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Knives Out Collection
He works in mysterious ways.
When young priest Jud Duplenticy is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, itβs clear that all is not well in the pews. After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.
The Fixate & Binge Podcast, w/ Joe Curdy
Jul 29, 2026 Β· via TMDB
Rian Johnson's third release for the eponymously named **KNIVES OUT** franchise -- **WAKE UP DEAD MAN** -- shows no signs of depreciating in quality -- as the latest offering is arguably better than its predecessors, a rare trait of film franchises that tend to degrade with audiences. But **WAKE UP DEAD MAN** is no slouch -- delivering, yet again, another whip-smart screenplay with compelling, multidimensional characters that will keep viewers guessing in this thrilling whodunnit that tackles theology, and faith in a small, suspicious town after a mysterious murder is committed. Josh Brolin's austere, fire and brimstone parish priest fires on all cylinders here -- castigating outsiders and insiders with his Bible-thumping speeches; Glenn Close as Brolin's lickspittle assistant, fussing over all the parish's needs and affairs -- is brilliant, as always -- but the arrival of Josh O'Connor as the assistant priest to the parish provides an outsider's glimpse into the very insular and loyal town coterie that sit in the nave and endure Brolin's judgments week after week. O'Connor gives a master class as a man torn between the parishioner's suspicions and his own spiritual journey towards redemption, as he balances his faith with his pursuit of the truth. When Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc does arrive to unpack the mystery and put right all that is amiss, how the entanglements get resolved offers another fascinating experience in Craig's performance as he takes us through the labyrinthine connections between the characters, exploring motive, opportunity in this taut mystery thriller. Johnson has done it again with Craig -- and the incredible supporting cast from O'Connor (tipped to be the next James Bond some say, which I could very well enjoy!), Brolin, Close, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, Jeffrey Wright, Thomas Haden Church and Daryl McCormack capably help carry what is arguable the best of the KNIVES OUT trilogy of films -- leaving fans with only one lingering question: How long do we need to wait for the next **KNIVES OUT** film?
Brent Marchant
Jan 28, 2026 Β· via TMDB
How refreshing it is when a movie turns out to be better than expected. And such is very much the case in this third installment in the βKnives Outβ murder mystery franchise, arguably the best offering in the series. In the interest of full disclosure, I was not particularly looking forward to watching this release. While the first two films were modestly entertaining, they had occasional tendencies toward silliness and incredulity that detracted from their core focus and overall quality. However, this latest effort is a pleasant surprise, primarily due to a noteworthy maturation of the material, with better writing, better storytelling, deeper and more believable character development, and solid performances across the board. In addition, the narrative has made a deliberate attempt to incorporate more substantive, more thoughtful content in the story and script, a notable improvement over the two previous pictures. Also, in an attempt to add a sense of relevance, the screenplay includes references to contemporary events and trends, elements noticeably lacking in the franchiseβs two prior works. While the story here is too complicated to address in considerable detail, it essentially marks the return of unconventional private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) in an investigation of the murder of a dubious monsignor, Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), a killing thatβs believed to have been committed by his parishβs junior priest, Fr. Jud Duplenticy (Josh OβConnor). Given Duplenticyβs checkered past as a boxer and his combative relationship with the monsignor, heβs seen as the prime suspect, but did he do it? And can Blanc prove his innocence? Thatβs a legitimate question in light of the possible motives of a handful of allegedly loyal parishioners, all of whom carry secrets that could prove devastating if revealed β and that the shady monsignor could readily do if he wanted to, his vows of confidentiality notwithstanding. The result is a complex tale full of twists and turns on its way to the revelation of the truth, one with ties to the parishβs colorful past. Admittedly, some of those misdirections and other plot devices seem a little forced to carry the narrative forward. In addition, the pacing tends to sag a bit in the middle, which some viewers may find a little tedious. But these modest shortcomings are easily overlooked given the pictureβs many other strengths, most notably its genuinely funny humor, the fine portrayals of the three principals, and the excellent performances of supporting players Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, Jeffrey Wright and Daryl McCormack. Writer-director Rian Johnson has turned in a better-than-expected outing with βWake Up Dead Man,β qualities that one can only hope will be apparent again in any future installments of this franchise.
Zara Schwartz
Jan 13, 2026 Β· via TMDB
> **A Puzzle That Knows Youβre Watching It** I walked out of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery feeling mentally wrung outβin the best way. It was one of those rare cinema experiences where I could feel my brain buzzing, like Iβd just had a very long, very clever conversation with someone who kept interrupting me to ask, βAre you sure about that?β I live in the UK now, and maybe itβs the weather or the mood, but this film felt perfectly timed: sharp, chilly, and quietly furious beneath the wit. What struck me immediately was how confident it is. Not loud-confidence. Not flashy. The kind that doesnβt need to explain itself. Rian Johnson understands the grammar of the mystery genre so well that he can bend it without breaking it. The structure toys with your expectations, then politely steps back and lets you realise youβve been outplayed. I admired that restraint, even when it made me uncomfortable. Especially then. Daniel Craig continues to be a joy as Benoit Blanc. Thereβs something softer here, almost melancholy. His line delivery is slower, weighted. He listens more than he speaks, and that silence does a lot of work. It reminded me of watching a seasoned chess player never rushing, always watching hands instead of faces. The ensemble is stacked, but what impressed me most was how the film uses them. No one feels wasted, even when theyβre barely on screen. A raised eyebrow here, a pause too long there the editing trusts us to notice. The score threads tension into scenes without announcing itself, and the cinematography favors intimacy over spectacle. Tight frames. Lingering shadows. You feel like an eavesdropper rather than an audience member. I wonβt pretend itβs comfortable viewing. Some ideas sit with you, unresolved. The film seems less interested in moral clarity and more curious about how easily narratives are shaped and sold. That ambiguity worked on me. I found myself thinking about it on the walk home, replaying moments, questioning my own assumptions. Thatβs not passive entertainment. Thatβs engagement. I laughed, yesβbut not casually. More like a sharp exhale. And when it ended, I didnβt clap. I just sat there, oddly still, feeling like the film had clocked me as much as Iβd tried to decode it. Wake Up Dead Man doesnβt just solve a mystery. It examines why we want one solved. And honestly? I loved being challenged like that.
Chandler Danier
Dec 28, 2025 Β· via TMDB
Man oh man. Christianity is making a comeback. Letβs all listen to holy men say holy things for the whole runtime. The mystery is stupidly mysterious. The whole thing feels sloppy but I found the slop a little more welcoming than the last one. The false endings ignore a recently explained giant piece of evidence. Like itβs not a mystery as thereβs no way to solve and it isnβt a mystery when the film is misleading you. But I found it more fun than lots of stuff Iβve seen. Murdoch could out-detective this guy any day of the week.
CinemaSerf
Dec 11, 2025 Β· via TMDB
Pugilistic priest βFr. Judβ (Josh OβConnor) has lost his temper with a deacon and been consigned to a remote country parish where his plain-speaking bishop (Jeffrey Wright) hopes he can do less damage. Upon his arrival, though, he realises that this is quite an eccentric little congregation led by the mildly megalomaniacal βMonsignorβ (Josh Brolin) and his ever so slightly menacing factotum βMarthaβ (Glenn Close). The new arrival isnβt universally welcome, especially when he tries to impose his own more religious approach to parish affairs, and then somewhat out of the blue, the older churchman is mysteriously killed. Of course, βJudβ is the obvious suspect but the arrival of the Poirot-esque βBenoit Blancβ (Daniel Craig) to help with the investigation soon reveals that just about anyone from this tightly knit community had some sort of axe to grind. It also transpires that thereβs a missing eighty million dollar fortune, a bit of illegitimacy, a secret romance and even an acid bath to be factored in, too! Itβs Cluedo on steroids! Brolin reminded me of Kris Kristofferson the whole way through as his behaviour gets wackier and more manipulative and he does gel well with an OβConnor whoβs clearly having some fun as the plot thickens nicely, and suitably convolutedly. I could have done with a little more from Miss Close, and neither Andrew Scott nor Jeremy Renner really have enough of the plot either, but the writing and pacing of this quirky and personality-driven mystery keeps it quite enthralling in the best tradition of Agatha Christie as it mixes some good old fashioned detective work with some provocative religiosity; technical wizardry and even a little biblical mythology. Donβt be put off by itβs lengthy duration, itβs the best of these βKnives Outβ tales so far.
Manuel SΓ£o Bento
Oct 8, 2025 Β· via TMDB
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/wake-up-dead-man-review/ "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery exceeds expectations by diving into a darker register without losing the layers of humor and captivating mystery that define the franchise. The howdunnit mechanics become unnecessarily complex before the climax, but given the brilliance of the whydunnit β exceptional character work and rich thematic exploration β every minute is a valuable experience.The witty banter between Daniel Craig and Josh O'Connor, coupled with the depth of their discussion on what it means to "believe," is one of many proofs in this sequel that a whodunnit doesn't need to be perfect to be a resounding success. Rian Johnson offers a worthy continuation of the saga, surpassing expectations by delving into a somber register. The truth may be winding, but in this mystery, faith and forgiveness are the biggest plot twists of all." Rating: A-
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Daniel Craig
Benoit Blanc
Josh O'Connor
Fr. Jud Duplenticy
Glenn Close
Martha Delacroix
Josh Brolin
Mons. Jefferson Wicks
Mila Kunis
Chief Geraldine Scott
Jeremy Renner
Dr. Nat Sharp
Kerry Washington
Vera Draven, Esq.
Andrew Scott
Lee Ross
Cailee Spaeny
Simone Vivane
Daryl McCormack
Cy Draven
Thomas Haden Church
Samson Holt
Jeffrey Wright
Bp. Langstrom
Annie Hamilton
Grace Wicks
James Faulkner
Rev. Prentice Wicks
Bridget Everett
Louise
Noah Segan
Nikolai
Kit Burden
Dcn. Clark
Gavin Spokes
Rev. Frank
Paul Hilton
Rev. Delancy
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Baseball Announcer (voice)
Cecilia Blair
Young Martha
Leo Abelo Perry
Young Cy
Nicola Hughes
Darla
Laura Elsworthy
Single Mother
Daphne Cheung
Masked Woman
Matthew Jacobs Morgan
Upset Couple #2
Kerry Frances
Tammy
Ian Porter
Eddie
Dan Chariton
Deputy Roscoe Pascoe
Eddie Gorodetsky
James
Rick Heinrichs
Production Design
Gary Spratling
"A" Camera Operator
Steve Yedlin
Director of Photography
Jenny Eagan
Costume Design
Jeremy Woodhead
Hair Designer
Jeremy Woodhead
Makeup Designer
James Wright
Stand In
Roy Taylor
Stunt Coordinator
Freddie Mason
Stunts
Lucy Allen
Stunts
Ray Nicholas
Stunts
Rick English
Stunts
Stuart Boother
Stunts
Guillermo del Toro
Thanks
Rian Johnson
Director
Matthew Sharp
Second Assistant Director
Bob Ducsay
Editor
Mary Vernieu
Casting
Leopold Hughes
Co-Producer
Nikos Karamigios
Co-Producer
Ram Bergman
Producer
Rian Johnson
Producer
Ram Bergman
Unit Production Manager
Thomas GolubiΔ
Music Supervisor
Nathan Johnson
Original Music Composer
Chris Munro
Production Sound Mixer
Ren Klyce
Sound Designer
Ren Klyce
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Matthew Wood
Supervising Sound Editor
Julius Lechner
Visual Effects Supervisor
Steve Yedlin
Visual Effects Supervisor
Rian Johnson
Writer
Oct 8, 2025
Mill Valley Film Festival
Oct 16, 2025
Philadelphia Film Festival
Oct 17, 2025
Woodstock Film Festival
Oct 18, 2025
Chicago International Film Festival
Oct 19, 2025
San Diego International Film Festival
Oct 24, 2025
Austin Film Festival
Oct 31, 2025
Denver Film Festival
Nov 1, 2025
SCAD Savannah Film Festival
Nov 5, 2025
Miami Film Festival GEMS
Nov 17, 2025
Los Angeles, California
Nov 26, 2025
Dec 12, 2025
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Hunter Mountain
1973
The Compatriots
2024
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
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Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
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1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
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1981 · 11 wins
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