June Squibb is 94 years old. Most people at 94 are, well, not leading high-octane action comedies. But the cast of Thelma 2024 isn't interested in your stereotypes about aging or what a "hero" looks like. It’s a movie that feels like a warm hug wrapped in a revenge thriller, and honestly, the ensemble they pulled together is the only reason it works as well as it does.
You’ve seen the trope before. A grandparent gets scammed. The family frets. The police say there’s nothing they can do. Usually, that’s where the story ends in a depressing minor key. Not here. Director Josh Margolin took a real-life experience—his own grandmother being targeted by a phone scammer—and turned it into a "Mission: Impossible" style breakout hits of the Sundance Film Festival.
June Squibb is the Action Hero We Didn't Know We Needed
It’s wild to think that June Squibb, an Oscar nominee for Nebraska, has never had a leading role until now. She plays Thelma Post with a grit that’s deeply relatable. She isn't playing a caricature of an old person; she’s playing a woman who refuses to be diminished. When Thelma gets a call from someone pretending to be her grandson, Danny, claiming he’s in jail and needs $10,000, she doesn't just lose the money. She loses her sense of agency.
Squibb does most of her own stunts. Seriously. Whether it's zooming around on a mobility scooter or climbing over furniture, she brings a physical authenticity that makes the stakes feel real. You aren't laughing at her. You're cheering for her. It’s a masterclass in subtlety. One minute she’s showing the quiet confusion of navigating a computer screen, and the next, she’s channeling Tom Cruise as she "infiltrates" a local business.
The Heartbreak of Richard Roundtree’s Final Performance
We have to talk about Richard Roundtree. He plays Ben, Thelma's old friend who reluctantly joins her on this quest for justice. Roundtree, the legendary star of Shaft, passed away shortly after filming wrapped. It adds a layer of bittersweet nostalgia to every scene he’s in.
He’s the perfect foil to Thelma’s impulsiveness. While she’s ready to charge into battle, Ben is the voice of caution, mostly because he’s actually quite content in his assisted living facility. Their chemistry is effortless. It feels like a friendship that has existed for decades. There’s a specific scene involving a motorized scooter chase—yes, a slow-motion scooter chase—that managed to be both hilarious and weirdly tense. Roundtree’s suave presence never left him, even when he was playing a man worried about his afternoon medication schedule.
The Supporting Cast of Thelma 2024 Brings the Family Drama
While the "grandparents on the run" plot drives the action, the family dynamic back home provides the emotional weight. Fred Hechinger plays Danny, the grandson. You might recognize him from The White Lotus or Gladiator II. Here, he’s a bit of a mess—unemployed, recently dumped, and deeply devoted to his grandmother.
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Then you have the parents. Parker Posey and Clark Gregg.
Talk about a powerhouse duo. Posey plays Gail, Thelma’s daughter, with that signature neurotic energy she’s famous for. She’s the helicopter parent to both her son and her mother. Clark Gregg, our beloved Phil Coulson from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, plays the well-meaning but slightly checked-out father. Their panicked search for Thelma serves as a secondary plotline that highlights the "sandwich generation" struggle—caring for aging parents while trying to launch adult children.
- June Squibb (Thelma): The unstoppable protagonist.
- Richard Roundtree (Ben): The smooth-talking sidekick in his final role.
- Fred Hechinger (Danny): The grandson who is the catalyst for the chaos.
- Parker Posey (Gail): The anxious daughter trying to keep it all together.
- Clark Gregg (Alan): The husband caught in the middle.
- Malcolm McDowell (Harvey): The villain you’ll love to hate.
Why Malcolm McDowell is the Perfect Villain
You can't have a heist movie without a villain. Malcolm McDowell shows up as Harvey, the man behind the phone scam. It’s a small but pivotal role. McDowell has built a career on playing menacing characters, from A Clockwork Orange to Star Trek: Generations.
In Thelma, he plays a different kind of monster. He’s not a world-conquering tyrant; he’s a pathetic man exploiting the vulnerable from a dusty backroom. The confrontation between Squibb and McDowell is the film's climax, and it's remarkably low-key. It doesn't end in a fistfight. It ends in a conversation about legacy and what we leave behind. It’s brilliant casting because McDowell brings a weight that makes the scam feel like a genuine threat rather than just a plot device.
The Realism Behind the Comedy
What makes the cast of Thelma 2024 so effective is that they treat the subject matter with respect. Phone scams targeting the elderly are a massive problem. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, seniors lost over $3 billion to scams in 2023 alone.
The movie doesn't shy away from the embarrassment victims feel. When Thelma realizes she’s been tricked, Squibb plays the moment with devastating honesty. It’s not a joke. It’s a violation. By casting actors who can handle both the physical comedy of a slow-speed chase and the emotional gravity of aging, Margolin created something that resonates far beyond the typical "grandma movie" genre.
Honestly, the film works because it treats its elderly characters as people with internal lives, histories, and desires. They aren't just props for the younger characters to worry about. They have agency. They have skills (even if those skills involve knowing how to navigate a specialized hearing aid).
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Scams
The film isn't just entertainment; it's a cautionary tale. While the cast of Thelma 2024 makes for a great night at the theater, the real-world version of this story usually doesn't involve a triumphant scooter ride.
- Verify the Emergency: If a family member calls asking for money, hang up and call them back on their known number. Scammers use AI to mimic voices now.
- Never Pay with Gift Cards or Wire Transfers: No legitimate government agency or bail bondsman will ask for payment in Target gift cards or cryptocurrency.
- Trust Your Gut: If something feels off or too urgent, it’s probably a scam.
- Report It: Even if you didn't lose money, report the attempt to the FTC or your local police. It helps them track patterns.
The next time you're scrolling through Netflix or looking for a movie at the cinema, don't skip over this one just because the lead actors are over 80. The performances are some of the most vibrant you'll see all year. June Squibb is a force of nature, and Richard Roundtree’s swan song is a beautiful reminder of why he was a movie star for half a century.
Go watch it. Then call your grandmother. Just maybe warn her about the phone scams first.
To get the most out of your viewing experience, pay close attention to the sound design during the "action" sequences. The filmmakers used traditional thriller tropes—intense music, quick cuts—but applied them to mundane tasks like putting on socks or mailing a letter. It’s a clever bit of filmmaking that bridges the gap between how Thelma sees herself and how the world sees her.
Check the official A24 or Magnolia Pictures listings for streaming dates, as the film moved quickly from its theatrical run to digital platforms due to high word-of-mouth demand. You can typically find it on platforms like Apple TV or Amazon Prime for rental or purchase.