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Knives Out

Knives Out

Hell, any of them could have done it.

2019130 minPG-13Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Director
Rian Johnson
Starring
Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis

When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Knives Out?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Knives Out streaming on Lionsgate+ via Prime Video and The Roku Channel (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Knives Out?

Knives Out earns 9 badges, led by Top 1% in Comedy and Top 5% of films.

Show 1 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Knives Out worth watching?

Knives Out's Midcredits score is the 98th percentile of all films, from 5.2M ratings across 6 sources. 91% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

98th percentile

Better received than 98% of films

99th percentile among Comedy98th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)96th
Approval (how many liked it)98th

80 /100

96th percentile of all films

98th percentile among Comedy96th percentile among 2010s

Critics 82 · Audience 80

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

91% liked it

98th percentile of all films

99th percentile among Comedy99th percentile among 2010s
91% rated it 7–109% rated it 1–6

Critics 97% · Audience 92%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 1 Oscar noms · 35 wins / 62 noms overall

  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Original Screenplay
  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

82nd percentile

5.2M ratings across platforms

80th percentile among Comedy83rd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 13% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$40M
Opening weekend$27M
Domestic gross$165M
Worldwide gross$313M

Returned 7.8× its budget — 99th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A stylishly assembled Agatha Christie-style whodunnit with a strong cast and clever premise, though its execution divides viewers on whether the twists land or feel hollow.

Fans praised

  • Classic whodunnit formula executed with modern wit and self-awareness
  • Twisty plot that keeps reorienting expectations without feeling overdone
  • Strapping ensemble cast clearly enjoying Johnson's material

Detractors panned

  • Predictable mystery with underwhelming setup payoff after early reveal
  • Unlikable characters and wasted potential in supporting roles
  • Mechanical direction lacking emotional grounding

What stands out

ActingDivisive80

Cast praised for chemistry and commitment; detractors note uneven accents and some flat performances

Cinematography80

Lavish set design, color palette, and period-styled visuals widely praised

AtmosphereDivisive80

Immersive world-building with modern-nostalgic blend; strong sense of place

Plot and storyDivisive70

Twisty mystery with early reveal polarizes; fans love the curveballs, detractors call it predictable

DialogueDivisive70

Witty and quotable lines; some find hipster dialogue forced

Characters65

Colorful ensemble but several underdeveloped or forgettable; detractors find them unlikable

Originality60

Refreshing take on classic formula for fans; detractors see little new beyond modern trappings

Pacing60

Brisk and engaging for fans; detractors feel mid-film drag once mystery revealed

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 5 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 3 points apart
  • Critics vs users 2 points apart
  • US vs non-US even

Watch experience

What is Knives Out like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It has a few laughs and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
ThrillingAbsurdTense
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
PlayfulSatirical · 5% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film affectionately sends up the whodunit genre while playing its own mystery straight, balancing warmth with satirical edge.
The rideThe film maintains a constant, playful tension throughout its investigation, building to a high-stakes deduction sequence that delivers a cathartic and satisfying conclusion.
StructureThe story is told in a conventional linear fashion, following the investigation from discovery to resolution.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

The answer rests on this: Feel-goodFun
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you satisfied and amused, with a clever puzzle solved and a warm sense of justice.
How it ends · evidence
Happy endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MysteryPuzzle
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7% (this title): Puzzle 1% (this title) · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Puzzle: A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).

7% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeClassic whodunit set in a mansion with a closed circle of suspects; the puzzle unfolds through clues and misdirection.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfDeception
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% (this title) · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9% (this title)
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Deception · 9% of filmsJustice · 13% of filmsGreed · 3% of films
Satirizes its theme: Attacks its theme through ridicule.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film is centrally about hidden truths, elaborate lies, and the exposed moral rot of a wealthy family, all in service of a satisfying comeuppance.
StanceThe film takes a clear satirical aim at its primary theme of deception within a wealthy family, portraying their entitlement and dishonesty as both contemptible and richly entertaining.

The world

ContemporaryRuralDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernForeground music · original score · Nathan Johnson
SettingThe Thrombey family estate in Massachusetts
MusicThe score is playful and suspenseful, echoing classic whodunit scores with a contemporary twist built around a memorable central motif.

Content guide

Is Knives Out okay for kids?

PG-13

Knives Out is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including brief violence, some strong language, sexual references, and drug material” (MPAA). As of August 19, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (41/100), sexual content at minimal (15/100), language at intense (61/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (40/100) and frightening material at moderate (39/100). Overall it is heavier than 53% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 34 other countries
  • UK12A
  • CanadaPG
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • FranceTP
  • Ireland12A
  • New ZealandM
  • JapanG
  • South Korea12
  • Brazil14
  • Argentina+13
  • Czechia15+
  • Denmark11
  • FinlandK-12
  • GreeceK12
  • Hong KongIIB
  • Hungary12
  • Israel 12+
  • LTN-13
  • MexicoB
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway12
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/12
  • RO15
  • Russia16+
  • SingaporeNC16 (uncut) PG13 (edited)
  • SK12
  • Spain12
  • Sweden11
  • Switzerland12
  • Taiwan6+
  • Türkiye13+
  • UA12+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 34% of all filmsHeavier than 53% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 42%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 20%
Profanity
Intense
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 91%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 81%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 41%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Knives Out have?

MovieCove's classifier found 4 depicted content warnings in Knives Out: Drug overdose (moderate), Gore or body horror (mild), plus 2 withheld here because they would spoil the plot. 2 more are mentioned only, in dialogue or backstory: Hate-motivated violence, plus 1 behind the spoiler gate. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

ModerateDrug overdose
MildGore or body horror
MentionedHate-motivated violence

Mentioned: referenced in dialogue or backstory, not shown in the story’s present.

Cast and crew

Who is in Knives Out?

Cast

7 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Daniel Craig
as Benoit Blanc
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or ComedyTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Chris Evans
as Ransom Drysdale
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ana de Armas
as Marta Cabrera
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Jamie Lee Curtis
as Linda Drysdale
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Michael Shannon
as Walt Thrombey
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Don Johnson
as Richard Drysdale
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Toni Collette
as Joni Thrombey
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
LaKeith Stanfield
as Lieutenant Elliott
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Christopher Plummer
as Harlan Thrombey
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Katherine Langford
as Meg Thrombey

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Knives Out?

Movies like Knives Out include Glass Onion (2022), Death on the Nile (2022) and Wake Up Dead Man (2025). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films by Rian Johnson, and all are whodunits.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

5 of these 12 share its story type: puzzle. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Knives Out?

932 other films share the rarest tag below, premise: closed circle. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.