- - 9 Movies Like “Knives Out” to Watch After “Wake Up Dead Man”

Keith Langston, Samantha StutsmanDecember 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM

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Netflix

Josh O'Connor and Daniel Craig in 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.' -

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery premiered Dec. 12 on Netflix

It marks the third installment of the murder-mystery franchise

Films like Adam Sandler's Murder Mystery to Whoopi Goldberg's Rat Race echo the twists, chaos and ensemble fun of the Knives Out saga

When Knives Out debuted in 2019, it didn’t play by the usual whodunit rules.

Rian Johnson’s film swapped brooding suspense for wit and personality, assembling an all-star cast — including Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans and Jamie Lee Curtis — to deliver a playful, modern spin on the traditional murder mystery.

It also pulled off a clever misdirection, appearing to hand viewers the solution early on — only to prove that nothing about the case was as simple as it seemed.

Knives Out became a smash hit, grossing more than $312 million at the box office, per Box Office Mojo, and even earning an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

The franchise expanded in 2022 with the release of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery before returning with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The third installment debuted in select theaters on Nov. 26, 2025, and premiered Dec. 12 on Netflix.

For fans who can’t get enough of the Knives Out franchise’s clever twists, colorful suspects and controlled chaos, here are nine movies just like it.

Clue

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Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan and Colleen Camp in a 'Clue' scene

One of the most famous whodunits of all time is the board game Clue, and in 1985, the popular game got its own movie adaptation.

In the film, a group of strangers going under aliases like Mrs. White and Colonel Mustard arrive at a secluded mansion, and in classic Clue fashion, someone winds up dead.

For Knives Out fans, the movie is a must-watch, thanks to its comedic murder mystery, mansion setting and fantastic ensemble cast, which includes Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd and Michael McKean. Even cooler, this movie was released with three different endings, keeping audiences guessing the whole time.

Watch Clue on MGM+

Murder on the Orient Express

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Kenneth Branagh and Daisy Ridley in a 'Murder on the Orient Express' scene

It’s no secret that Agatha Christie had a huge influence on Knives Out: In August 2019, director Rian Johnson even told Empire that film adaptations of Hercule Poirot's stories were his "tonal touchstones," so it’s no surprise that fans will love movies like Murder on the Orient Express.

In the classic tale, a murder occurs at the start of a long-distance train journey and it’s up to detective Poirot to solve the case. Much like Knives Out, the 2017 adaptation had a great ensemble cast with Judi Dench, Willem Dafoe, Penelope Cruz and Daisy Ridley, among others.

Two sequels were released involving Christie’s other famous stories, including Death on the Nile in 2022 and A Haunting in Venice in 2023.

Rent Murder on the Orient Express on Prime Video

Identity

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John Cusack and Amanda Peet in an 'Identity' scene

If you love Knives Out’s epic twist ending, check out 2003’s Identity. Tonally, the movie is quite different — it's a psychological horror film instead of a campy mystery — but the two movies still have a lot in common.

In Identity, a group of strangers become trapped in a desert motel during a storm and someone (or something) starts picking them off one by one. You’ll be left wondering what’s happening until the very end when a shocking finale gives everything clarity.

Not surprisingly, Identity was also inspired by Christie. Plus, just like Knives Out, the movie has a great ensemble cast, including John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Clea DuVall and Amanda Peet.

Watch Identity on Netflix

Murder Mystery

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Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler in a 'Murder Mystery' scene

Knives Out added a good dose of wit and humor to the murder mystery formula. If you enjoyed its rompy take on the genre, you’ll also love Murder Mystery.

In the movie, a burnt-out married couple, played by Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, take a trip to Europe where they befriend a wealthy man. But after being invited to his yacht, they find themselves in the middle of a murder plot.

Much like Knives Out, the movie takes a much more lighthearted approach and sprinkles humor throughout. In 2023, the film received a sequel, Murder Mystery 2.

Watch Murder Mystery on Netflix

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

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Bob Hoskins in a 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' scene

In this groundbreaking 1988 film, cartoon characters live side-by-side with humans. Set in Los Angeles during the 1940s, Roger Rabbit gets framed for a murder he didn’t commit.

The dichotomy between the brightly colored animated characters and the noir crime drama gave Who Framed Roger Rabbit? sly humor, self-awareness and a distinctive style.

If you loved Knives Out’s quirky and campy take on the murder mystery genre, you’ll find a similar charm in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Watch Who Framed Roger Rabbit? on Disney+

Gosford Park

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Kelly Macdonald and Maggie Smith in a 'Gosford Park' scene

If you love Knives Out and Downton Abbey, watch Gosford Park.

Set in the early 1930s, an aristocratic family and their guests have a shooting party at the Gosford Park estate. But, tensions and class struggles keep everyone, including the servants, on edge, all leading up to a mysterious murder.

With numerous suspects and more explosive secrets than a soap opera, Gosford Park is a delicious mystery complete with an all-star ensemble cast, including Maggie Smith, Clive Owen, Helen Mirren and Ryan Phillippe.

While it’s more serious than Knives Out, fans will love its intertwined characters, numerous twists and gilded-era whodunit mystery.

Rent Gosford Park on Prime Video

See How They Run

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Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan in a 'See How They Run' scene

Not only was See How They Run inspired by Christie’s mysteries, but it also smartly included her in the plot.

The film centers on a production of Christie’s famous play The Mousetrap, and a mysterious murder takes place backstage during a performance. A detective and a novice constable are sent to solve the crime, leading to a witty and humorous whodunit that fans of Knives Out will love.

Plus, the movie’s self-awareness and blatant homage to Christie will be the cherry on top for Knives Out fans. The cast features Saoirse Ronan, Sam Rockwell and Adrien Brody.

Watch See How They Run on Hulu

Fargo

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Frances McDormand in a 'Fargo' scene

Fargo is a 1996 black comedy that Knives Out fans will love. The story centers on a fake kidnapping plot orchestrated by a midwestern car dealer who needs money. But before long, the plan goes horribly out of control, leaving a trail of dead bodies along the way.

For Knives Out fans who loved watching Ana de Armas' character desperately try to cover up her tracks, Fargo will be an incredibly fun watch. It's also a really clever movie that creates an enticing cat-and-mouse chase between police chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) and the criminals, played by actors like William H. Macy and Steve Buscemi.

Fargo went on to be nominated for seven Oscars, winning two.

Watch Fargo on Paramount+

Rat Race

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Corinne Jones, Jane Walsh and Whoopi Goldberg in a 'Rat Race' scene

Rat Race might not be a murder mystery, but Knives Out fans will still love the wacky and hilarious movie.

In the film, a group of strangers are brought together by a wealthy casino owner to compete in the ultimate challenge: a race to the finish to find $2 million in cash.

If you loved watching the Thrombey family scheme against each other in Knives Out, you’ll enjoy Rat Race’s ensemble cast and the way they outlandishly compete against each other for the prize.

The movie starred Whoopi Goldberg, John Cleese, Seth Green and Kathy Najimy, among others.

Watch Rat Race on Pluto TV

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”