Though the murder mystery trope is one of the most common genres in film, the concept never fails to die out. Classic titles such as “Rear Window,” “Clue,” and “Silence of the Lambs” all paved the way for our more modern entries such as “Gone Girl,” “The Lovely Bones,” and — most notably — Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” series.
Created by filmmaker Rian Johnson, “Knives Out” follows an elaborate string of murders investigated by an elusive Southern detective, Benoit Blanc. Across the series’ three films — “Knives Out” (2019), “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022), and “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” (2025) — the franchise builds intricate stories through their ensemble casts, unexpected twists, and modern spin on traditional detective fiction.
“There hasn’t been a distinct entry in detective fiction that’s become a series quite like this,” said Nick Herink said, a previous Lit Through Film teacher at Lincoln East. “I think it’s fun, it kind of harkens back to the way detective fiction used to work.”
In order to evaluate this series, each film was ranked using four specific criteria:
1. Predictability. How easy was it to guess where the story would end up?
2. Cinematography. How effective were the visuals, lighting, and framing at enhancing the story?
3. Atmosphere. How successfully did the film create and sustain tension, mood, and a sense of mystery?
4. Cast. How well did each movie’s cast create chemistry and boost or hinder the movie’s overall enjoyment?
Mild spoilers ahead.
#3 – “Glass Onion” – 13/20
Ranking third is “Glass Onion,” the second film in the series.Though it’s an incredible and entertaining movie on its own, when compared to the original “Knives Out” and “Wake Up Dead Man,” “Glass Onion” simply can’t compete. Set in an environment of extreme wealth and influence, the film has a more theatrical and heightened tone. And when paired with the satirical nature of the film, the suspense expected of a murder mystery is difficult to maintain. While the cast is great and all deliver strong performances, the exaggerated environment creates too much distance from reality and can make it difficult for the audience to fully invest themselves. As a result, it falls short in cultivating the atmosphere essential to mystery.
#2 – “Wake Up Dead Man” – 15.5/20
Coming in second is the third and most recent installment, “Wake Up Deadman.” Released seven years after the original, “Wake Up Dead Man” comes surprisingly close to matching the tension and mysterious atmosphere created in the first “Knives Out.” Unlike “Glass Onion,” this film steers farther away from overt satire, and instead opts for a much darker tone to allow for suspense to build up gradually. The mystery is a bit more predictable, but there are still some good twists to keep the audience on their toes. The cast works together cohesively, creating a realistic representation of the natural chemistry a small community holds. These characters are likely the most relatable cast of the series entirely. The movie was very articulate in its elements and religious nuance, and though that gives it a lot of credibility, it’s not enough to bring it to the top.
#1 – “Knives Out” – 17.5/20
Taking the top spot is the first film in the series, the original “Knives Out.” They say classics are timeless, and this film perfectly exemplifies just that. “Knives Out” masterfully balances suspense, humor, and emotional depth, creating a very unique but very fascinating film. Every step in the story feels intentional, yet not entirely predictable. Unlike the second film, “Glass Onion,” the story we follow still feels logical in hindsight. The atmosphere is curated perfectly, with a very distinct color scheme full of deep yet saturated colors, and scenic elements that snake their way into the main story. Most notably, the cast displays an incredibly intricate family dynamic, specifically highlighting where there’s chemistry, and where there’s tension. The characters each feel meaningful to the story, and contribute their individual parts well. This film was the establishing point for the Benoit Blanc detective that many have come to love, and set the initial tone for the later entries. It is safe to say that the first film in the Knives Out series remains the most cohesive and effective of the three films.
“I really like the first one because of the major plot twist,” McKenzie Hatfield — a “Knives Out” connoisseur — said about the franchise as a whole. “If I had to choose a favorite character, it would be the nurse Marta Cabrera,” Hatfield said, referring to the nurse from the first film. “She really helped piece the mystery together and added a fun little charm to the whole movie.”
Regardless of what my final thoughts are, it is irrefutable that the knives out series as a whole is phenomenal. The Benoit Blanc detective series paints stories that aren’t solely detective based, but also include the surroundings as the main focus as well. It gives insight into the intricate story elements that you usually wouldn’t have a chance to see in other films. It’s important to look at the series not only as their individual pieces, but as the larger picture that three films build when put alongside one another.
