Knives Out movies in order
Knives Out Marathon

Page Last Modified:

17 December 2025

Most Recent Release:

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - 2025

Total Runtime:

416 Minutes

Total Items:

3

Average User Score:

(7.7)

Knives Out movies in order

Check out the Knives Out franchise. It's got a mix of stylish whodunits, clever plot twists, and a detective who's got a dry wit and is always in a white suit. It's the perfect thing to binge on a night with friends who like smart storytelling and sharp satire. With new installments on the horizon (yes, Wake Up Dead Man is coming!), you might wonder: what's the best order to watch these modern classics? Hey, no need to stress. We've put together the perfect viewing sequence for your Knives Out movie marathon. Get that popcorn popping.

416 Minutes 3 Movies
  1. Knives Out Backdrop 1
    Knives Out Movie 131 min. 2019
    When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death.
    USER SCORE 8
  2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Backdrop 2
    Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Movie 140 min. 2022
    World-famous detective Benoit Blanc heads to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends.
    USER SCORE 7
  3. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Backdrop 3
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Movie 145 min. 2025
    When young priest Jud Duplenticy is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, it’s 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.
    USER SCORE 8

Knives Out (2019)

It all started with a dead patriarch, a family full of secrets, and a detective with an unforgettable accent. Rian Johnson directed it, and his own T-Street Productions produced it. Knives Out started the franchise with a modern twist on the classic locked-room mystery. In this one, we meet Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, a Southern detective who's all about metaphors and mysteries. The movie is all about the death of Harlan Thrombey, a famous crime writer played by Christopher Plummer. Every eccentric family member has a motive. This film is the perfect starting point for your binge. It was the first to be released, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. The dialogue is sharp, the cast is second to none (Ana de Armas as Marta Cabrera, Chris Evans as Ransom Drysdale, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, and more), and the story is as fun as it is clever. This is where the Knives Out universe took its first breath, complete with that iconic donut metaphor you'll be quoting for days.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Leave the Thrombey house behind and set sail for Greece. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a Netflix original where Benoit Blanc gets to dive into a brand-new case on a gorgeous, sunny private island full of rich folks with big egos. In this film, we meet Edward Norton as tech tycoon Miles Bron and his vibrant crew of friends, including Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, and Leslie Odom Jr. The setting is different, and the vibe is a bit more flamboyant, but the core remains the same: a deadly mystery, social satire, and Benoit Blanc piecing it all together. Though the story stands alone from the first film, it clearly belongs in the Rian Johnson detective universe. It takes place after the events of Knives Out, so it's a logical second stop. Keep an eye out for little hints about the first movie, and a quick appearance by Ethan Hawke. Glass Onion is more extravagant, playful, and perhaps even more meta, with a whodunit that delightfully pokes fun at itself. This isn't just a sequel — it's an expansion of the Knives Out universe that confidently knows what it's doing. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (in development) And then there's the third chapter in the Knives Out trilogy: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. While we don't know much about the plot (Rian Johnson likes to keep things under wraps), one thing's for sure: Benoit Blanc is back for another case. Rian Johnson says this is going to be the darkest case yet. When it comes to watching the movies, 'Wake Up Dead Man' is a natural follow-up to Glass Onion. The story will be a standalone once again, but Blanc's character subtly evolves throughout the films. Rian Johnson has confirmed it will feature an original cast, and if the previous films are any indication, we can expect another murder mystery ensemble cast that's second to none. This film is a mix of Agatha Christie-style mysteries with a modern twist, meta-mystery humor, and sharp social satire. Keep an eye out for it—it's a must-see for your Knives Out movie marathon once it's released.

Why You Should Follow This Order

The Knives Out watch order is pretty straightforward: just watch them in the order they came out. They make sense chronologically, and you'll really get the development of the contemporary whodunit revival. Each part is even better than the last. It starts off with Blanc's charm, mixes things up by playing with what people expect from the genre, and gets more and more bold with its style and tone. If you start at the beginning, you'll see how Rian Johnson's vision evolves from a stylish murder case in a mansion to a self-aware genre party on a Greek island and maybe even more. Plus, watching the films in this order reveals subtle callbacks, character developments, and thematic echoes you might miss otherwise. Think about how Blanc's role changes from silent observer to outspoken commentator, or how each film looks at a different kind of class and power. And let's be real, it's just a blast to see Daniel Craig clearly having a blast in each new setting.

Complete your movie night experience

Make sure your binge night is as suspenseful as a Rian Johnson script. Start early, prepare snacks that match the setting (cocktails for Glass Onion, tea and cake for Knives Out), and maybe play detective with your friends: who guesses the culprit first? Here's an extra tip: turn on the subtitles. You'll want to catch every word of Ransom's sarcasm and Blanc's metaphors. Whether you're a fan of detective whodunit films, love smart scripts, or just want to enjoy a modern mystery franchise that takes its audience seriously without taking itself too seriously, the Knives Out movie marathon won't disappoint. Plus, it's the perfect way to introduce friends who say they're "not into murder mysteries" to the genre. Just wait until Benoit Blanc starts talking, they'll be hooked! They'll be hooked.

Stay updated on new mysteries.

Once Wake Up Dead Man: When a Knives Out Mystery is released, we'll update this page with the latest viewing order and extra details. In the meantime, keep an eye on Netflix, follow Rian Johnson on social media for updates, and... trust no one. Well, except for Benoit. That guy really knows his stuff.

Are you ready to start your Knives Out movie marathon? Scroll down for the full list of films and specials, including trailers and where to stream them. It's a donut-shaped mystery ride, and you're invited.