Rian Johnson Reveals the Fate of the Knives Out Franchise After Wake Up Dead Man
If you love settling into a theater with a packed crowd and listening for those little gasps when Benoit Blanc (movies and tv series) connects the dots, here's the good news: it doesn't sound like he's leaving us anytime soon.
Rian Johnson (movies and tv series) says he and Daniel Craig (movies and tv series) are already batting around ideas for a fourth Knives Out movie. His words, not mine: "Daniel and I are already starting to formulate … what could the next one be if we do another one?" he told The Hollywood Reporter. And then the kicker: "I don't know why I would stop doing it if we could keep making them."
That's not a tease; that's a vibe. Johnson sounds energized after making Wake Up Dead Man, the third entry in the series, which sends Blanc after an "impossible" church-set murder - a monsignor, no less - and the usual crowded suspect list. Josh O'Connor (movies and tv series) is among the new faces. The setup is classic Johnson: elegant puzzle, messy people, and a detective who seems two steps behind until he isn't.
First, here's how Wake Up Dead Man rolls out
The movie gets a short theatrical run starting November 26, followed by a Netflix launch on December 12. Two weeks. That's it. If that sounds familiar, it's basically the same playbook Netflix used for Glass Onion back in 2022.
Plenty of folks felt left out last time - tickets sold fast, showtimes disappeared, and then you blinked and it was gone. The studio got a streaming bump for the holidays, sure, but the theater buzz was cut short. You could feel it.
The big question: where does Knives Out go after this?
Here's the hinge point. Netflix's two-sequel deal from 2021 is fulfilled with Wake Up Dead Man. Which means a fourth film isn't automatically a Netflix title. It could be. But it doesn't have to be.
If you're a theater owner or just someone who likes that shared laugh when Blanc says something wildly polite and devastating, this matters. The first Knives Out was a genuine box-office win - $312.8 million worldwide on a $40 million budget - buoyed by glowing reviews, word of mouth, and a prime spot on the holiday calendar. People brought their families. They argued in the car on the way home. That kind of energy's hard to fake.
Critically, the series hasn't slipped. Knives Out still sits above 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Glass Onion followed suit with another fresh score - you can check that original number here: Rotten Tomatoes: Knives Out. Early chatter suggests Wake Up Dead Man is on the same track.
What we're hearing - and what it could mean
Netflix will likely try to keep Johnson in the fold. Why wouldn't they? These films land, and they bring a wide audience right when families are together. But the creative team - and honestly, a lot of us watching - might want a longer theatrical window. A real one. Not two weeks before the film disappears again.
Maybe it's just timing, but the franchise feels built for the communal experience. The gasps, the laughs, the whispered "It's her" that's always wrong until it isn't. And then, yes, the easy rewatch on streaming once the spoilers have faded.
Key dates and details for Wake Up Dead Man
- Theatrical run: Begins November 26 (limited, two weeks)
- Streaming: December 12 on Netflix
- Rating: PG-13
- Runtime: 140 minutes
- Director: Rian Johnson
So, will there be a Knives Out 4?
All signs point to yes - or at least to Johnson and Craig actively moving the ball (movies and tv series) downfield. The open piece is where it lands. Another Netflix deal with tweaks to the theatrical plan? A studio pickup and a full holiday run? Both make sense. And both would keep the lights on for a series that audiences clearly want to watch together.
For now, the takeaway's simple: Wake Up Dead Man is coming fast, and Johnson isn't done. If he can keep telling these stories, he will. And honestly, that's the kind of promise movie fans don't get enough of these days.
We'll keep an eye on the release strategy once the third film clears its run. Because where Benoit Blanc shows up next - your local theater for a month, or your couch after two quick weeks - says a lot about how this business is shifting right now. And whether the crowd gets to gasp together again.
