Netflix’s most celebrated modern mystery franchise returns in its most unsettling form yet. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is now streaming, drawing Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc into a case shaped by moral darkness, buried truths and consequences that cut deeper than ever before. Directed by Rian Johnson, the third chapter of the Knives Out saga marks a decisive tonal shift, replacing playful elegance with something colder, heavier and more introspective.
Building on the global success of Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, this new installment leans into psychological tension and moral ambiguity, favoring atmosphere over satire. From its evocative title to its restrained presentation, the film signals a deliberate move toward a more somber and unsettling kind of mystery. Here is everything to know about Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery — from its story and cast to its themes, production background and Netflix release details. A trailer for the film is available at the end of this article.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery — key details
- Title: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
- Format: Film
- Runtime: 140 minutes
- Genre: Mystery, Crime, Thriller
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Release date: December 12, 2025
- Director / Writer: Rian Johnson
- Lead cast: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Cailee Spaeny
- Platform: Netflix
- Produced by: T-Street Productions, Ram Bergman Productions
What Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is about
Without abandoning the sharp intelligence that defines the franchise, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery places Benoit Blanc inside a more emotionally charged and morally complex investigation. This time, the mystery unfolds around questions of faith, power and responsibility, with a narrative that resists easy answers.
The movie trades sun-drenched satire for shadowy interiors, restrained performances and a sense of creeping inevitability. Secrets feel heavier, motives more personal and consequences more irreversible. Johnson structures the story as a slow burn, allowing tension to accumulate through character interactions rather than spectacle. At its core, the movie explores what people justify in the name of belief and how truth can be obscured not just by lies, but by conviction itself.
Wake Up Dead Man cast: Benoit Blanc meets a formidable ensemble
Daniel Craig once again anchors the film as Benoit Blanc, delivering a more introspective take on the famed detective. While Blanc’s sharp wit remains intact, this chapter allows Craig to explore quieter moments of doubt and moral reckoning.
The supporting cast ranks among the strongest ensembles Netflix has assembled in recent years. Josh O’Connor, known for The Crown and Challengers, brings volatile intensity to a central role, while Glenn Close adds gravitas and unpredictability. Josh Brolin lends physical authority, Mila Kunis delivers controlled emotional depth and Andrew Scott injects unease beneath a composed exterior. Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington and Cailee Spaeny round out a cast that thrives on tension, misdirection and layered performances rather than broad caricature.
Is Wake Up Dead Man based on an existing story?
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is an original screenplay by Rian Johnson. While the title references a U2 song and evokes biblical imagery, the story itself is not adapted from a novel or real events. Like previous entries, it stands alone while expanding the world of Benoit Blanc.
Behind the scenes: production and creative direction
The film was shot primarily in the United Kingdom, with carefully controlled locations chosen to reinforce its austere, almost monastic atmosphere. Rian Johnson has cited classic crime fiction and philosophical thrillers as tonal reference points, signaling a deliberate evolution of the franchise. Producer Ram Bergman has described the project as the most personal of the trilogy, emphasizing character over puzzle mechanics. The result is a mystery that feels less like a game and more like a reckoning.
Why Wake Up Dead Man is worth watching now
If you enjoyed the intelligence of Knives Out and the ambition of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, this latest chapter offers something deeper and more challenging. It proves the franchise can grow without repeating itself, delivering a mystery that lingers long after its final reveal. For viewers looking for a Netflix film that respects their attention and rewards close viewing, Wake Up Dead Man stands out as one of the platform’s most substantial releases of the year.
Wake Up Dead Man release date and where to watch
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is now streaming on Netflix. Watch on Netflix.
Watch the trailer
In the meantime, here’s the teaser.
