Each Knives Out mystery stands alone; the thread is detective Benoit Blanc. Watch them in release order: Knives Out (2019), Glass Onion (2022) and Wake Up Dead Man (2025).
- Titles
- 3
- Films
- 3
- Watch time
- 7 hours
- Box office
- $332 million
- Avg IMDb
- 7.2
Knives Out movies in release order
Here is every Knives Out title in the order it came out, 2019 to 2025: 3 films.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knives Out | 2019 | Film | 2h 11m | 7.9 |
| 2 | Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery | 2022 | Film | 2h 20m | 6.3 |
| 3 | Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery | 2025 | Film | 2h 25m | 7.3 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
For Knives Out, release order and story order are the same thing: every film picks up after the one before it. There is no prequel to slot in early and no flashback to reshuffle, so the list above is the only order you need.
Where to start
Start with Knives Out and go in release order.
The whole thing is 7 hours. At two hours a night that is about 4 evenings.
The three highest rated: Knives Out (7.9), Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (7.3), and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (6.3).
Every Knives Out movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 2019 · Film · 2h 11m
Knives Out
When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death.
Why it matters: Benoit Blanc's first case; works on its own.
- Starring
- Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas
- Director
- Rian Johnson
- Box office
- $313 million on a $40 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.9 · Rotten Tomatoes 97%
No. 02 · 2022 · Film · 2h 20m
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
World-famous detective Benoit Blanc heads to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends.
Why it matters: A murder game on a tech billionaire's island.
- Starring
- Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, and Janelle Monáe
- Director
- Rian Johnson
- Box office
- $15 million on a $40 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 91%
No. 03 · 2025 · Film · 2h 25m
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
When young priest Jud Duplenticy is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, it’s clear that all is not well in the pews. After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.
Why it matters: Blanc's third case, in a small-town church.
- Starring
- Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, and Glenn Close
- Director
- Rian Johnson
- Box office
- $4 million on a $210 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 92%
Knives Out box office and budgets
The 3 Knives Out films with reported numbers have grossed $332 million worldwide on about $290 million in combined budgets, roughly 1.1 times what they cost. The biggest is Knives Out at $313 million, 94% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery ($15 million) and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery ($4 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Knives Out, which made 7.8 times its $40 million budget. The weakest was Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery at 2% of its $210 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Knives Out movies
Across 3 rated titles, Knives Out averages 7.2 on IMDb. The top of the list is Knives Out at 7.9, then Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (7.3) and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (6.3). At the bottom: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (6.3) and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (7.3).
- Knives Out7.9 · RT 97%
- Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery7.3 · RT 92%
- Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery6.3 · RT 91%
Who appears in the most Knives Out movies
Daniel Craig leads with 3 appearances as Benoit Blanc. Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Craig | Benoit Blanc | 3 | Knives Out (2019) to Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) |
Knives Out directors and creators
1 filmmaker has directed or created Knives Out; Rian Johnson has the most, with 3.
- Rian JohnsonKnives Out (2019), Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)
How long it takes to watch every Knives Out movie
All 3 titles add up to 7 hours. That is about 4 two-hour evenings, or 1 days of ten-hour binges. The longest film is Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery at 2h 25m.
The 3 best rated films: Knives Out, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
Everything takes about 7 days.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Knives Out movies in?
Each Knives Out mystery stands alone; the thread is detective Benoit Blanc. Watch them in release order: Knives Out (2019), Glass Onion (2022) and Wake Up Dead Man (2025).
How many Knives Out movies and shows are there?
There are 3 titles in the Knives Out franchise: 3 films and 0 series, released from 2019 to 2025.
How long does it take to watch all the Knives Out movies?
About 7 hours for all 3 titles, counting every episode.
What is the first Knives Out title in chronological order?
Knives Out, set in Massachusetts. In release order the first is Knives Out (2019).
What is the best Knives Out movie?
By IMDb score, Knives Out (2019) at 7.9, followed by Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery at 7.3.
What is the highest-grossing Knives Out movie?
Knives Out (2019), with $313 million worldwide. Knives Out films have made $332 million in total.
Who has appeared in the most Knives Out movies?
Daniel Craig, in 3 of them as Benoit Blanc.
What is the longest Knives Out movie?
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, at 2h 25m.
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