All 3 Knives Out Movies, Ranked From Worst to Best (Including Wake Up Dead Man)

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Rian Johnson’s popular murder mystery series continues with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Following Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), the films on Netflix center around the clever detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, who investigates unusual murders amongst the rich and powerful. All three Knives Out movies have been critically acclaimed and enjoyed by audiences, thanks to their impressive casts and sharp writing. Filled with humor and unexpected twists, the series has proven to be a hit with movie fans.

Ranked from worst to best below, the three Knives Out movies are thrilling whodunit tales.

3) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Compared to the first Knives Out film, Glass Onion is a more chaotic and exciting whodunit. The story centers around tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) who invites a group of friends to his private island for a murder mystery game. When two people actually die, detective Benoit Blanc finds himself investigating a real crime. Despite the suspense and dark moments, Glass Onion is likely the funniest of the two films. It cleverly and humorously exposes the arrogance and detachment of the wealthy, through a cast of memorable characters. From a US Senate candidate (Kathryn Hahn) to a fashion designer (Kate Hudson) and a popular streamer (Dave Bautista), the film is filled with entertaining personalities.

The ending of Glass Onion is completely wild and brings the mystery to a thrilling close. However, the complex plot and many twists might be confusing for some viewers. Director Johnson has created a more intricate story than the first Knives Out movie, and the film is an enjoyable watch thanks to its focus on clashing personalities and power struggles. While the detective Blanc’s final explanation is clever, it might leave some people with more questions than answers. With a strong cast and a very funny script, Glass Onion is excellent, even if it’s not quite as strong as the first Knives Out film.

2) Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

In Wake Up Dead Man, Benoit Blanc tackles a particularly complex murder case – a true challenge in the mystery genre. The film centers around the death of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), which occurs during a Good Friday service with Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor). While Jud initially appears to be the main suspect, fueled by his disagreement with Wicks’s strict views on the Catholic Church, he teams up with Blanc to uncover the real killer among Wicks’s followers. Wake Up Dead Man goes beyond a simple whodunit, offering a profound exploration of compassion and cruelty within the Christian faith.

Father Jud is a compelling character, haunted by his past but driven to do good through his faith. The story is full of secrets, as each member of his congregation has a hidden motive for wanting Wicks harmed. Adding to the intrigue is the unsettling history behind the Monsignor’s wealth. Wake Up Dead Man spends its time exploring the meaning of faith while slowly revealing surprising truths about its characters. Strong performances from O’Connor as Father Jud and Glenn Close as Wicks’s dedicated assistant, Martha, make the film’s mystery even more captivating. The movie’s twists and turns are cleverly done, leading to a surprisingly hopeful ending. Ultimately, Wake Up Dead Man shows that a whodunit can be both thrilling and thought-provoking.

1) Knives Out

I think Rian Johnson’s Knives Out is still his best movie! It starts with the mysterious death of famous author Harlan Thrombey (played by Christopher Plummer) right after his birthday party, and a detective comes in to investigate. Immediately, all the tension within Thrombey’s family bubbles to the surface, and you start to realize pretty much everyone had a reason to want him gone. What I loved most is how many twists and turns the movie throws at you – it’s genuinely hard to piece everything together before the big reveal. Even when it looks like the nurse, Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas), might be the one responsible, you quickly realize nothing is as it seems!

Rian Johnson’s Knives Out remains a fantastic whodunit because it perfectly captures the spirit of classic mysteries. The film features a wonderfully complex cast of characters, and their messy family relationships make the story incredibly engaging. The diverse personalities of individuals like Ransom Drysdale, Walt Thrombey, and Joni Thrombey create a fascinating look at a wealthy, dysfunctional family, brought to life by excellent acting and clever humor. Packed with unexpected twists, subtle clues, and a truly satisfying ending, Knives Out is a skillfully made and highly rewatchable murder mystery.

How would you rank the Knives Out films? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-12-14 22:42