Reading The Thursday Murder Club – I was literally obsessed with it.
Set in the picturesque village of Coopers Chase, the story follows four lovable characters, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron. The quartet lives in a close-knit retirement home. Joyce, a retired nurse, is a latecomer to the group. She joins forces with the Thursday Murder Club to solve their local town murders.
One day, the group are left baffled when one of the retirement home’s owners, Tony Curran, is bludgeoned to death in his own home. The group quickly begin investigating the case.
The Thursday Murder Club is a book with a legion of fans. When I first found out that the murder mystery novel would be getting a Netflix adaptation, I was more than pleased. The casting sounded great, featuring stars Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, and David Tennant.
Not to mention it would be produced by legendary director Chris Columbus (known for his work on the likes of The Goonies, Mrs. Doubtfire, Home Alone 1 & 2, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets).
The film has already been described as a “comfort” movie whilst others deem it “a let down.” And if the IMDB rating is anything to go by, then it has already garnered a score of 6.5 on the site.
In honour of the film adaptation, let’s take a look at some other mysteries that are equally entertaining if you’ve just finished watching The Thursday Murder Club movie.
READ NEXT: The Thursday Murder Club Movie vs Book Review
Knives Out (2019)
Knives Out is a popular is the first film in the murder mystery film franchise. Much like The Thursday Murder Club, in Knives Out, we see Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), a famed private detective, who is summoned to investigate the death of the bestselling author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). Following its release, Knives Out became a box office hit, standing out as a rare adult-oriented success in a market dominated by family blockbusters like Frozen 2. The film boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Daniel Craig as the eccentric sleuth Benoit Blanc, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, and Don Johnson.
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2014)
If you were around the book scene in 2013, you’ll know The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared was all the hype at the time. The hugely popular book was adapted into a Swedish comedy about Allan Karlsson, a 100-year-old explosives expert who escapes his retirement home. Hilariously, he ends up accidentally on a chaotic adventure involving gangsters, a suitcase of cash, and flashbacks to his wildly improbable life, which reminds me so much of the four sleuths in TMC, who are looking to lead a more thrilling life than the ones they are handed. If you want a film to cheer you up, then look no further. Viewers have been comparing it hilariously, saying that this film reminded them of “Forrest Gump if he were into explosives,” whilst others are saying it’s “Goody Meets Dark Comedy.” The film stars Robert Gustafsson as Allan, with Iwar Wiklander, David Wiberg, and Mia Skäringer.
Murder by Death (1976)
Written by Neil Simon, Murder by Death is a spoof on the classic murder mystery, with famous detective archetypes invited to solve a murder in a bizarre mansion. It was presented at the Venice International Film Festival on September 5, 1976, and managed to gross $32.5million at the box office. Film fans have described Murder by Death as a “laugh-out-loud comedy.” It stars Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, James Coco, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Elsa Lanchester, David Niven, Peter Sellers, Maggie Smith, Nancy Walker, and Estelle Winwood.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
A film by Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a cherished and unique film with iconic filmography. In this story, we follow Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), a devoted concierge at a famous European hotel, who is framed for murder. While he sets out to prove his innocence, he forms an unlikely but heartwarming friendship with a young lobby boy named Zero (Tony Revolori). Apart from Ralph Fiennes and Tony Revolori, The Grand Budapest Hotel features a star-studded cast including Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Jude Law, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman, among others.
The Ladykillers (1955)
This film takes us all the way back to the 50s. For those who don’t know, The Ladykillers is a British black comedy crime film directed by Alexander Mackendrick. Interestingly, the plot follows an eccentric gang of thieves who move into a sweet old lady’s boarding house, all while secretly plotting a daring heist. The Ladykillers is 91 minutes long, and the movie was once nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and won the BAFTA Award for Best British Screenplay, thanks to the work of William Rose.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel stars the likes of Hollywood royalty, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Dev Patel, and Bill Nighy. For those unfamiliar with this plot follows British retirees who arrive at a dilapidated Indian hotel where they form an unexpected friendship as well as a fresh start. The film was produced on a budget of $10 million, while it garnered $136.8 million at the box office. It has a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been described as a “hidden gem,” while others have dubbed it “mediocre.” One critic says, “Here’s a gem of a film that is slowly paced and a treat for the senses.” A second wrote, “The film is undeniably lightweight, and there is an element of this being an impossibly upmarket and middle-class version of the ‘Brits Abroad’ Kevin & Perry Go Large stereotype.” But one reviewer disagrees, “I’m sure many undemanding viewers over the age of 60 will enjoy themselves, just cause it was made for them. But I would like a movie with well-written and real characters, please.”
Going in Style (2017)
Imagine working your whole life just so you don’t have a pension that lasts? Well, in this film, three pensioners take drastic measures since this is exactly the case. In Going in Style, the trio, who are made up of lifelong friends, decide to rob a bank. Directed by Zach Braff and written by Theodore Melfi, the film is a remake of the 1979 film of the same name. It stars the likes of Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Alan Arkin, Joey King, Matt Dillon, Christopher Lloyd, Ann-Margret, John Ortiz, and Siobhan Fallon Hogan.
Red (2010)
Bruce Willis takes charge in this 2019 action comedy flick. The plot revolves around Frank Moses, once a covert operative. He comes back together with his former squad to track down a lethal hitman determined to end his life. Directed by Robert Schwentke, Red is based on the comic book series by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner. Bruce Willis stars alongside Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Karl Urban, Mary-Louise Parker, Brian Cox, Julian McMahon, and Richard Dreyfuss.
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
Murder on the Orient Express follows celebrated Belgian detective Hercule Poirot as he investigates the murder of a wealthy American passenger aboard a luxurious train stranded in the snow. As Poirot questions a diverse group of travellers, he uncovers a web of secrets and motives that lead to a shocking conclusion. The 2017 film adaptation, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh as Poirot, features an all-star cast including Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, and Daisy Ridley.
See How They Run (2022)
See How They Run (2022) follows world-weary Sam Rockwell as Inspector Stoppard and eager rookie Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) in 1953 London, investigating the murder of a Hollywood director during the 100th performance of the play The Mousetrap in London’s West End; the star-studded cast also includes Adrien Brody.