What Order Should You Watch the Knives Out Movies In

Why Rian Johnson built the franchise this way on purpose

The thing to appreciate most about this franchise is that Johnson built it so you never need to remember plot details from the last film to enjoy the next one. That's a deliberate choice, and it sets Knives Out apart from most modern franchise filmmaking, which increasingly demands homework. Blanc is the only recurring element across all three films, and even his own backstory is revealed gradually, inconsistently, and often contradictorily on purpose — part of the character's whole "famous but fundamentally mysterious" bit. Johnson has talked about wanting each mystery to function like a classic Agatha Christie novel: a complete puzzle box you could hand someone with zero context.

Does release order actually matter here at all?

Only loosely, and mostly because each film's tone and stylistic approach evolved as the franchise grew more confident. Knives Out is the most grounded and traditionally structured whodunit, with a tight family-estate setting. Glass Onion leans harder into satire of tech-billionaire culture and performative wealth. Wake Up Dead Man pushes toward gothic mystery, with a moodier visual palette and pacing. Watching in release order lets you experience that evolution in the sequence it was intended.

A closer look at each film individually

Knives Out (2019) centers on the death of Harlan Thrombey, a successful crime novelist, and the entitled family circling his fortune. Ana de Armas plays Marta, Harlan's nurse, central to unraveling what happened. Its central mechanical trick, revealed early rather than saved for a final twist, is part of what made it feel fresh. Glass Onion (2022) relocates to a Greek island owned by a tech billionaire clearly modeled on real Silicon Valley archetypes; Edward Norton's performance as the host has been widely discussed for how sharply it satirizes modern tech-world self-importance. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025), written and directed by Rian Johnson with Daniel Craig returning, sends Blanc to a small church in upstate New York for what Netflix calls his most personal case; it had a limited theatrical run from November 26, 2025 before arriving on Netflix December 12, 2025.

Do I need to watch Knives Out before Glass Onion?

No, and Glass Onion works as an entry point if the first film's tone doesn't immediately grab you — some viewers find its satire and pacing sharper. But Knives Out is where Blanc's investigative style and personal quirks get established, and there's real value in seeing that foundation first.

Is there a fourth Knives Out movie confirmed?

Netflix has a substantial multi-film deal for additional Benoit Blanc mysteries, and given the strong commercial success of all three entries, more installments are a reasonable expectation. As of this writing, nothing beyond Wake Up Dead Man has an officially confirmed title, cast, or release date.

What's the best entry point if you've never seen any of them?

It depends on taste more than any objective ranking. Want the most classic whodunit? Start with Knives Out. Want the sharpest, most quotable satire? Start with Glass Onion. Drawn to a moodier, atmospheric mystery with gothic elements? Wake Up Dead Man may be the more immediately compelling starting point. Either way, you won't be lost jumping in wherever appeals to you most.

Frequently asked questions

What order should I watch the Knives Out movies in? Release order works fine, though each film is a self-contained mystery you can watch in any order without confusion.

Do I need to watch the first Knives Out before Glass Onion? No, each film stands completely alone with new characters and a new case; only Benoit Blanc himself recurs across all three.

Is there a fourth Knives Out movie coming? Netflix has a multi-film deal for more Benoit Blanc mysteries, though nothing beyond Wake Up Dead Man is confirmed yet.

Which Knives Out movie is the best starting point for a newcomer? Depends on taste; Knives Out offers the most classic mystery structure, Glass Onion the sharpest satire, and Wake Up Dead Man the moodiest, most gothic atmosphere.

Why did Rian Johnson build the franchise this way, with no connecting plot between films? He's said he wanted each film to work like a standalone Agatha Christie-style puzzle box that anyone could pick up without prior context.

How does Wake Up Dead Man differ tonally from the first two films? It shifts toward a gothic, moodier atmosphere with different pacing than the straightforward mystery of Knives Out or the satirical energy of Glass Onion.

Is Glass Onion considered better than the original Knives Out? Reception is split; some prefer Glass Onion's sharper satire, while others prefer the first film's more classic mystery-novel structure.

Does Benoit Blanc's backstory stay consistent across the three films? No, deliberately vague and inconsistent, part of the character's intentional "famous but mysterious" characterization that Johnson leans into more with each film.

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