Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery — Cast, Plot, and Release Info
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery — Cast, Plot, and Release Info
Last updated: January 14, 2026
Benoit Blanc is back—this time trading sun-soaked chaos for a colder, gothic “impossible crime.” Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is now streaming on Netflix (released December 12, 2025) after a limited theatrical run that began November 26, 2025.
Quick facts
| Title | Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery |
|---|---|
| Director / Writer | Rian Johnson |
| Starring | Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church |
| Runtime | 2h 26m |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Logline | Blanc and a young priest investigate a “perfectly impossible” murder tied to a small-town church with a dark history. |
Official trailer
Plot (spoiler-free)
This third Benoit Blanc mystery drops the master detective into a church-centered case built around a classic whodunit puzzle: an “impossible crime.” Blanc’s investigation is pulled into the orbit of Father Jud Duplenticy, a young priest newly assigned to assist a powerful local figure, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks.
The setting is a small church in upstate New York, where faith, reputation, and grudges collide—then a death turns the community inside out. When suspicion lands hard on Jud, Blanc is brought in to untangle what looks like a miracle on paper but plays like murder in real life.
“The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures.”
— Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (@KnivesOut) May 28, 2025
Cast & characters
As with Knives Out and Glass Onion, the film builds its mystery around a stacked ensemble—each character with a motive-shaped shadow.
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Daniel Craig | Benoit Blanc |
| Josh O’Connor | Father Jud Duplenticy |
| Josh Brolin | Monsignor Jefferson Wicks |
| Mila Kunis | Chief Geraldine Scott |
| Glenn Close | Martha Delacroix |
| Thomas Haden Church | Samson Holt |
| Kerry Washington | Vera Draven |
| Daryl McCormack | Cy Draven |
| Jeremy Renner | Nat Sharp |
| Andrew Scott | Lee Ross |
| Cailee Spaeny | Simone Vivane |
The film also includes notable supporting players and franchise-favorite cameos, including Jeffrey Wright, Noah Segan, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (voice), among others.
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Release dates & where to watch
Now streaming: Netflix (December 12, 2025). Limited theatrical run: began November 26, 2025.
Release timeline
- September 6, 2025: World premiere (Toronto International Film Festival)
- October 8, 2025: International premiere (BFI London Film Festival)
- November 26, 2025: Select theaters
- December 12, 2025: Netflix streaming release
“The devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
— Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (@KnivesOut) May 29, 2025
Official Netflix page: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
FAQ
Is Wake Up Dead Man on Netflix?
Yes. It has been streaming on Netflix since December 12, 2025.
Is Wake Up Dead Man a sequel?
It’s the third Benoit Blanc film. It’s designed to work as a stand-alone mystery, but it’s more fun if you’ve seen the first two.
How long is Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery?
2 hours and 26 minutes.
Who directed Wake Up Dead Man?
Rian Johnson wrote and directed the film.