘How to Make a Killing’ through its exploration of the world of the rich, while also shedding light on the ideas of hustle and survival.
9. I Care a Lot (2020)
Netflix’s ‘I Care a Lot’ is the tale of Marla Grayson (Rosamund Pike), a court-appointed guardian for several elderly people. She takes control of their wealth through clever scams and technically legal methods. This allows Marla to lead a comfortable life without worrying about the legal consequences of her actions. When she targets a rich and familyless retiree named Jennifer Peterson, the tables turn. Having run a scam for so long, Marla realizes that she is in trouble, as Jennifer may have her own secrets and ties to a dangerous gangster. To survive this ordeal, Marla may have to make tough choices and handle her relationship with her lover, Fran (Eiza González). Directed by J Blakeson, the crime comedy movie is spiritually akin to ‘How to Make a Killing’ as it focuses on the struggle for wealth, the dangers of desire, and the consequences of crime.
8. Ready or Not (2019)
‘Ready or Not’ narrates the experiences of Grace MacCaullay (Samara Weaving), who marries Alex Le Domas (Mark O’Brien). Grace is excited to meet all the members of Alex’s large, wealthy family. At the family manor, as Grace steals the spotlight with her white wedding dress, her husband’s family members request her to participate in a game of hide and seek. However, the game takes a deadly turn when Grace realizes that her new relatives are not just trying to seek her, but also kill her to complete a terrifying ritual. Armed with her wits alone, the new bride must survive the horrors of the house. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the horror comedy movie, like ‘How to Make a Killing,’ features relatives killing each other to achieve a greater purpose in life. The hilarious tone and visual sensibilities of the two films connect them on a greater level.
7. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ tells the story of Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), who tricks shipbuilding magnate Herbert Greenleaf by claiming he knows his son Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law). Believing this lie, Herbert tasks Tom with bringing his reckless son back to America from Italy. Tom travels to Italy and befriends Dickie and his fiancée, Marge Sherwood (Gwyneth Paltrow). This strange friendship, built on deception, surprisingly thrives for a while.
However, when Dickie stops showing interest in continuing the friendship, Tom grows restless. What follows are Tom’s extreme and dangerous attempts to ensure that his newfound comfort and access to wealth don’t fade. Directed by Anthony Minghella and based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel of the same name, the psychological thriller is set in the 1950s and revolves around Tom’s attempts to secure a more comfortable life through lies and crime, connecting him to Becket’s character in ‘How to Make a Killing.’
6. Knives Out (2019)
In ‘Knives Out,’ Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), a popular and wealthy mystery novelist, is found dead in his isolated grand residence. The police begin to investigate the case and grow suspicious of the victim’s many family members. Soon, a private investigator named Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) assists the cops in solving it. As Benoit questions each of Harlan’s family members, the past and present converge in mysterious ways.
When new angles and perspectives paint a different picture of the author’s death, the stakes for everyone involved rise. Armed with his brilliance and the unique ability to make others speak the truth, Benoit must solve the mystery before it is too late. Directed by Rian Johnson, the whodunnit drama film is a harrowing depiction of legacy. Akin to ‘How to Make a Killing,’ it portrays a family-related game of power, the struggle for wealth, and the cost of death.
5. Hit Man (2024)
Based on Skip Hollandsworth’s eponymous magazine article, ‘Hit Man’ chronicles the complicated life of Gary Johnson (Glen Powell). He leads a double life, balancing his work as a professor with his role as an undercover hit man for the New Orleans Police Department. This pattern of life and the perks associated with being a secret killer are threatened when he encounters the captivating Madison Figueroa Masters (Adria Arjona), who asks for his help.
Although he never lets personal feelings affect his profession, he tries to assist Madison in escaping her abusive husband. Gary’s growing romantic involvement with Madison threatens to upend his life and drag him into a realm of uncertainty and danger. Directed by Richard Linklater, the romantic crime comedy film complements ‘How to Make a Killing’ through its exploration of the consequences of a dangerous man’s involvement in crime and violence to secure a better life.
4. Emily the Criminal (2022)
Written and directed by John Patton Ford, ‘Emily the Criminal’ is the story of Emily Benetto (Aubrey Plaza), a woman living in LA who is facing significant financial difficulties due to debt. To overcome this situation, she starts working for small-time criminals involved in a credit card scam. She uses fake credit cards to buy expensive items for them by posing as a shopper. However, as she delves deeper into the operation, she discovers that other dangerous players from the city’s underworld are running the show from the shadows.
She teams up with a man named Youcef Haddad (Theo Rossi) to take the scam to greater heights. To survive, she may have to cross her own moral limits in unimaginable ways. The crime thriller resembles ‘How to Make a Killing’ by commenting on hustle, survival, and the value of money in a broken and immoral world. Characters in both films are connected on a deeper level, as they are driven to crime by financial pressures.
3. Saltburn (2023)
‘Saltburn’ revolves around the experiences of Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), an Oxford student who comes from a humble background. He enjoys a close friendship with Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), his rich fellow student. During the summer, Felix invites Oliver to spend time with him and his family at the Catton estate called Saltburn. As Oliver grows fond of the ultra-luxurious lifestyle at Saltburn, he forms complex bonds with Felix’s family members.
With the enigmatic lives of the elite surrounding him, Oliver shows signs of obsession. As his holiday becomes chaotic, he appears to harbor deadly secrets that may threaten his own soul and those around him. Helmed by Emerald Fennell, the British comedy thriller, like ‘How to Make a Killing,’ is a social commentary on the obscenities of wealth and power. The narratives delve into the mindsets of characters who decide to cross the limits of civility to achieve a better life.
2. No Other Choice (2025)
Directed by Park Chan-wook, ‘No Other Choice’ or ‘Eojjeolsuga Eobsda’ is a South Korean comedy thriller that depicts the struggles of Yoo Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), a family man happily married to Miri and the father of two loving children. His life of comfort and certainty takes a hit when he is fired from the paper company that he served loyally for more than two decades. As he finds no other jobs, his wealth withers away, leaving him and his family helpless. With his marriage and future at stake, Man-su has no other choice but to engage in criminal activities. He finds out that there is a job profile in the paper industry that suits him best.
However, his main challenge is to physically harm and neutralize the other candidates who are also suited for the job. As he makes use of weapons and violence to secure what he wants, he risks losing his humanity. Based on Donald Westlake’s novel ‘The Ax,’ it is connected to ‘How to Make a Killing’ through its focus on the dangers of an obsession with wealth and its commentary on the alienation of human nature in a world dominated by capitalism and greed.
1. Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’ deals with the life of Louis D’Ascoyne Mazzini (Dennis Price), a man of humble origins in early 20th-century London. He belongs to a noble family that his mother was born into, but is denied the privileges associated with it. His mother is disowned by the D’Ascoyne family for marrying a commoner. Overwhelmed by the misfortunes of his life, he harbors a deep desire for revenge against his relatives who caused his downfall. To assume the title of Duke of Chalfont and gain what is owed to him, Louis plans to murder the current Duke and the eight heirs by getting familiar with their lives.
However, as his violent plan begins to take shape, he faces unforeseen challenges that may decide his future. Loosely based on the novel ‘Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal’ by Roy Horniman, the British crime comedy film, directed by Robert Hamer, is a stunning portrait of greed. It shares significant similarities with ‘How to Make a Killing,’ as it is the story of a desperate man planning to kill all relatives who stand between him and his dreams of a better life. Both films comment in intricate ways on the evils of wealth, selfishness, and the desire for status in a competitive society.
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