Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is a 2025 American mystery-thriller film written and directed by Rian Johnson. It is the third installment in the Knives Out movie franchise, following Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022). Wikipedia
📅 Release Timeline
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World Premiere: The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, where it drew early positive buzz. Wikipedia
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Theatrical Run: It opened in select theaters on November 26, 2025, qualifying it for awards consideration before its streaming launch. Wikipedia
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Streaming on Netflix: The movie began streaming on Netflix on December 12, 2025, making it widely accessible to audiences around the world. Forbes
🕵️ Plot Overview
In this installment, master detective Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig) faces what’s described as his most dangerous and mysterious case yet. The story centers on a perplexing murder at a small-town church with a complex history and unexpected suspects. Blanc teams up with a young priest and other local figures to unravel a “perfectly impossible” crime that challenges his skills and moral compass. Netflix+1
The mystery blends classic whodunit elements with contemporary themes, including belief, guilt, and the nature of truth — giving Wake Up Dead Man a deeper emotional resonance compared to earlier entries. Netflix
🎠Cast & Characters
The film features a large ensemble cast alongside Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, including:
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Josh O’Connor
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Glenn Close
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Mila Kunis
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Jeremy Renner
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Kerry Washington
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Andrew Scott
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Cailee Spaeny
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Daryl McCormack
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Thomas Haden Church Wikipedia
This varied cast brings a mix of quirky, suspicious, and heartfelt characters to life, creating a layered mystery that’s as much about people as it is about clues. Wikipedia
🧠Style & Themes
Rian Johnson’s Knives Out universe is known for revitalizing the classic whodunit genre with sharp humor, clever plotting, and social commentary. Wake Up Dead Man continues this trend but pushes into darker, more introspective territory — tackling questions of faith, community, and moral ambiguity within the framework of a murder investigation. Netflix
The title itself reflects a kind of paradox — an impossible directive that mirrors the impossible puzzle at the heart of the mystery. Reddit
📊 Reception & Impact
While full audience scores and awards tallies are still accumulating as of late 2025, early festival responses and critic reactions suggest strong acclaim for the film’s writing, performances, and thematic depth — with many reviewers calling it one of the best in the series. The Week
Its release strategy — a brief theatrical window followed by streaming — reflects modern distribution trends, especially for high-budget mystery films on major platforms like Netflix. Forbes
📌 Why It Matters
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery demonstrates how classic detective storytelling can thrive in the streaming era while still earning theatrical notice and critical respect. Fans of whodunits and ensemble mysteries will find it both familiar and fresh, with enough twists and character work to satisfy longtime followers and new viewers alike. Wikipedia
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