With the release of "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" — it came to Netflix on Dec. 12 — director Rian Johnson has now delivered the third of his "Knives Out" murder mystery movies. Like many viewers, I've been a big "Knives Out" right from the beginning, and in the run-up to the latest movie's streaming release, I decided to revisit the entire franchise.
Seeing as "Wake Up Dead Man" is the second of the two sequels Netflix bought the rights to (and we'll probably be waiting a while before Blanc's back on our screens again, if there are more movies in the works), I had a mystery of my own to solve: Which of Benoit Blanc's three cases is best?
3. 'Glass Onion' (2022)
I don't dislike "Glass Onion," but to me, it felt a little like a "bigger but not necessarily" situation. It's still a lot of fun; the cast still impresses (Janelle Monáe stands out in particular), and it gets bonus points both for the big swing that reveals why Benoit Blanc was invited to this VIP getaway and for the cameo appearance of Benoit Blanc's partner — but I think it's a little step behind the other two.
It might be the slightly sillier vibe, the fact that Miles' pals are purpose-built to be less pleasant to be around, or it might even just be my aversion to media that reminds me of the COVID pandemic, but of the three movies, "Glass Onion" is my least favorite.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%
Stream "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" on Netflix now
2. 'Knives Out' (2019)
With "Knives Out," Rian Johnson delivered a tightly written contemporary mystery and dreamt up an instantly iconic detective persona to solve it. The result? A riveting mystery movie that won tons of praise from critics and moviegoers, got a Best Original Screenplay nod at the Oscars, and secured him a massive two-sequel deal with Netflix.
I've revisited it on several occasions in the years since, and my feelings on it haven't changed a bit — this Agatha Christie riff is a delight. From the characterful New England estate setting to the cast, the score, and the twisting mystery of Harlan Thrombey's death itself, there's just so much to love about this first outing.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
Stream "Knives Out" on Prime Video now
1. 'Wake Up Dead Man' (2025)
If you saw my effusive "Wake Up Dead Man" review, you'll have seen this coming. Of the three, I think "Wake Up Dead Man" is the best "Knives Out" movie yet.
Realistically, I don't think there's much in it; it's practically level with the first film, and perhaps later down the line, I'll put the first film back on top. At the moment, though? I think I'm narrowly more impressed by several members of the cast here, and I like that it's both darker and more grounded than the second movie, and, to me, it's the funniest of the bunch, too.
I've seen it twice in theaters already, and both times I've felt like it might just be the best of the bunch. So, while I'm still yet to settle on whether this is recency bias, my gut tells me to place "Wake Up Dead Man" at the top of the pile (though I can see how other fans might disagree).
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
Stream "Wake Up Dead Man" on Netflix now
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