How to Make a Killing Faces Steep Box Office Drop Despite More Theaters: What Happened to Glen Powell’s Latest Thriller?

The Buzz Around How to Make a Killing

When a new A24 thriller arrives, expectations are always high, thanks to the studio’s strong track record of genre hits and bold, unexpected choices. How to Make a Killing entered the arena with Glen Powell in the leading role—a man tangled in a darkly comic web as he attempts to eliminate his estranged, wealthy family for an inheritance.

A slick remake inspired by the 1949 classic ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’, this film had all the right ingredients: a celebrated studio, a source material with cult status, and Powell—whose recent successes in romantic and action films have kept him in the public eye. But box office numbers sometimes have their own script.

A Rocky Start—And a Rougher Second Weekend

Opening in over 1,700 theaters, How to Make a Killing debuted with a surprisingly low per-screen average of $2,146. By its second weekend, instead of rebounding with expanded availability, the thriller’s earnings dropped by 55%—a week-on-week nosedive that’s harsh even by genre standards. With 101 more screens added, the per-theater average crashed further to only $904.

For context, A24 often launches with a stronger per-screen presence, especially for thrillers or genre fare, making this performance an outlier. The total domestic take stands at a projected $6.2 million so far, against a reported $15 million production budget—well short of the estimated $37.5 million needed just to break even when factoring in marketing and distribution.

Critical Reception: Divisive at Best

It isn’t just at the ticket booth that How to Make a Killing has faced challenges. Critically, the movie split opinions right down the middle. With just a 46% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s become Glen Powell’s fourth-lowest rated movie to date—trailing behind widely panned titles like ‘The Expendables 3’, ‘Ride Along 2’, and ‘Misconduct’.

For A24, a studio synonymous with critical buzz and niche audience appeal, such a middling reception can influence not just ticket sales but also future streaming and digital revenue projections—vital for recouping losses on genre films in the modern streaming ecosystem.

The Glen Powell Factor: Can the Star Bounce Back?

Powell, who delivered box office hits like ‘Anyone But You’ and ‘Twisters’, finds himself in unfamiliar territory after back-to-back theatrical disappointments. His prior project—an adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘The Running Man’, directed by Edgar Wright—failed to justify its massive budget despite high initial anticipation.

Yet, all eyes remain on Powell’s next moves. He is set to star alongside Jenna Ortega in J.J. Abrams’ mysterious ‘The Great Beyond’, and collaborate with acclaimed filmmakers Barry Jenkins, Judd Apatow, and Ron Howard on upcoming projects. Industry insiders are keenly watching how these high-profile collaborations could restore his momentum, signaling once again the resilience and unpredictability of talent-driven box office dynamics.

Genre Trends and Box Office Realities

What happened with How to Make a Killing is a case study in the current volatility of audience tastes and the risks inherent in big-screen adaptations of classic material. Even with a marketing push, an expanded release, and a major star, a genre thriller can slip through the cracks if it fails to connect with both critics and moviegoers.

The film could still find some redemption—critical reevaluations, digital streaming platforms, and cult interest often give stylish misfires a second life. For movie buffs and industry observers, How to Make a Killing provides an unfiltered look at how even the most promising projects can become cautionary tales in the ever-evolving entertainment world.