Official Release & Streaming Information
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is the third film in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series, featuring Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc. It had a limited theatrical run starting November 26, 2025, ahead of its streaming debut. It began streaming worldwide on Netflix on December 12, 2025 — including in India and most other regions. The Times of India+1
In India, the film became available on Netflix on December 12, 2025 after its brief theatrical release. OTTPlay
Plot Summary (Without Major Spoilers)
The story is set in a small New England town’s church community, where a controversial priest, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), is found murdered under apparently impossible circumstances. Detective Benoit Blanc is called in to unravel the case that involves a tight-knit group of suspects connected to the church’s congregation. Forbes+1
The narrative explores themes of faith, belief, redemption, and community tensions, giving this installment a darker and more introspective tone compared with the earlier films. Indiatimes
Full Cast Highlights
The ensemble cast is one of the broadest in the franchise and includes:
- Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc
- Josh O’Connor as Rev. Jud Duplenticy, a young priest at the center of the mystery
- Josh Brolin as Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, the slain church leader
- Glenn Close as Martha Delacroix, a devoted church worker
- Mila Kunis as Geraldine Scott, the local police chief
- Kerry Washington as Vera Draven, a lawyer
- Daryl McCormack as Cy Draven, Vera’s politically ambitious adopted son
- Cailee Spaeny as Simone Vivane, a newcomer with secrets
- Jeremy Renner as Dr. Nat Sharp, the town doctor
- Andrew Scott as Lee Ross, a novelist using the case for material
- Thomas Haden Church as Samson Holt, a groundskeeper
(and others in supporting roles). ELLE
Critical Reception and Audience Response
- Rotten Tomatoes scores have been strong, with early reports showing high critic and audience ratings, generally in the low-to-mid 90s. Some publications have described it as one of the best entries in the series. Forbes+1
- Reviews noted its darker tone, emotional depth, and thematic complexity while still delivering the puzzle-driven mystery expected from the franchise. Indiatimes
- Indian critics rated it solidly (e.g., 3.5/5), praising performances and atmosphere. The Indian Express
- Audience reactions on social platforms have been mixed to positive, with praise for performances (especially O’Connor and Craig) but some debate over pacing and plot details. News24+1
- A Deadline report highlighted that the film’s Thanksgiving weekend box office was below expectations for the franchise, marking a break in its previous theatrical run success. Screen Rant
Behind-the-Scenes & Production Notes
- Filming began in June 2024 and wrapped in August 2024. Yahoo
- Daniel Craig and Rian Johnson have both expressed openness to continuing the Benoit Blanc series if strong scripts are developed, so more entries beyond this film remain possible. Outlook India
- There are notable behind-the-scenes stories, such as Josh O’Connor discussing his challenging first scene with Josh Brolin, showing the intensity and collaborative nature of the production. EW.com
Thematic and Franchise Context
This third Knives Out film departs from the lighter satire of Glass Onion and the classic whodunit charm of Knives Out, leaning into a Southern Gothic-inspired mystery that examines faith, community, and morality through its characters’ interactions and the central crime. Reddi
Viewer and Cultural Impact
Fans and commentators have discussed the film’s place within the broader franchise, evaluating its characters and performances in comparison with earlier movies. Publications ranking characters have reaffirmed Benoit Blanc as the franchise’s emotional core. them.us
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