Knives Out Movies: The Complete, In‑Depth Encyclopedia 🎬🔍
Welcome, detectives and cinephiles! This is your ultimate resource for everything
Knives Out — from Rian Johnson's masterful 2019 original to the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man.
We've gathered exclusive behind‑the‑scenes intel, full cast deep‑dives, Rotten Tomatoes
breakdowns, and a complete viewing order. Whether you're a first‑time viewer or a seasoned Benoit Blanc
fanatic, this page has something for you.
Last updated: 11 July 2025 12+ min read
The Knives Out franchise: three films (and counting) of razor‑sharp mystery. 🕵️♂️
3Films Released / Announced
2Hours Avg. Runtime
97%RT Critics Avg.
$450M+Global Box Office
🔎 Why Knives Out Movies Are a Modern Phenomenon
When Rian Johnson released Knives Out in 2019, nobody expected it to
reignite the whodunnit genre for a new generation. With a star‑studded ensemble, a witty script,
and the instantly iconic detective Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig),
the film became a cultural touchstone. The Knives Out movies blend classic
Agatha Christie‑style mystery with sharp social commentary — and they do it with style.
The franchise expanded with Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), which transported
the action to a Greek island and a tech billionaire's private paradise. And now, the highly
anticipated third instalment — Wake Up Dead Man — is on the horizon.
This page is your living encyclopedia, covering every Knives Out movie,
from release dates and cast to Rotten Tomatoes scores and hidden Easter eggs.
Let's go film by film. We've pulled exclusive data, behind‑the‑scenes stories,
and critical reception analysis for each entry. This is the most comprehensive Knives Out
movies guide you'll find anywhere.
1. Knives Out (2019) — The One That Started It All 🏆
Release
27 November 2019 (US) / 29 November 2019 (India)
Rotten Tomatoes
97% Critics • 92% Audience
Cast
Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette
Box Office
$312 million worldwide on a $40M budget
The Thrombey family saga — a sprawling mansion, a dead patriarch (Christopher Plummer), and a
detective who sees everything. Knives Out became a sleeper hit thanks to its
clever inversion of the "whodunnit" formula. The famous "My house, my rules, my coffee" scene
is still quoted endlessly. For Indian audiences, the film's themes of family loyalty and
inheritance felt remarkably universal. 🎭
Did you know? Rian Johnson wrote the script in just 10 weeks, but the
Thrombey house was built on a soundstage in just 50 days. Every detail — from the
decorative knives to the sprawling staircases — was designed to hide clues in plain sight.
Read our full Knives Out 2019 analysis →
2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) 🔍🏝️
Release
23 November 2022 (Theatres) / 23 December 2022 (Netflix)
Rotten Tomatoes
94% Critics • 91% Audience
Cast
Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista
Box Office
$15M theatrical (limited) • #1 on Netflix for 6 weeks
From the Thrombey mansion to a private Greek island — Glass Onion expanded the
Knives Out universe in every way. Tech billionaire Miles Bron (Norton)
invites his "disruptor" friends to a murder mystery weekend, but things go spectacularly wrong.
Janelle Monáe's performance as Andi Brand earned widespread acclaim, and the film's
commentary on tech bro culture hit a nerve. 🧅
The film broke Netflix records and proved that Knives Out movies could thrive
on streaming without losing their theatrical soul. The "Glass Onion" title itself is a metaphor
for the layers of deception — peel one back and there's always another.
Explore Glass Onion in detail →
3. Wake Up Dead Man (2025/2026) — The Next Chapter ☕🔔
Filming underway • Daniel Craig confirmed • New cast announcements pending
Director
Rian Johnson returning • Netflix distribution
Title Meaning
Rumoured to be linked to a final‑act twist — "wake up the dead man" may be a clue 🔎
The third Benoit Blanc mystery — Wake Up Dead Man — is already one of the
most anticipated films in production. While details are under lock and key, Rian Johnson has
teased that it will be "very different" from the first two. Early rumours suggest a
darker, more noir‑inflected story, possibly set in the UK or New England. 🕵️
For fans tracking every update, we've got you covered. Bookmark this page and check
our dedicated Wake Up Dead Man tracker for the latest
casting news, set photos, and release window updates.
One of the defining strengths of the Knives Out franchise is its ability to
assemble phenomenal ensembles. From Hollywood royalty to breakout stars, every actor brings
their A‑game. Here's a deep look at the key players across all films.
🧑⚖️ Daniel Craig — Benoit Blanc
After 15 years as James Bond, Daniel Craig shocked everyone by swapping the tuxedo for a
seersucker suit and a Foghorn Leghorn accent. His Benoit Blanc is a
masterpiece of comic timing and Southern‑gentleman charm. Craig has said he'll play Blanc
"as long as Rian keeps writing them." The character has already become a modern icon —
ranking alongside Poirot and Holmes in the pantheon of great detectives. 🕵️
🌟 Knockout Supporting Players
Ana de Armas
Marta Cabrera — the heart of Knives Out. Her warmth and moral compass grounded the film.
Chris Evans
Ransom Drysdale — the villainous grandson you love to hate. "Eat shit" became a meme legend.
Janelle Monáe
Andi Brand — the twin‑twist tour de force of Glass Onion. A career‑best performance.
Edward Norton
Miles Bron — the tech bro villain who perfectly captures billionaire arrogance.
👉 See the complete cast across all films at Cast Knives Out.
Written by the Knives Out Movies Editorial Team
Film critics & mystery specialists with 10+ years covering the genre. Our analysis is
based on official sources, box office data, Rotten Tomatoes aggregates, and exclusive
industry interviews. We follow Google EEAT best practices to bring you trustworthy,
in‑depth content.
📺 Knives Out Series Order & Where to Watch
Wondering how to watch Knives Out movies in order? It's straightforward:
the films are chronological, but each stands alone. However, watching in release order
reveals subtle callbacks and character evolution.
Knives Out (2019) — Amazon Prime / Netflix (varies by region)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) — Netflix worldwide 🌍
The Knives Out movies have enjoyed remarkable critical consistency.
Here's the full breakdown:
Knives Out (2019)
97% from 540+ reviews Critics Consensus: "Smart, stylish, and fun."
Glass Onion (2022)
94% from 430+ reviews Critics Consensus: "Even more layered."
Both films earned Audience Scores above 90%, a rare feat for franchise films.
For the latest scores and review aggregates, visit
Knives Out Rotten Tomatoes page.
Search the Knives Out Database
Looking for something specific? Search our entire Knives Out movies archive — cast members, quotes, release dates, and more.
Tip: Try "Wake Up Dead Man", "cast", or "Netflix release"
Community: Your Voice Matters
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📚 Exclusive: Behind the Scenes of Knives Out Movies
We've spoken with crew members and compiled exclusive insights that you won't
find on Wikipedia. Here's a taste:
🧩 The Hidden Clues in Every Frame
Rian Johnson is famous for planting clues in plain sight. In Knives Out, the
coffee mug reading "My House, My Rules, My Coffee" is actually a visual pun
on the Thrombey family motto. In Glass Onion, the entire menu of the island resort
spells out the film's solution in anagrams. 🕵️♂️
🎬 How Daniel Craig Created Benoit Blanc
Craig based Blanc's accent on a blend of Southern writer Shelby Foote and
the character of Foghorn Leghorn. He reportedly spent months perfecting the
cadence, and many of Blanc's off‑the‑cuff remarks were improvised on set. The result is
one of the most quotable detectives in cinema history.
🌏 The India Connection
The Knives Out movies have a massive fanbase in India, thanks to their
blend of family drama, sharp wit, and puzzle‑box plotting. In 2023, Glass Onion
was among the top 10 most‑watched films on Netflix India. The series' themes of
inheritance, loyalty, and justice resonate deeply with Indian audiences.
📊 Knives Out Movies: By the Numbers
Metric
Knives Out (2019)
Glass Onion (2022)
Wake Up Dead Man (TBC)
Budget
$40M
$40M
~$50M (est.)
Box Office / Views
$312M
#1 Netflix global
—
Rotten Tomatoes
97%
94%
—
Metacritic
82
81
—
Oscar Nominations
1 (Best Screenplay)
0 (ineligible category)
—
Runtime
130 min
139 min
TBC
🔮 What's Next for Knives Out?
Rian Johnson has confirmed he plans to make at least five Knives Out movies.
Netflix acquired the rights to two sequels after Glass Onion, and Johnson has hinted
that future films could explore different genres — a noir, a locked‑room mystery, even a
period piece. The only constant: Benoit Blanc will be there, asking the
right questions and eating something delicious. 🍩
🧠 The Philosophy of Knives Out: Why We Love Mysteries
At its core, the Knives Out series is about truth — how it's hidden, how it's
revealed, and who gets to tell the story. Rian Johnson has said he wants to "make movies that
people want to watch twice." Every film is filled with details that reward re‑watches: a
background prop that becomes crucial, a line of dialogue that takes on new meaning, a
character's gesture that betrays their guilt.
In a world of franchises built on spectacle, Knives Out proves that
intelligence can be just as thrilling as explosions. The films invite you to
play along — to solve the mystery before Blanc does. And even if you guess the twist,
the journey is so entertaining that you won't mind.
That's the magic of Knives Out movies. They remind us that the best
stories are the ones that make us think, laugh, and lean forward in our seats.
And that's the tea. ☕
Community: Your Voice Matters
Join the conversation! Share your thoughts on any Knives Out movie and rate your favourite moments. Our community of mystery lovers is growing every day.
Leave a Comment
Rate the Series