Every Knives Out Movie, Ranked

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Rian Johnson’s Knives Out films are known for being clever and fun murder mysteries. Now that the latest installment, Wake Up Dead Man, has been released, fans are debating which film in the series, starring Daniel Craig, is the best.

Following the mixed response to Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson decided to focus on a genre he enjoyed: mystery. Instead of adapting a classic Agatha Christie story or another well-known murder mystery, he created Knives Out. Released in 2019, the film first introduced audiences to Daniel Craig’s memorable detective, Benoit Blanc.

Following the huge success of the first Knives Out film, which earned $312 million worldwide, director Rian Johnson made an agreement with Netflix to create two more movies: Glass Onion (2022) and the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man (2025). Although a fourth Knives Out film is possible, the current three movies now form a completed trilogy, giving us everything we need to rank them from least to most enjoyable.

3. Wake Up Dead Man

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

The newest Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Man, is a cleverly crafted mystery where Benoit Blanc investigates the death of Msgr. Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). While full of twists, because it’s the third film in the series, some of the reveals aren’t as shocking as they could be, as audiences are now familiar with the way these stories play out.

Josh O’Connor’s performance as Jud Duplenticy is the best part of Wake Up Dead Man. Jud is a reverend with good intentions who wants to spread the message of Jesus. Watching him try to regain his faith and prove his innocence in the Wicks murder case is both sincere and captivating.

O’Connor and Craig have great chemistry together on screen. Benoit consistently defends the young priest, convinced he’s innocent. The rest of the cast also delivers strong performances, with Brolin playing a particularly abrasive and angry character, and Glenn Close shining as Martha, a longtime member of the church.

Compared to the other Knives Out films, this one isn’t as funny. Director Rian Johnson focuses more on religious ideas and the troubled characters within Wicks’ church. While the mystery is still enjoyable, I definitely noticed the absence of the classic humor found in the previous movies.

2. Glass Onion

Image by Everett Collection

Unlike the first film’s autumnal atmosphere, Glass Onion moves the action to a bright, sunny island, where detective Blanc finds himself tackling a complex web of interconnected murder mysteries. The movie is a thoroughly enjoyable, visually stunning, funny, and cleverly crafted whodunit.

Honestly, Daniel Craig just slides back into being Benoit Blanc – it feels so natural. But Janelle Monáe? Wow. She’s incredible, and her performance is even more amazing when you find out who she really is. The whole cast is stacked with stars – Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Edward Norton, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, you name ’em – and thankfully, everyone gets a chance to really shine with their quirky, over-the-top characters.

Both Knives Out films feature fantastic set design, but the lavish mansion owned by Myles Bron is particularly impressive – arguably the best in the series. This attention to detail makes the movies visually stunning, and the ending is a surprising twist on what you might expect.

Overall, Glass Onion is simply a lot of fun to watch. It’s visually striking with a vibrant style and features over-the-top, memorable characters. The entire cast and director clearly enjoyed making the film, and that energy is contagious – making it an easy and enjoyable experience for viewers.

1. Knives Out

Not only is Knives Out the first film in the series, it’s widely considered the strongest. After gaining experience with smaller mystery projects, this movie feels like a lifelong dream come true for director Rian Johnson.

This movie constantly surprises viewers and quickly establishes that it’s not your typical mystery. While the detective, Blanc, is important, the story truly focuses on Marta Cabrera’s perspective. We learn right away how Harlan Thrombey died, and the circumstances surrounding his death make us want Marta to be exonerated, even if it seems impossible.

Craig delivers his lines with a very strong southern accent, and his quirky comparisons – like a donut within a donut – are genuinely funny. Ana de Armas imbues Marta with a sweet and kind spirit that makes the character truly believable. Chris Evans is ideal as the villain; he intentionally breaks from the heroic image he’s built over years of playing Captain America.

The supporting cast of Knives Out is equally impressive. Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Michael Shannon, LaKeith Stanfield, and Don Johnson all shine in their roles, with Toni Collette particularly standing out. They bring a sense of quality and believability to the film, and deliver the funny lines with memorable, over-the-top characters.

Rian Johnson’s Knives Out is likely his best work yet, and a truly remarkable achievement within the film franchise. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable, cleverly plotted mystery packed with unexpected twists, unforgettable scenes, and strong performances. Many consider it one of the greatest murder mystery movies ever made.

It’s going to be hard for any new movie in this mystery series to be better than Knives Out, but I’m still excited to see what director Rian Johnson comes up with next.

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2025-12-12 22:59