Is How to Make a Killing woke?
How to Make a Killing (2026)
Movie
Released: January 1, 2026
Wokeness Score
1/10
Not woke
No political or woke messaging whatsoever. Focuses entirely on story, characters, fun, or escapism.
Key Summary Points
- Pure black comedy thriller focused on inheritance murders and revenge with no social messaging.
- Diverse cast serves narrative roles without identity politics or forced representation.
- Satirizes wealth and greed through classic storytelling, avoiding progressive commentary.
Wokeness Analysis
The film is a straightforward black comedy thriller remake of the classic Kind Hearts and Coronets, centered on a blue-collar man's ruthless scheme to murder his wealthy relatives for a massive inheritance. Plot, characters, and tone focus entirely on dark humor, manipulation, betrayal, and escalating violence without any progressive social or political messaging. Cast includes diverse actors like Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick (of Asian descent), and others, but their roles serve the story organically as romantic interests, family members, or antagonists rather than vehicles for representation or identity politics. No themes of systemic inequality, gender ideology, racial grievance, or social commentary appear in synopses, trailers, or reviews. The narrative critiques greed and entitlement among the ultra-wealthy in a satirical, amoral way that aligns with traditional storytelling rather than modern ideological lectures. Entertainment value derives from Glen Powell's charismatic anti-hero performance and plot twists, with no evidence of forced inclusion, indoctrination, or agenda-driven elements. Critics describe it as a fun, irreverent thriller about revenge and inheritance, free of contemporary wokeness.
Plot
Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, blue-collar Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell) returns to reclaim his inheritance by any means necessary. With seven relatives standing between him and a $28 billion fortune, he launches a darkly comic campaign of manipulation, betrayal, and calculated killings. Inspired by the 1949 film Kind Hearts and Coronets, the story follows his escalating schemes while he falls for his deceased cousin's girlfriend. Twists involve a femme fatale childhood crush and a framing that leads to his arrest. The film blends thriller, comedy, and drama elements in a tale of ambition and moral ambiguity.