Wake Up Dead Man is the best Knives Out movie to date due to several key changes Rian Johnson implements in this film compared to the others.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is now available to stream on Netflix. The third film in the Knives Out series features Daniel Craig reprising his role as Benoit Blanc, alongside a cast that includes Josh O’Connor as Jud Duplenticy, Josh Brolin as Msgr. Jefferson Wicks, Jeremy Renner as Dr. Nat Sharp, Glenn Close as Martha Delacroix, Kerry Washington as Vera Draven, and Andrew Scott as Lee Ross, among others.

Why is Wake Up Dead Man the best Knives Out movie?

The Knives Out movies are celebrated for their entertaining murder mysteries featuring all-star casts. Both Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery address larger themes — primarily greed, with Glass Onion particularly emphasizing an “eat the rich” narrative. However, in the first two films, these themes mostly serve as a backdrop while the mysteries take center stage.

Wake Up Dead Man presents a murder mystery that is significantly more challenging to solve than those in Knives Out and Glass Onion. Moreover, it delves into deeper themes. More than just a whodunnit, Wake Up Dead Man explores the crisis of faith faced by Josh O’Connor’s character as he navigates what it means to be a priest in a community rife with hatred and distrust.

The film features a standout scene where Josh O’Connor prays with a woman named Louise over the phone, leading to his spiritual reawakening. The mystery and clearing his name become secondary; he realizes that his true purpose in this place is to serve others rather than chase after Blanc. Although he eventually gets pulled back into the murder plot, this character arc touches on themes deeper than those explored in previous Knives Out films.

This shift results in Blanc taking on a supporting role rather than being the lead in Wake Up Dead Man. While this may disappoint some franchise fans (there are still memorable Blanc moments), the decision to focus on O’Connor proves rewarding. Johnson crafts a narrative that critiques weaponized religion while showing respect for O’Connor’s beliefs and spirituality, achieving emotional heights that previous films could not reach.