22 Best Movies Like Knives Out

Summary Knives Out sparked a renewed interest in whodunnits and led to a sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

Movies like Knives Out capture a similar feel with all-star casts, clever scripts, and great humor.

Fans of Daniel Craig's role as Benoit Blanc in Knives Out might also enjoy his English-language adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Directed by Rian Johnson, Knives Out creates its own unique world and characters but is influenced by murder mysteries whodunnits that leave a lot of movies like Knives Out that fans can check out next. Knives Out was released in theaters in 2019 and was a huge success, earning 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and making $312 million at the box office, (via Box Office Mojo). Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is a private detective from the American South hired to investigate the death of the patriarch of a wealthy family.

Knives Out was something of a throwback when it arrived. The movie starred several actors best known for their franchise work (Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, etc.) and put them in a chamber-piece. With an all-star cast, a clever script, and great humor, Knives Out sparked a renewed interest in whodunnits and led to a sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Though it feels like a unique film that plays brilliantly with genre expectations, there are many other great movies like Knives Out that capture a similar feel.

Related Knives Out 3: Confirmation, Cast & Everything We Know Knives Out 3 is on the way, and there are already exciting updates about the third installment in the hit murder mystery franchise.

22 The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

A Journalist Investigates A Cold Case Of A Missing Girl

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Though Daniel Craig's time as James Bond is done, Knives Out provides a new franchise for him and the actor has already proven his versatility in several different roles. Fans who love seeing him solve crimes as Benoit Blanc and want more movies like Knives Out might also enjoy the English-language adaptation of author Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Like in Knives Out, Craig here plays a sort of investigator, a journalist hired by the patriarch (Craig's Knives Out co-star Plummer) of a wealthy family to solve the murder of his niece decades earlier. This is a much darker mystery story, with none of the comedic color of Knives Out.

David Fincher was supposed to create a sequel following the book series. However, the lackluster box office doomed the franchise's future and the studio rebooted it instead with a new actress playing star Lisbeth Salander.

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21 Mystery Team (2009)

Three Naive Wannabe Detectives Investigate A Murder

Rian Johnson drew inspiration from Agatha Christie's novels when making Knives Out. Likewise, Mystery Team is influenced by mysteries like the Hardy Boys but adds an R-rated twist to those more wholesome stories. The movie follows a group of three friends whose childhood obsession with solving neighborhood crimes has made them outcasts in their high school years.

However, the young men find themselves in over their heads when they are hired to solve a murder. Mystery Team is a movie like Knives Out in that, while death is at the heart of each story, the humor is never lost underneath the grim plot.

It also provides an early starring role for Donald Glover years before his superstardom. The movie received mixed reviews, but as a feature film debut for a sketch comedy group (Derrick Comedy), it works as a funny film looking at teens trying to solve mysteries.

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20 The Brothers Bloom (2008)

Con Artist Brothers Attempt One Last Job

Before Rian Johnson's Star Wars fame changed his career, his filmography was closer to movies like Knives Out. The Brothers Bloom is Johnson's second feature film and stars Mark Ruffalo and Adrien Brody as a pair of con artist brothers who decide to take on one last daring job.

The movie is another example of how Johnson can pay loving homage to a genre while also playing with the tropes. The result is a wildly fun caper that is elevated by its talented cast of characters. Johnson uses the genre to tell a touching story about brotherhood.

The movie was a quirky comedy, very different from his first movie, Brick, but also a more complex story with a larger star cast. The film received mixed to positive reviews, with most of the praise going to the acting and performances by Ruffalo, Brody, and Rachel Weisz.

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19 Murder By Death (1976)

A Dinner Party Filled With Detectives Turns Murderous

Though Knives Out certainly plays around with the murder mystery formula in hilarious and clever ways, it never goes into parody territory. However, for fans looking for movies like Knives Out that are also full-blown comedies, Murder by Death is a terrific option. The movie follows the classic dinner party murder mystery plot, only the guest list is filled with the world's most famous detectives.

When a mystery does indeed present itself, it is great fun watching these various sleuth archetypes battle each other to solve the case. It’s as if every character in Knives Out spent time studying under Benoit Blanc. The big difference is there are many more smart detectives here, rather than one solving the crime. The cast was also top-notch, just as it was with Knives Out, with Peter Sellers, David Niven, Maggie Smith, and Peter Falk all starring in the movie.

18 Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Guy Ritchie's Blockbuster Take On Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sleuth

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With the success of Knives Out and its celebrated sequel, Benoit Blanc has entered the conversation as one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time. However, it is hard for any character to beat Sherlock Holmes in that category. While there are a number of detective movies like Knives Out, few star the literary icon himself, and the character was given the big-budget treatment in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes.

It is a stylish period movie with some compelling mystery elements thrown in. Sherlock Holmes is more action-packed than Knives Out but the way each detective systematically pieces together clues in satisfying, flash-back sequences is very similar. Robert Downey Jr's Sherlock Holmes is a fitting entry into the character's legacy and the friendship between Holmes and Watson is a highlight of the movie. The movie also had a sequel two years later — Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

17 The Nice Guys (2016)

A Detective And An Enforcer Team To Solve A Missing Person's Case

Movies like Knives Out benefit from a director like Rian Johnson who can create a film that fits into the murder mystery genre and still toy with the conventions of the genre in unexpected ways. The Nice Guys from Shane Black achieves a similar trick.

The film stars Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe as two low-life private eyes who team together to solve a missing-person case. Black’s passion for the hard-boiled detective genre allows him to play with the rules of those kinds of films.

In The Nice Guys, as in Knives Out, the stakes are high, but the story has a whimsical and appropriately goofy tone. This is one of the closest films in tone to Knives Out, and the chemistry between Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling compares well to characters in past Shane Black movies, such as Riggs and Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon.

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16 The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

A Deadbeat Dad Lies To Reunite With His Dysfunctional Family

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One of the best aspects of Knives Out is the dysfunctional family at the center. The Thrombeys in Johnson’s film are a family of wealthy and intelligent people who immediately show their true, ugly colors when they don't get what they want.

Though there is no murder mystery at the center of Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums, the titular family feels very similar to the Thrombeys. The disconnect from the real world is one of the closest comparisons to the two film families.

The Tenenbaums are also a group of talented and wealthy people who are unable to function together in a healthy way. In both movies, the actions of the family patriarch directly result in the inability of their families to connect to each other. It makes for one of Wes Anderson's best movies and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay.

15 Sleuth (1972)

A Mystery Novelist Faces Off With His Wife's Lover

While there are several movies like Knives Out, some specific films directly inspired the story. Johnson has talked about a number of these inspirations, including Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s mystery film, Sleuth. The 1972 film stars Laurence Olivier as a famous author of detective novels who invites his wife's lover (Michael Caine) to his home where the two men engage in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse.

There are even some Easter eggs in Knives Out that are direct references to Sleuth. When Blanc first shows up for the case, he mentions he had just finished solving a case about a tennis player.

This directly references Sleuth, which starts with the mystery writer explaining he is writing a book about a murder involving a tennis court. Both Olivier and Caine received Oscar nominations for their performances as did Mankiewicz for directing this movie, which sits at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.

14 Deathtrap (1982)

A Failed Playwright Plots To Murder A Rival

Artists are always interesting characters in a murder mystery. Deathtrap is a 1982 film directed by Sidney Lumet (12 Angry Men) and stars Michael Caine as a struggling playwright who plots to murder a more talented up-and-coming writer (Christopher Reeves) and steal his work. The movie is another clever and unique take on the genre. It was often compared strongly to Sleuth, which also starred Caine.

Movies like Knives Out and Deathtrap succeed because of the darkly funny tone that can elicit chills and laughs from the audience. Jealous feelings permeate both films and are inevitably what ends up being the core motive behind the murder (or attempted murder). This movie, also like Knives Out, includes not just one shocking twist, but in this case, several that lead to a great ending that almost no one could see coming.

13 Ready Or Not (2019)

A New Bride Must Hide From Her Murderous In-Laws

Ready or Not Release Date August 21, 2019 Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin , Tyler Gillett Cast Nat Faxon , Kate Ziegler , Elyse Levesque , Chase Churchill , Elana Dunkelman , Andie MacDowell , Liam MacDonald , Mark O'Brien , Nicky Guadagni , Adam Brody​ , Henry Czerny , Ethan Tavares , Kristian Bruun , Melanie Scrofano , Samara Weaving , Etienne Kellici , John Ralston Runtime 95minutes Expand

Knives Out manages to be a hugely entertaining murder mystery while also making interesting commentary about privilege. That was a theme shared by a lot of 2019 films, including the horror-comedy Ready or Not. Horror movie star Samara Weaving broke out as a young woman marrying into a wealthy board game magnate family. However, on her wedding night, she finds herself in a deadly game of hide-and-seek.

It is a wild, hilarious, and bloody romp and Weaving has a similar role to Ana de Armas as the strong-willed outsider who fights her way out of danger. There are differences between the two movies, as Knives Out is a classic detective story whodunnit, while Ready or Not is more action-packed and has the tropes of a horror movie more than a mystery. As such, the Saturn Awards nominated it for Best Horror Film.

12 Brick (2005)

A Noir Mystery Set In High School

Rian Johnson's feature directorial debut was an underrated mystery noir called Brick. The movie stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a high school student investigating the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend. Though it is set in a modern high school setting, the movie is presented as an old-school detective film. Like all good movies of the genre, the central mystery keeps viewers guessing throughout.

There are kernels of the style that would take center stage later in Knives Out peppered throughout Brick. The movie is an acquired taste, as every character in the film (all high school students) talks in a slang language that might appear in old-school detective Noirs by authors like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. However, even with the dialect, Joseph Gordon-Levitt turns in a magnificent performance in the lead role. The film won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance and is now considered a cult classic.

11 Scream (1996)

A Whodunnit Teen Slasher

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Scream Release Date December 20, 1996 Director Wes Craven Cast Drew Barrymore , Kevin Patrick Walls , David Booth , Carla Hatley , Neve Campbell , Skeet Ulrich Runtime 111 minutes

Movies like Knives Out are similar to slasher movies in how both use the whodunnit mystery in their stories. Scream follows a group of teens who are stalked by the murderous killer Ghostface. This sounds like standard slasher fare, but the film brilliantly uses horror tropes to its advantage, as Scream is a self-aware slasher movie full of characters who know all the clichés.

Scream does a great job of playing with those expectations to keep the audience guessing until the identity of Ghostface is revealed. The movie is mostly a refurbishing of the slasher genre, which had gone out of style heading into the 1990s.

However, with A Nightmare on Elm Street director Wes Craven directing the movie, he was able to take what made his old slasher formula so popular and infuse it with something new that created the more modern-day self-referential horror movies. That is a trait that also exists in Knives Out.

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10 Bad Times At The El Royale (2018)

Various Characters With Mysterious Backgrounds Converge At A Roadside Motel

Part of the great fun of movies like Knives Out is seeing an ensemble of A-list actors sharing the screen and playing characters with their individual secrets and quirks. Another movie with a similar setup is Bad Times at the El Royale. The movie stars Jeff Bridges, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, and Cynthia Erivo as strangers who converge at the titular motel. It also has a head-turning performance by Chris Hemsworth, who shows up and presents a new danger to the motel residents.

The movie slowly reveals what each of the characters is hiding and how their own journeys collide with one another. Bad Times at the El Royale and Knives Out both introduce their ensemble characters as one-dimensional, but it quickly becomes apparent there is more lurking beneath the surface. It is also a great comparison as it shows that everyone has something to hide, even if they are not guilty of the current crime under investigation.

9 Identity (2003)

People Trapped At A Motel During A Storm Discover There Is A Killer Among Them

Like Bad Times at the El Royale, Identity also follows a group of strangers who find themselves together at a roadside motel in Nevada. Before long, the guests begin to get picked off one by one as the others try to determine which of them is the killer. This is a clear homage to And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, which Johnson also homages in his Knives Out movies. The movie is a twisty thriller with a great cast including John Cusack, Amanda Peet, and Ray Liotta.

While the final twist doesn’t have the same feeling of completing a puzzle as it does in Knives Out, the movie maintains an effective, dark, and threatening feeling that keeps viewers hooked. It is also more of a psychological thriller than Knives Out, as the reveal here is less about solving a mystery and more about looking for clues to figure out what is real and what isn't. It is also a great film to rewatch as it plays out very differently the second time around.

Related Knives Out Real Killer & Ending Explained (In Detail) Knives Out is a twisted web of a murder mystery. We break down the ending, the clues along the way, and who killed Harlan Thrombey.

8 Green For Danger (1946)

A Death During Surgery Is Investigated As A Murder

Green for Danger is an older murder mystery film that stars Alastair Sim as a detective investigating a group of doctors after a death during surgery is ruled as a murder. When the nurse who reveals the death also dies, it is clear a murderer is in the hospital.

Much like Craig's Southern private eye in Knives Out, Sim plays an unusual detective who adds a lot of levity to the murder investigation. The movie slowly reveals layers to its mystery until the final, satisfying reveal that was front and center the whole time.

Green for Danger is based on a novel by author Christianna Brand and the movie is considered one of the best adaptations of a Golden Age mystery novel. The book was also adapted into an episode of Father Brown on BBC television. The film received high critical praise and it even got an early Criterion Collection release when the prestige company still released laserdisc editions.

7 Game Night (2018)

A Murder-Mystery Game Turns Into A Real Crime

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Game Night Release Date February 23, 2018 Director Jonathan Goldstein , John Francis Daley , Billy Magnussen Cast Sharon Horgan , Rachel McAdams , Danny Huston , Kyle Chandler , Chelsea Pereti , Jason Bateman , Lamorne Morris , Jesse Plemons , Kylie Bunbury , Michael C. Hall Runtime 93minutes

Another movie that manages to bring big laughs even with the threat of death hanging in the air is Game Night. The film stars Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as a couple who host a game night with friends. However, when their murder mystery turns out to be real, they find themselves in a world of danger.

The movie shares a lot in common with the Knives Out sequel, Glass Onion, which also has a murder mystery party turn into a real murder, although Game Night goes a lot further in the game aspects of the story.

Like Knives Out, it is the cast that helps to bring a lot of energy to this clever and hilarious story with fun smaller appearances from the likes of Jeffrey Wright and Michael C. Hall as well as a scene-stealing role from Jesse Plemons. As the stakes continue to rise and things get more ridiculous, the laughs just get bigger. The movie has an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

6 Murder On The Orient Express (2017)

A Star-Studded Agatha Christie Mystery

Agatha Christie is an obvious influence on Knives Out by Johnson's own admission (via Variety). The legendary author has written some of the world's most famous mystery novels, including Murder on the Orient Express. There are a few film adaptations of Christie's famous story worth checking out, with Kenneth Branagh's 2017 remake being the most recent. Branagh plays renowned and eccentric detective Hercule Poirot who investigates the murder of a passenger onboard a luxury train.

The all-star cast, the stirring mystery, and Branagh's fun performance make for an exciting adventure. His mustachioed turn as the detective is equally bold and flavorful as Craig’s Benoit. While Johnson's franchise went for more laughs and quirkiness, Branagh went for a more loyal adaptation to Christie's murder mystery novels. Branagh went on to also adapt Death on the Nile and A Haunting in Venice.

Related Knives Out Beating Branagh’s Poirot Movies Proves Audiences Want New & Original Franchises Knives Out is a fresh, modern take on the whodunit genre, and its pop culture impact compared to the recent Hercule Poirot movies is telling.

5 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

A Thief Posing As An Actor Is Lured Into A Missing Person's Case

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Release Date November 11, 2005 Director Shane Black Cast Robert Downey Jr. , Val Kilmer , Michelle Monaghan , Corbin Bernsen , Dash Mihok , Larry Miller , Rockmond Dunbar , Shannyn Sossamon Runtime 103 Minutes

The hard-boiled detective stories share a lot of similarities with movies like Knives Out and the whodunnit genre. As Knives Out cleverly plays with its own genre, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang also follows a similar mystery setup while subverting the clichés. Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer star as a mismatched pair. Downey is Harry, a criminal on the run who is confused to be an actor auditioning for a role and acting in character. Kilmer is a private investigator who Harry is sent to shadow.

This duo finds themselves investigating the death of a young woman, only to discover a larger conspiracy that puts both men in danger. The funny script from Shane Black mixes irreverent humor with a complex and compelling postmodern noir mystery. It's a great buddy action ride that has echoes of Benoit and Marta (de Armas).

4 Gosford Park (2001)

A Murder Mystery Examining Class Systems In An English Country Home

A murder at a party in a posh English country home sounds very cliché, but in the hands of director Robert Altman, the movie becomes more than the sum of its parts. Actors like Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, and Clive Owen boost a familiar but engrossing story. Gosford Park is a mystery movie, but it’s also a dissection of class differences and who holds the power in a household like this. While it clearly defines the wealthy (upstairs) from the working class (downstairs), its class themes mirror those in Knives Out.

The stately manor will be beloved by those who decadent settings in movies like Knives Out. The movie was successful at the box office and was Robert Altman's biggest hit since M*A*S*H. It also earned seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and two Best Supporting Actress nominations (Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith).

3 Clue (1985)

Wacky Characters A Picked Off One By One

Clue Release Date December 13, 1985 Director Jonathan Lynn Cast Eileen Brennan , Tim Curry , Madeline Kahn , Christopher Lloyd , Michael McKean , Martin Mull Runtime 94 minutes

Movies based on board games are often quite poor, but Clue proved there is a way to do it well. The film follows the set-up of the classic game with characters like Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd) and Mr. Green (Michael McKean) who attend a party at a mansion where the host is killed.

It’s up to the guests to discover who among them is the killer. The movie is led by a fantastic performance from Tim Curry as Wadsworth the butler, and Clue matches other movies like Knives Out with its comedy slant that makes for a fantastic watch. This is also a movie that has grown over time.

When released, it received mostly mixed reviews and was a box office failure. However, fans discovered it later when it hit video, and it has since grown into a cult classic. Clue is also a film that breaks mystery movie conventions by having more than one option about who the killer is. This movie has three different endings, and all three endings were used in theatrical screenings depending on the screening site, while the home video release has all three endings to choose from.

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