All 3 ‘Knives Out’ Movies, Ranked

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Over the last decade, Knives Out has become a highly popular and unique movie series. Created by Rian Johnson, these mysteries center around Benoit Blanc, a brilliant detective played by Daniel Craig, known for his intelligence, southern charm, and knack for solving puzzles. Unlike many franchises that tell one long, ongoing story, Knives Out films are self-contained mysteries. While Daniel Craig is the only consistent star, appearing as Blanc in each film (with Noah Segan making appearances in different roles), each movie features a new setting, a fresh case, and a talented cast of actors.

The Knives Out films cleverly update the classic murder-mystery style of authors like Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. They play with the familiar tropes of the genre, both using and twisting them in new ways. Instead of focusing solely on who committed the crime, the movies delve into why and how it happened. These mysteries feel distinctly modern, not through futuristic technology, but through their characters, their reasons for acting, and the worlds they inhabit. All three films have received excellent reviews, and fans hope the series continues for many years to come. Here’s a ranking of the Knives Out movies.

3
‘Glass Onion’ (2022)


Netflix

Despite being listed later, Glass Onion – the second film in the Knives Out series – is a fantastic movie. It cleverly shakes up the original formula by revealing a major twist halfway through, completely changing how you understand everything you’ve seen. The story follows detective Benoit Blanc as he visits a private island owned by tech mogul Miles Bron (Edward Norton) and his friends, including a mysterious guest with a hidden agenda, played by Janelle Monáe. The talented cast also features Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, and a delightful cameo from Hugh Grant.

With its bright, summery feel, Glass Onion was also one of the first major films to directly address the COVID-19 pandemic, taking place in May 2020. Like other films in the series, it tackles current events, though some felt Rian Johnson’s writing leaned a little too heavily into internet culture. This is true of the Knives Out movies in general, but the timing – released shortly after Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter – made it feel particularly relevant. Ultimately, the humor in Glass Onion comes from the idea that the crime isn’t the work of a brilliant mind, but a surprisingly simple one. People tend to overthink motives, when sometimes the truth is just… obvious.

2
‘Wake Up Dead Man’ (2025)


Netflix

Okay, so the newest Knives Out film, Wake Up Dead Man, really surprised me. It’s a huge departure from the first two, and honestly, it takes a while to find its footing. Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc doesn’t even show up until about thirty minutes in, and when he does, it feels like a breath of fresh air – the movie needs that levity. The story centers around a young priest, Jud Duplenticy, played brilliantly by Josh O’Connor, who arrives at a new parish only to find himself under the thumb – and suspicion – of a pretty awful Monsignor Wicks, played by Josh Brolin. It quickly becomes clear Wicks isn’t who he seems, and the secrets of his congregation start to unravel. And the cast? Wow. Glen Close, Kerry Washington, Thomas Hayden Church, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Mila Kunis all show up, making for a seriously stellar ensemble.

Wake Up Dead Man is a noticeably darker film in the series, though it still has the franchise’s signature humor. It’s a more serious story with a subdued color scheme, primarily sickly greens and blacks. The mystery isn’t so much about who did it, but why. Like the other Knives Out movies, this one explores different types of power dynamics. The first film focused on established wealth, Glass Onion targeted new money and tech industries, and Wake Up Dead Man centers its commentary on religion.

While the main characters in both Knives Out and Glass Onion were outsiders looking in on wealthy families, the hero of Wake Up Dead Man is a man of faith whose beliefs are deeply challenged. Unlike most movies that take a clear stance for or against religion, Wake Up Dead Man offers a more subtle, thoughtful, and personal exploration of faith. This film is perhaps the most emotionally resonant in the series, and many would consider it the strongest installment so far.

1
‘Knives Out’ (2019)

I still think about Knives Out all the time – it really kicked off something special, and it’s just as fun to watch now as it was when it first came out! The story centers around the brilliant detective Benoit Blanc, who’s called in to investigate the death of the wealthy novelist Harlan Thrombey. But honestly, the movie really grabbed me with Marta Cabrera, Harlan’s nurse, played by Ana de Armas. She accidentally gave him the wrong medication, and the whole film becomes this thrilling game of cat and mouse as she desperately tries to cover it up, while Blanc starts to wonder if something more sinister happened.

Rian Johnson’s Knives Out launched a thrilling new series with a fantastic cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, and Michael Shannon. The film doesn’t dwell on who committed the murder—that’s revealed fairly quickly—but instead follows an unlikely hero as they navigate a complex mystery, constantly trying to stay one step ahead. However, the story cleverly shifts back into a classic whodunit, complete with all the twists and turns audiences enjoy, but with a fresh, contemporary feel. Its beautiful autumn setting makes Knives Out the perfect movie to watch during the fall—and especially on Thanksgiving.

Part of what made the first Knives Out so special was that it was the only one released widely in cinemas. Seeing an original mystery like that with a big audience was a unique experience that the sequels, released on Netflix, haven’t matched. Now that the Netflix deal is finished, hopefully future films will return to theaters. Knives Out was a hit when it came out in November 2019, and even with two great sequels since then, it’s still the best – a true classic that people will enjoy for years to come.

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2025-12-15 21:35