The Formula Behind the Brilliance of Rian Johnson’s Whodunnit Series, “Knives Out”
Austin Price, Editor in Chief
WARNING: This article contains spoilers for “Knives Out” (2019), “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022), and “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" (2025). Please read at your own discretion.
Like many bookworms and cinephiles out there, I always enjoy an old-fashioned whodunnit. However, I enjoy them even more when they’re well written, unexpected, and deeply layered. With these added expectations, I have become particularly fond of the “Knives Out” whodunnit series, written and directed by Rian Johnson. The series is currently a trilogy, containing “Knives Out” (2019), “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022), and “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" (2025). With the recent release of the third film, I got to thinking. What makes Rian Johnson’s murder mysteries so addictive, enticing, and exciting? What makes these stories so successful? Why do we always want more? And so, after a close examination and rewatch marathon of all three films, I present to you the formula behind the brilliance of Rian Johnson’s whodunnit series, “Knives Out”.
There are several key factors that make up this victorious formula. First is an assemblage of complex characters, portrayed by an all-star cast of performers. The second factor is the influence of insatiable greed. The third is the main character with a good heart, who is often the top suspect. The fourth is the death of an innocent, adding another layer of tragedy to a deep web of crime. And finally, the fifth is a final act of justice, bringing resolution to chaos. Let’s begin.
An Assemblage of Complex Characters
Like many stories, whodunnit’s are enhanced by the suspicion around different characters. Rian Johnson is a master at creating complex, humorous, relatable, contemporary, and unforgettable characters. His creation of anti-heroes and scoundrels, amateurs and thieves, and family and friends, keeps the audience engaged, and rooting for different characters at different points in the story. In addition to good writing, the casting for these characters in all three films is an art in itself. While each film follows a different story, one character remains steadfast, Benoit Blanc.
Benoit Blanc is expertly played by the legendary Daniel Craig. Craig’s performances make Blanc an intelligent and compassionate detective, rather than a gimmicky “Sherlock Holmes”, which is an easy trap to fall into. Detective Benoit Blanc is the main protagonist of Rian Johnson's “Knives Out” film series. He is a private investigator who is often heralded as "the world's greatest detective." Known for his distinctive Southern accent and manners, Blanc is from New Orleans, Louisiana. Craig brings Blanc to life with a tasteful mix of flamboyance and formality. While each of the three films has its own supporting cast, Blanc is a signature staple in the series, and Daniel Craig’s performances are truly iconic.
Supporting Craig in each film has been a menagerie of top actors, each with their own creative flair and numerous accolades. Employing an ensemble cast of established stars was one of Johnson's initial demands. Actors were chosen for their ability to stand out in bit speaking parts and master an exaggerated, but not caricatured, comic performance.
On behalf of fans of the films everywhere, I’d like to personally thank Mary Vernieu, who was the casting director for both “Knives Out” (2019), “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022). Additionally, she partnered with Bret Howe to cast “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" (2025). Each of the three films has been saturated with an all-star cast, made up of respectable artists from different genres, coming together to create a phenomenal ensemble.
“Knives Out” (2019) starred Ana de Armas as Marta Cabrera. Opposite her was Chris Evans as Hugh Ransom Drysdale. With Craig making three, this trio led the wildly dysfunctional Thrombey family through an investigation into the unexpected death of the patriarch, Harlan Thrombey, played by Christopher Plummer. Other key cast members include Toni Collette as Joni Thrombey, Michael Shannon as Walt Thrombey, Don Johnson as Richard Drysdale, Jamie Lee Curtis as Linda Drysdale, and Edi Patterson as Harlan’s housekeeper, Fran.
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022) centers on an eclectic, morally tainted group of individuals, each with too much privilege for their own good. This time, Benoit Blanc finds himself on a resort vacation in Greece. Clearly, a very different setting than the imposing mansion in “Knives Out” (2019). With Craig once again in the lead, Janelle Monáe joins his investigation in her portrayal of the Brand sisters, Andi and Helen. Edward Norton embodies the “richer than God” tech genius, Miles Bron. Rounding off this group of pals are Kathryn Hahn as Claire Debella, Leslie Odom Jr. as Lionel Toussaint, Kate Hudson as Birdie Jay, Dave Bautista as Duke Cody, and Madelyn Cline as Whiskey.
“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" (2025) brings an outrageous setting to a murder mystery, a small-town church. In this film, Blanc is sent to a cultish community, where a dark secret is held in the local parish. Josh O’Connor shines as Jud Duplenticy, a young priest and former boxer who reformed after killing a man in a match. Duplenticy and Blanc work to unravel the town’s horrifying history. Major actors including Glenn Close as Martha Delacroix, Josh Brolin as Jefferson Wicks, Mila Kunis as Geraldine Scott, Andrew Scott as Lee Ross, Thomas Haden as Samson Holt, and Jeremy Renner as Nat Sharp, also star.
The Influence of Insatiable Greed
Our next factor is the motivation for the heinous crimes committed in each of the whodunnit’s installments. Insatiable greed serves as the influence and stimulus for each of the film’s abominations. This mirrors the corruption witnessed in the real world. Greed for money, power, and influence leads to immoral actions.
“Knives Out” (2019) follows the classic tragedy of inheritance battles after the death of a family member. When the patriarch of the Thrombey family, Harlan Thrombey, played by Christopher Plummer, dies unexpectedly, the claws come out during the reading of Thrombey’s will. What starts as a grim gathering quickly transforms into a chaotic craze as the family turns on each other. Harlan’s inheritance is distributed, but not in the way that many were expecting. This demonstrates the internal greed that lies within countless families and shows the true colors to those we hold closest. When money is involved, morals are abandoned.
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022) brings a less common trainwreck of power-hungry individuals with skeletons in their closet. Tech genius and billionaire, Miles Bron, played by Edward Norton invites his closest friends (known as the “Disruptors”) to a weekend getaway, ironically under the guise of a “murder mystery” party. This group of “Disruptors” swiftly morphs into a group of mooches, all trying to earn Bron’s support, and subsequently his money. High class components at stake include political campaign funding, scientific experimentation grants, and brand endorsement deals. This vacation, thanks to the unexpected arrival of Benoit Blanc, reveals acts of betrayal, fake attitudes of ignorance, and blatant disregard for the moral high ground amongst the group of attendees.
“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" (2025) brings an even more outlandish influence of greed. Hidden in the crevices of both memories and materials is the coveted fortune, once held by the founder of the local parish, Reverend Prentice Wicks. Patrons and clergy members whisper the tale of hidden treasure in the church, once hunted by Reverend Prentice Wicks daughter in law, Grace Wicks, and abolish her greedy pursuit. Biblical references and religious undertones enhance the complicated question of the importance of material possessions, and the value of worldly items. While each movie has a different form of wealth, they are all motivated by the enticing lucrative lives that money can offer.
The Main Character with A Good Heart
Our third factor is the main character with a good heart. This is an invaluable piece of each film’s puzzle. It reminds the audience of their own morals and values in this world. The main character’s disposition and judgement reveal the ethical sides of humanity that are often forgotten.
Marta Cabrera, played by Ana de Armas, is the main character, and top suspect in “Knives Out” (2019). Marta is Harlan Thrombey’s nurse, a hardworking caregiver who provided both medical care and friendship to Harlan in his elderly days. Harlan, having been primarily forgotten about by his family, sees Marta’s loyalty and dedication as acts of love and goodness, instilling his faith in her. This in turn causes Harlan to leave his will and all remaining assets to Marta, unbeknownst to her. This major change to the will comes as a shock to the Thrombey family, who quickly suspect Marta as the cause of Harlan’s premature death. In an effort to prove her innocence, Marta teams up with Detective Blanc, working to reveal the true killer of the story.
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022) features Janelle Monáe as the Brand sisters, Andi and Helen, each with a heart of gold. With Andi being ostracized by Bron’s group of friends, known as the “Disruptors”, the sisters showcase a mix of elegance and humility in their pursuits. Using the power of their identical twin status, the Brand sisters conceal and reveal their identities in a puzzling game of “Who’s Who?”. Once again, our good heroes are scrutinized as main suspects in an unexpected murder. To clear their names, the Brand sisters employ the help of Benoit Blanc, with intentions to both reinstate their respect in the group and expose Miles Bron as the coward he truly is.
The third film, “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" (2025) centers on Jud Duplenticy, brilliantly played by Josh O’Connor. Jud, a young Catholic priest with a dark past is the most recent arrival to Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, after being assigned as the assistant pastor. Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude is a small-town parish in upstate New York led by Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, played by Josh Brolin, a divisive and controversial figure in the community. Jud and Jefferson clash, with Jud claiming Jefferson’s tactics to be over controlling and inappropriately persuasive. The community becomes aware of the animosity between the two priests, and under the direction of Jefferson, scrutinize Jud. When Jefferson suddenly dies, all eyes land on Jud, with their complicated relationship serving as an easy motive for murder. Police chief Geraldine Scott summons private detective Benoit Blanc to investigate. Blanc recruits Jud to assist him, convinced of his innocence, and the two begin to dive into the true roots of the crime.
The Death of an Innocent
Something unique about Rian Johnson’s whodunnit series is that the main murder is not the only casualty in the story. Each film in the series features the fourth factor being the death of an innocent. This adds another layer of tragedy to a deep web of crime and proves that intentional murder of one can lead to unintentional harm to another.
“Knives Out” (2019) leads to the intentional murder of Harlan Thrombey. However, it also leads to the unanticipated casualty of another character. Harlan’s housekeeper Fran, played by Edi Patterson, becomes the second victim in a crime designed for one. After discovering damning evidence against him, Fran is murdered by Harlan’s killer, for fear of her revealing their identity to the police.
The second film, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022) features the planned execution of one half of the Brand sisters. Once again, a second death occurs, in the killers attempt to silence a witness. Dave Cody, played by Dave Bautista, is a member of the “Disruptors” and was invited to Miles Bron’s weekend getaway. Dave Cody quickly becomes the casualty of a seemingly fictitious murder mystery game, after finding a news report containing incriminating details. While this news report does become public, Dave discovered it too soon for the killer’s liking, leading to his violent demise.
In “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" (2025) the second victim is targeted in a less direct, more roundabout way. While the first two films featured the death of a witness, the third film results in the death of an accomplice with pure intentions. Thomas Haden Church plays the church’s groundskeeper, Samson, who falls prey to the deadly games within the community. Samson is a quiet, circumspect individual with love for both the church and the church secretary, Martha Delacroix, played by Glenn Close. Sadly, Samson’s service to Martha and the parish leads to his devastating death.
A Final Act of Justice
The fifth and final aspect that completes Rian Johnson’s whodunnit series, “Knives Out” is a final act of justice. This act brings resolution to the chaos set in the story. Additionally, it gives the audience a sense of satisfaction. This is done by demonstrating a rare occurrence in real life crime, in which revenge is subtly served.
As with the other aspects of the series, each film presents the final act of justice differently. However, each film brings forth a pleasing, satiating and unhealthily enjoyable scene of justice. In “Knives Out” (2019), the young, innocent nurse, Marta Cabrera, played by Ana de Armas, takes her place at the mantle of Harlan Thrombey’s legacy. In both a literal and figurative sense, Marta stands above the greedy offspring of the Thrombey family, bringing righteousness and resolution. From her perch on the mansion's balcony, Marta watches the family scatter; all loyalties lost to the hunger for money. For anyone who has ever dealt with inheritance problems or legal issues after the death of a family member, you can appreciate how fulfilling this scene is.
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022) brings the final act of justice as a cacophony of outrage, and a disaster of destruction. As the story closed, the supporting characters finally saw behind the facade of Miles Bron, played by Edward Norton. In a tantrum of disgust, created by the entire “Disruptors” group, Bron watches his abundance of outrageously expensive items shattered, broken, and smashed by his so-called friends. The communal effort of mass destruction increases the validity of the anger experienced by the Brand sisters, portrayed by Janelle Monáe. A group of angry “Disruptors” is much more threatening than a group of one angry “Disruptors”. This scene of obliteration gives the audience a feeling of justice, as the scene features a rich, arrogant, selfish billionaire being taken down by his so-called allies.
In the third film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" (2025), the final act of justice is seen in a coming-of-age moment when Jud Duplenticy, played by Josh O’Connor takes on the role of head priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude. With the chaos of material greed removed, and the exit of the problematic individuals that fueled the fire of tragedy, Jud Duplenticy reinstates the true meaning of the Catholic Church into the parish, forgiveness and eternal love. This resolution is a major milestone for Jud Duplenticy, as he finally gets to live out his calling as a kind, compassionate priest, and puts his energy to fostering the parishioners, and replenishing the merciful spirit of the church. Witnessing Jud Duplenticy embrace his priestly responsibilities, and his subsequent rejection of Reverend Prentice Wicks’ cruel and manipulative ways.
While the future of the whodunnit series is uncertain, I can safely say that the formula Rian Johnson has used previously is incredibly successful. No future “Knives Out” films have been officially confirmed. However, director Rian Johnson has stated his openness to continuing the franchise but plans to make another original film before returning to the Benoit Blanc series. While Johnson and Daniel Craig have expressed interest in continuing the series, there are no concrete plans for a fourth film yet, with Johnson waiting to develop conceptual ideas before beginning the writing process.
Personally, I truly hope that this series continues. The formula of the films, including an assemblage of complex characters, the influence of insatiable greed, the main character with a good heart, the death of an innocent, and the final act of justice, has proven to be wildly successful. Both audiences and critics have praised the writing, directing, and acting talents of all three films. With such excellent execution, and such incredible responses, I believe, and hope there will be more films in the “Knives Out” franchise.
To watch the full “Knives Out” films, click the links below:
Click to watch “Knives Out” (2019)
Click to watch “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022)
Click to watch “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" (2025)