The Thursday Murder Club is a warm, star-led whodunit with a lively central quartet, but it does not simply outdo Knives Out. The Netflix adaptation is strongest as a cozy comedy about older friends putting their experience to work; its mystery and humor are gentler, and less sharply distinctive, than the comparison invites.
What is The Thursday Murder Club about?
Directed by Chris Columbus and adapted by Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote from Richard Osman’s novel, the 2025 film follows four retirees who meet to puzzle over cold cases. Their pastime becomes a live investigation when a death close to their community brings a mystery to their door. Elizabeth is played by Helen Mirren, Ron by Pierce Brosnan, Ibrahim by Ben Kingsley, and Joyce by Celia Imrie. Netflix announced the film’s release for 28 August 2025 (Netflix’s announcement; Amblin’s film page).
The setup gives the movie a useful contrast: these are not detectives pulled out of retirement for one last case, but people whose curiosity and abilities remain part of ordinary life. The club’s friendships are as important as the clues, and the mystery supplies a shared purpose rather than turning the characters into mere plot machinery.
Does it give Knives Out a run for its money?
That depends on what you want from a whodunit. Knives Out is a more pointed, intricately theatrical mystery-comedy; The Thursday Murder Club favors a relaxed pace, affectionate character humor, and the pleasure of watching an ensemble work together. It can be a satisfying alternative for viewers who prefer a softer, more companionable crime story, but the available evidence does not support calling it a superior or equal puzzle.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
| What to compare | The Thursday Murder Club | Knives Out |
|---|---|---|
| Mystery and clues | A cozy, community-scale investigation; some indexed reviews find the mystery less distinctive. (Metacritic’s critic-review index) | A sharper, more conspicuously constructed whodunit. This is a qualitative comparison, not a claim of identical structure or a measured ranking. |
| Comedy | Dry, character-based warmth and an affable tone. (TIME’s review; Metacritic’s critic-review index) | More biting and satirical in its comic energy. |
| Ensemble | The four leads form a club whose relationships and shared skills drive the appeal. | An ensemble built around a more overtly theatrical family mystery. |
| Emotional texture | Touches on aging, retirement, and care within a comic mystery; its treatment of dementia is not a realistic account of living with or caring for the condition. (TIME’s review) | Its central pleasures are more focused on social satire and the mechanics of the case. |
These are differences in emphasis, not a scorecard that settles which film is better. Metacritic’s index includes one critic who explicitly judges The Thursday Murder Club weaker than both Knives Out and Only Murders in the Building; that is one assessment, not a representative consensus. TIME, by contrast, praises this film’s good-natured tone, polished look, setting, and performers. Neither source establishes a verified current aggregate or the view of critics as a whole.
What makes the cast work?
The four leads make the club feel like a functioning friendship rather than a sequence of celebrity appearances. Mirren’s Elizabeth is the brisk, efficient presence at the center; TIME singles out the crispness of her performance. Brosnan, Kingsley, and Imrie contribute to the group’s varied rhythm, while the characters’ different temperaments give the investigation room for both disagreement and affection.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
That ensemble chemistry is the film’s clearest distinction from a more puzzle-forward mystery. The pleasure is not only in guessing what happened, but in seeing these friends exchange ideas and take one another seriously. Their age is part of the story’s texture, not a reason the film treats them as irrelevant: skill, experience, and curiosity remain active forces.
How does the film handle aging and care?
The movie’s interest in later life adds emotional dimension to the cozy crime framework, but it does not turn the mystery into a sustained social-realist account. TIME specifically cautions that the film is not a realistic depiction of living with and caring for someone with dementia. Viewers should take its moments around aging and care as part of a fictional comedy-drama, not as guidance or a documentary portrait of those experiences.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
What does the adaptation preserve?
A two-hour film has less room than a novel to let relationships and recurring routines accumulate. The adaptation keeps the central premise—the retirees’ cold-case club, the close-knit group, and a new death that demands attention—and places the four lead characters at the heart of the story. The result favors a self-contained screen mystery while retaining the appeal of an ongoing friendship network.
For readers curious about the source, Penguin Random House lists The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix Tie-In) as a 384-page paperback published 12 August 2025, ISBN 9780593513033 (publisher listing). The book is a companion for anyone who wants more time with Osman’s characters, not a prerequisite for following the film.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Where can you watch it?
Netflix’s title page lists the film as a two-hour, PG-13 comedy with mystery and thriller genre labels, and indicates download availability (Netflix title page). Catalog details, ratings, and features can vary by territory or change, so check the listing available in your market.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
