A24 has officially unveiled the first trailer for John Patton Ford's upcoming black comedy action thriller How to Make a Killing, offering audiences a fresh look at Glen Powell in what may be one of his darkest—and most entertaining—roles yet. Powell stars as Beckett Redfellow, a young man whose life takes a twisted turn when he becomes convinced he is owed a massive inheritance tied to the powerful and notoriously dysfunctional Redfellow family line. The trailer sets the stage for a sharp, stylish, and morally messy tale filled with wit, intrigue, and a fair bit of chaos.
The film is loosely inspired by the classic 1949 British black comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets, which centered on an ambitious man eliminating relatives who stand between him and a dukedom. While How to Make a Killing updates the premise for modern audiences, it retains that same spirit of satirical ambition and heightened melodrama. In this new interpretation, Beckett’s motivations stem from a deeply personal grievance: his mother, once heiress to the sprawling Redfellow estate, was disowned by the family after his birth. Following her death, Beckett decides the only way to claim the inheritance he believes is rightfully his is to take matters into his own hands—by any means necessary.
Things grow even more complicated as Beckett finds himself tangled in an unexpected and emotionally charged love triangle. On one side is Ruth (Jessica Henwick), his devoted girlfriend who values loyalty and integrity above wealth, and who wants nothing more than a simple, honest life with him. On the other side is Julia (Margaret Qualley), a bold and flirtatious former flame whose reappearance stirs unresolved feelings—and whose interest in Beckett may be tied just as much to ambition as it is to romance. Their conflicting influences threaten to unravel his plans, pushing him deeper into moral ambiguity as he balances desire, desperation, and the pursuit of power.
Since his breakout turn in 2022's Top Gun: Maverick, Powell has rapidly become one of Hollywood's most in-demand leading men. He has since delivered a string of high-profile performances in films such as Anyone But You, Hit Man, Twisters, and most recently The Running Man. How to Make a Killing appears poised to continue his momentum, showcasing a darker comedic edge and reaffirming his versatility as both a charismatic star and a compelling dramatic actor.
In addition to Powell (Top Gun: Maverick, The Running Man), the film stars Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Leftovers), Jessica Henwick (The Matrix Resurrections, Iron Fist), Bill Camp (The Queen’s Gambit, Joker), Zach Woods (Silicon Valley, Avenue 5), Topher Grace (Spider-Man 3, BlacKkKlansman), Ed Harris (Westworld, The Truman Show), Raff Law (Twist, Running Man), Sean Cameron Michael (Black Sails, The Last Days of American Crime), and Bianca Amato (The Good Wife, Childhood's End).
How To Make A Killing Hits Theaters on February 20!
Watch the official trailer below:
Becket Redfellow is the son of Mary, an heiress to the vast Redfellow estate, but who was disowned by the family when Becket was born. When she passes away, impoverished and alone, Becket decides to make good on her belief that he is destined for greatness, no matter how evil he might need to be to achieve it. Ruthlessly determined to get back what Mary always said was stolen from him, Becket hatches a murderous scheme to eliminate the seven Redfellow relatives who stand between him and his inheritance. Can money buy happiness? As the heirs fall one by one, in a series of deliciously imaginative accidents, Becket is pretty sure it can. But he must also navigate his relationship with his loving girlfriend, Ruth, for whom money means nothing, and the increasing attentions of Julia, a flirtatious old flame from the past, for whom it most definitely does.