Coming Soon: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) by Rian Johnson: The Voice of Faith, Sin, and a Daring Detective

The Unholy Whodunnit: Benoit Blanc Faces His Most Dangerous Case in Rian Johnson's Threequel

Summary of Movie: Rian Johnson returns with the third installment of the critically acclaimed Knives Out series, plunging Benoit Blanc into a murder within a small, toxic Catholic church setting, featuring a stellar ensemble cast and focusing on themes of religion, moral complexity, and dark comedy.

• Summary of Content: Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is called to a small, dying Catholic church after the evil Monsignor Jefferson Wicks is murdered during a service in what appears to be an impossible crime. The mystery unfolds amidst a dark clique/cult within the congregation and features a complex, witty script and a focus on religious themes.

• Movie Trend: The continued success of the Modern Whodunnit Revival and the use of Anthology-Style Detective Series with a consistent main detective.

• Social Trend: Exploration of Moral and Religious Hypocrisy within institutions and Dark Comedy as Social Commentary.

• Director Info: Rian Johnson, known for blending genre conventions with original storytelling (e.g., Looper, Knives Out, Star Wars: The Last Jedi). He wrote and directed all three Knives Out films.

• Major Awards and Nominations:

  • 2 nominations total, including a 3rd place for the People's Choice Award for Best Film at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Why It Is Trending: The Benoit Blanc Phenomenon Continues

The film is trending due to the highly anticipated return of Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, the director's consistent quality in the modern whodunnit genre, a compelling, high-stakes plot synopsis set against a unique and provocative religious backdrop, and early festival buzz leading to two nominations.

• Synopsis and Cast Intrigue: The official synopsis teases Benoit Blanc returning for his most dangerous case yet, which, combined with a stacked ensemble cast including Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, and Jeremy Renner, generates immediate buzz. The unique setting—a murder in a small, dying Catholic church—adds a layer of provocative intrigue.

• Rian Johnson's Proven Track Record: Director Rian Johnson has successfully revived the classic whodunnit genre, ensuring high audience expectation for a clever, twist-filled, and stylishly directed mystery.

• Early Festival Recognition: The film has already secured 2 nominations total, including being the second runner-up for the People's Choice Award for Best Film at the Toronto International Film Festival, which signals critical and audience approval ahead of its mass release.

Insight: Filmmakers can learn that creating a charismatic, recurring detective character (like Benoit Blanc) can build a highly valuable, bankable franchise even in an anthology format, allowing for fresh settings and casts in each installment while maintaining audience loyalty to the core intellectual property.

Why to Watch This Movie: A Fresh, Smart, and Daring Mystery

The film offers a great experience for fans of the genre, providing a smart, stylish, and challenging mystery with an excellent cast, a unique setting, and satisfying dark comedy, all delivered with the confidence of a seasoned director.

• An Unpredictable and Clever Script: Early reviews highlight that the film is "unbelievably dense," "smarter than I am," and "keeps you guessing until the end," suggesting a complex and rewarding narrative that respects the audience's intelligence.

• A Unique and Visually Compelling Setting: Unlike the original's old estate or Glass Onion's private island, this film is set largely within a small, dying Catholic church, which reviews note creates a highly "stylish and best directed" backdrop with cool visual possibilities.

• Outstanding Ensemble Performances: The cast is lauded as an "amazing ensemble," with critics pointing to Josh O'Connor as the "proxy-protagonist" who plays off Daniel Craig well, and praising the performances of Glenn Close and Josh Brolin.

• Thoughtful Social and Religious Commentary: The movie is described as being "quite thoughtful in its commentary on religion and people of faith" while still being "absolutely hilarious" in its dark, comedic approach, making it an intellectually and emotionally engaging watch.

• A Wholly Different Experience: The director continues his trend of making each Knives Out entry feel "wholly different," ensuring that fans of the previous films get a fresh and distinct mystery, even if it is the third installment.

Insight: A key consumer trend is the demand for "smart escapism"—entertainment that is not only fun and stylish but also intellectually challenging and rich with subtext or social commentary, making the experience more gratifying than a simple, linear plot.

What Trend is Followed? The Anthology Whodunnit Revival

The primary trend is the Anthology Whodunnit Revival, where a central detective anchors a series of standalone mysteries, allowing for high-caliber ensemble casts and continually fresh settings, a successful model for both theatrical and streaming releases.

• The Modern Whodunnit: The film continues the revival of the classic murder mystery genre, injecting it with modern sensibilities, dark humor, and sharp social commentary, moving away from period pieces.

• The Benoit Blanc Anthology: It solidifies the Anthology Detective Series trend, where the main character, Benoit Blanc, is the only constant. This formula keeps the overall franchise fresh by rotating an all-star cast and a completely new, unique location and plot structure for each film.

Insight: For filmmakers, the Anthology format (like Knives Out or Black Mirror) is a powerful structural tool for high-value talent acquisition. A short commitment (one film/episode) in a proven franchise makes it highly attractive to A-list actors, resulting in a constantly fresh and star-studded product for consumers.

Movie Plot: An Impossible Church Murder

The plot centers on the seemingly impossible murder of the Monsignor of a small, cult-like Catholic church during a service, forcing Benoit Blanc to investigate a congregation bound by hatred and moral complexity, implying a trend of using socially charged, closed-door settings for mysteries.

• A small, dying Catholic church is the unique and atmospheric setting.

• The victim is the Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, described as "evil," who has created a small, "nasty clique or cult" within his congregation, suggesting a murder motivated by either personal conflict or moral outrage.

• The proxy-protagonist is Fr. Jud Duplenticy, a decent, well-meaning priest who is assaulted and hated by the Monsignor's clique, providing the audience's emotional entry point.

• The murder occurs during a church service and appears to be an "impossible" killing, establishing the classic 'locked-room' or 'impossible crime' element of the mystery.

• Implied Movie Trend: The film continues the trend of using isolated, closed-door settings with a wealthy, powerful, or elite group of suspects (the church clique) to explore the moral corruption that often hides behind facades of power or piety.

Insight: The use of a church/religious setting for a dark whodunnit indicates a consumer appetite for taboo-breaking narrative spaces. Filmmakers can find success by placing classic genre stories in fresh, emotionally charged, and perhaps controversial environments to gain attention.

Director's Vision: The Architect of Mystery

Rian Johnson's vision centers on a stylish, highly deliberate visual approach coupled with an incredibly dense and layered script that rewards repeat viewing, prioritizing a smart, challenging mystery over simple twists.

• A Confident and Deliberate Style: The direction is described as "stylish without being distracting," where "every shot feels deliberate," indicating a high level of visual control and purposeful mise-en-scène.

• Dense and Layered Storytelling: Johnson crafts a script that is "unbelievably dense," filled with "an embarrassing amount of details" and clues "weaves into the narrative," making it a highly rewatchable film designed to challenge the audience.

• Respect for the Audience: The vision is to create a mystery that "trusts its audience" and "doesn't rush to impress with cheap twists." Instead, it builds intrigue step-by-step, prioritizing the pleasure of discovery.

• A Blend of Humor and Tension: Johnson successfully balances "tension, humor, and style in equal measure," allowing the film's social commentary and dark themes to land effectively without becoming overly grim.

Insight: A director's commitment to "high rewatchability" by layering dense detail and clues into the narrative is a powerful strategy, especially for streaming platforms, as it encourages repeat views and social media discussion, extending the film's cultural lifespan.

Themes: Hypocrisy, Faith, and Moral Complexity

The core themes revolve around the dark contrast between genuine faith and institutional hypocrisy, exploring the moral complexity of characters and satirizing social and political divides, often through dark humor.

• Religion and Faith: The film delves into the "focus of religion and faith," contrasting the genuinely good Fr. Jud Duplenticy with the evil Monsignor Wicks and his hateful clique, exploring the difference between the principles of faith and the corruption of institutions.

• Moral Ambiguity and Justification: The plot introduces "even more moral complexity" than its predecessors, leading to a real discussion around the "justifications of certain characters" and blurring the lines between hero and villain.

• Dark Comedy and Satire: As is typical of the series, the film uses dark comedy to poke fun at the absurdity of the situation and engage in social commentary, including a specific reference in one review to making fun of "MAGA people."

• The Impossible Crime: The "impossible" nature of the murder itself is a key theme, challenging not only Blanc but also the audience to look past the supernatural appearance to find the human (and often simple) truth.

Insight: Films that tackle socially and politically charged themes (like religious hypocrisy) through the lens of a popular genre (like a whodunnit) can generate significant media and public discussion, which serves as free marketing and enhances the film's relevance.

Key Success Factors: Established Brand & Ensemble Cast

The film's success is rooted in the established high-quality brand of the Knives Out franchise, the consistent excellence of Daniel Craig's detective, and the ability to attract an ever-changing, A-list ensemble cast to a proven format.

• The Benoit Blanc Brand: Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is an established, beloved character, providing a familiar and reassuring anchor for audiences in a new mystery.

• The All-Star Ensemble: The franchise's key factor is its ability to attract a new, high-caliber ensemble cast for each film (including Glenn Close, Josh O'Connor, and Josh Brolin), generating immense pre-release interest.

• Rian Johnson's Creative Control: The consistent vision and quality provided by writer/director Rian Johnson ensure the film maintains the series' blend of wit, style, and complexity.

• Timeliness of the Whodunnit Revival: The film capitalizes on the renewed global interest in well-crafted, theatrical-level murder mysteries.

Insight: The creative partnership between a distinctive director/writer (Johnson) and an iconic star (Craig) forms a powerful, bankable artistic core that simplifies the marketing and guarantees a high-quality product, making the franchise itself a key asset.

Awards and Nominations: Early Festival Recognition

The film has received early attention on the festival circuit, securing two nominations, notably placing third for the People's Choice Award at TIFF, signaling a strong reception from both critics and early audiences.

The film has received 2 nominations total. It was nominated for Next Big Thing at The Queerties in 2025. Most notably, it placed 3rd, winning the People's Choice Award for Best Film (Second runner-up) for director Rian Johnson at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025.

Insight: Early, positive festival buzz, especially audience-driven awards like the People's Choice Award, is a crucial indicator for distributors, validating the film's mass appeal and generating strong momentum leading into its wider release.

Critics Reception: A Smart, High-Quality, But Different Entry

Critics have largely praised the film for its high quality, smart script, and directorial style, placing it on par with or slightly below the original Knives Out, noting that it is a distinctly different experience that may feel slightly less structurally innovative than its predecessors.

• IMDb Metascore: 80. The Metascore indicates a generally favorable critical reception.

• Critic Reviews: 34. A healthy number of critic reviews have been tallied (e.g., from sources like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety).

• Critical Consensus: Critics view it as being of high quality, with one noting it's "Every bit as good as the previous two installments." However, another critic suggests it's their "Least Favourite Knives Out Movie (And Still Fantastic)," indicating it stands up to the others but is a different flavor.

• Praise for Density and Style: The film is commended for its density and rewarding visual style: "The direction is stylish without being distracting... every shot feels deliberate" (as noted in reviews on sites like IndieWire).

• Structural Note: One point of critique is that it's "a lot more linear than I expected," lacking some of the non-linear or unique structural elements that set the first two films apart, though this is ultimately considered a minor flaw in an otherwise excellent film.

Insight: For filmmakers, managing audience expectations in a sequel/threequel is key. While maintaining quality is essential, a film can still be successful even if critics find it structurally less inventive, provided it delivers on core elements like witty writing and strong performances.

Reviews: Better Than Glass Onion, Nearly as Good as the Original

Audience reviews (from sources like IMDb and general film forums) are overwhelmingly positive, praising the stylish direction, the focus on religious themes, and Daniel Craig's performance, with many placing it as a superior film to Glass Onion and a near-equal to the original Knives Out.

• Featured Review (willphelan): Rated 8/10. States it's "Possibly the most stylish and best directed" of the series and loves the focus on "religion and faith." It's deemed "better than Glass Onion and almost as good as the original Knives Out." (Example of a high-rating user review from a public film site like Letterboxd).

• Featured Review (planktonrules): Rated 9/10. Calls it "terrific is pretty much every way" and praises the cast and writing, specifically highlighting the unusual setting of the church and the good-natured Father Jud.

• Featured Review (cdjh-81125): Rated 8/10. While calling it their "Least Favourite Knives Out Movie (And Still Fantastic)," the reviewer "loved the experience" and the film's moral complexity and commentary on religion, and was delighted with the proxy-protagonist (Josh O'Connor).

• Featured Review (eali-04035): Rated 10/10. Praises the film's confidence and visual style, calling it "A Mystery That Trusts Its Audience," and noting that the dialogue is a major strength.

Insight: The strong consensus among user reviews that the film is "better than Glass Onion" or "almost as good as the original" is a powerful marketing asset, suggesting the franchise has successfully course-corrected or evolved in a way that resonates deeply with the core audience.

Release Dates: Limited Theatrical Run Before Netflix

• Theatrical Release Date (Limited): November 26, 2025 (United States - limited)

• Release Date on Streaming: December 12, 2025 (United States - on Netflix)

What Movie Trend Film Is Following: The Star-Driven Anthology Franchise

The film is following the trend of the Star-Driven Anthology Franchise, a model perfected by Knives Out. This trend relies on a consistent, beloved central figure (Benoit Blanc) to anchor a series of standalone, A-list ensemble casts in new, distinct, and high-budget settings. This guarantees freshness while maintaining brand loyalty, making it extremely valuable for a streaming platform like Netflix. The decision to grant a brief theatrical window before streaming also follows the recent trend of prestige streaming releases seeking awards qualification and cultural relevance before their digital debut.

What Big Social Trend Is Following: The Scrutiny of Institutional Hypocrisy

The film taps into the major social trend of The Scrutiny of Institutional Hypocrisy, particularly within religion and power structures. By setting the murder within a church clique led by an "evil" Monsignor and filled with people who hate mankind, the narrative resonates with a broader societal conversation about the moral failings and corruption that can exist behind powerful, respected institutions. It uses the whodunnit genre as a vehicle for dark social commentary and satire.

What Consumer Trend Is Following: The Demand for Rewatchable, High-Density Content

The film capitalize s on the consumer trend for Rewatchable, High-Density Content. In the age of streaming, an immediate need for content that holds up to repeat viewing is crucial. Reviews highlight the script's "unbelievable density" and the sheer amount of detail and clues Johnson weaves in, explicitly stating it will take "at least a few watches to catch every little clue." This design choice ensures the film provides extended value beyond a single viewing experience.

Final Verdict: A Triumphant, Must-Watch Third Act

Catchy Title: A Triumphant, Must-Watch Third Act

• Key Trend Highlighted: The successful and continually innovative Star-Driven Anthology Franchise format.

• Key Insight: The film's success is deeply connected to its ability to marry high-quality, dense storytelling with a relevant social theme (institutional hypocrisy), ensuring it is both entertaining and meaningful.

Similar Movies: Modern Whodunnit & Ensemble Mysteries

The film shares DNA with other modern mysteries that feature ensemble casts, clever twists, and social commentary, including its predecessors and other high-profile ensemble thrillers.

• Knives Out (2019): The original film that established the formula.

• Glass Onion (2022): The second Benoit Blanc mystery.

• Hamnet (2025): Listed as a similar title, suggesting another dramatic, potentially historical, ensemble-driven film.

• The Testament of Ann Lee (2025): Listed, possibly suggesting another film dealing with themes of faith or cult-like groups.

• Death on the Nile (2022) / Murder on the Orient Express (2017): Modern adaptations of Agatha Christie's classic ensemble mysteries.

Final Insight on Market Positioning

For Filmmakers: The success of Wake Up Dead Man reinforces that a high-concept, director-driven Anthology Detective Franchise is a gold standard for a streaming giant. The value lies in the consistent brand identity (Benoit Blanc) while allowing total creative freedom to refresh the setting, cast, and sub-genre for each installment, mitigating the risk of creative fatigue. The commitment to a densely layered script that rewards rewatching is a direct response to the demands of the streaming consumer.

For Consumers: This film is positioned as the premium holiday mystery event. It promises a return to the dark, intricate complexity of the first film, but with a provocative new setting that will fuel discussion. It’s an essential watch for fans of intelligent cinema, ensemble casts, and dark social satire, offering not just a fun mystery but a film designed to be re-examined and dissected.