Knives Out is one of the most popular murder mystery movie franchises that stars Daniel Craig in the leading role. The movies deliver a strong and memorable premise that stays with you for a very long time. So, it’s no surprise that, despite having released only two movies so far (with a third one on the way), the franchise has become incredibly successful. However, if you’ve stumbled upon this name for the first time, it’s best that you watch the first two movies before the release of the third one. And don’t fret about the correct order to watch Knives Out movies, because we’ve got you covered.
Knives Out Movies in Order of Release Date
If you want to watch the movies in order of release, you have to start with the 2019 film Knives Out. And your journey with Benoit Blanc will end with Wake Up Dead Man, which is scheduled to release later in 2025. Regardless, here’s the correct release order of the Knives Out films.
- Knives Out (2019)
- Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
- Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)
1. Knives Out (November 27, 2019)
- Release Date: November 27, 2019
- Director: Rian Johnson
- Cast: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, Christopher Plummer
The movie that started it all, and by all, we mean Daniel Craig’s incredible portrayal of Benoit Blanc. This is the first time we get introduced to the brilliance of Benoit, the private investigator who can uncover any mystery, no matter how shallow or deep. Regardless, the movie focuses on the suicide of Harlan Thrombey, a wealthy man who was found dead in his mansion. The man has left enormous wealth behind, so there’s a chance that it’s not “suicide.” And that’s why Benoit Blanc is brought into the picture: to uncover the truth behind the man’s death and figure out who among the family members orchestrated such a heinous crime.
2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (November 23, 2022)
- Release Date: December 23, 2022
- Director: Rian Johnson
- Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista
Glass Onion, the second film in the franchise, not only lived up to the high standards set by the first film but also surpassed everyone’s expectations. Daniel Craig reprises his role as Benoit Blanc, and along with him, we see Edward Norton as the tech billionaire Miles Bron. Miles invites a bunch of his friends to his private island for a murder mystery party. All goes well for a while, but a real murder spoils the mood of the party very quickly. And that’s when Benoit set up the sixth gear of his intellect to uncover the identity of the person who killed an innocent person while they were simply enjoying the party.
3. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (December 12, 2025)
- Release Date: December 12, 2025
- Director: Rian Johnson
- Cast: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church
The third movie of the franchise is set to release on December 12, 2025, so you will have to wait a few more months to see Benoit Blanc back in action. The third installment in the franchise features a star-studded cast, which obviously includes Daniel Craig. But along with him, we will see Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, and several other big and talented stars. Like in the first two films, Benoit Blanc will be pulled into the mystery of a new murder in Wake Up Dead Man; however, since the movie has not yet been released, the full plot of the movie is a mystery. But we don’t need the brilliance of Benoit to uncover this mystery; just wait for the movie to release, and it will solve itself.
Knives Out Movies in Chronological Order
The plot of the Knives Out film is straightforward and follows a linear pattern. Honestly, the plots of these films aren’t connected, and you won’t see any other character returning apart from Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc. So, what does this mean? Well, it means that you can follow the release pattern to follow the story in a linear fashion:
- Knives Out (November 27, 2019)
- Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (November 23, 2022)
- Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (December 12, 2025)
That’s it for the watch order of the Knives Out movies. Hopefully, we get more movies within the franchise after the third one. If and when that happens, we’ll surely update this post to include all the upcoming Knives Out movies.
Aparna Ukil
