10 Must-Watch Movies Like Knives Out And Glass Onion (Including 2025’s Biggest Whodunits)

The modern whodunit has officially made its grand return, transforming the classic murder mystery into a high-style, witty, and star-studded cinematic event. If you’ve devoured the intricate plotting of Knives Out and the glamorous satire of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, you know the craving for more is real—a hunger for snappy dialogue, a lavish setting, and an ensemble cast of suspicious characters. The great news is that the genre is thriving, with a new wave of films that perfectly blend old-school detective work with a fresh, contemporary edge.

As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the cinematic landscape is brimming with new and upcoming titles that capture the same spirit of Rian Johnson’s universe. From the next installment of the Benoit Blanc saga to dark-comedy thrillers and stylish, overlooked gems, this list provides the ultimate roadmap for fans seeking their next fix of clever, character-driven mystery. Prepare your detective hat and sharpen your wits—the game is afoot.

The New Wave of Whodunits: Upcoming & Recent Releases

The success of the Knives Out franchise has revitalized the ensemble mystery, proving that audiences still love to play along with a great detective. These are the newest and most anticipated titles that share the franchise’s DNA: a star-studded cast, a central, baffling mystery, and a healthy dose of dark humor.

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1. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)

The most anticipated entry on this list, Wake Up Dead Man is the third installment in Rian Johnson’s acclaimed series. Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) returns for what is being teased as his most dangerous mystery yet. The film promises to be a darker, more intense take on the whodunit formula, moving away from the sun-drenched satire of Glass Onion.

• Key Entities: Daniel Craig (as Benoit Blanc), Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Rian Johnson (Director).
• Why It’s Like Knives Out: It is the franchise. Expect the same high-caliber ensemble cast, intricate plotting, and Blanc's signature Southern drawl. The shift to a "darker" tone will keep the formula fresh.

2. The Thursday Murder Club (2025)

Based on the best-selling novel by Richard Osman, this film has all the hallmarks of a stylish, witty ensemble mystery. It follows four irrepressible retirees living in a peaceful retirement village who spend their time solving cold cases. When a real-life murder occurs on their doorstep, the club finds themselves in the middle of a live investigation.

• Key Entities: Helen Mirren (as Elizabeth Best), Pierce Brosnan (as Ron Ritchie), Ben Kingsley (as Ibrahim Arif), Celia Imrie, Chris Columbus (Director).
• Why It’s Like Knives Out: High-profile, multi-generational ensemble cast, a unique and luxurious setting (a retirement community), and a blend of comedy with serious murder mystery, echoing the satirical nature of Glass Onion.

3. It's What's Inside (2024)

While blending elements of sci-fi horror, this 2024 release is fundamentally a whodunit with a massive twist. Set entirely during a chaotic pre-wedding party, the mystery begins when an estranged friend arrives with a mysterious, body-swapping device. The subsequent chaos forces the ensemble cast to figure out who is who—and who is responsible for the escalating existential nightmare.

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• Key Entities: Brittany O'Grady, James Morosini, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Greg Jardin (Writer/Director), body-swapping device.
• Why It’s Like Knives Out: It’s a closed-room mystery (the party), featuring a large ensemble of wealthy, dysfunctional characters whose secrets are violently exposed, all delivered with a sharp, dark comedic tone.

4. Drop (2025)

This upcoming thriller is a high-concept, tight suspense film with a whodunit structure. The plot centers on Violet, a widowed mother whose first date in years descends into terror when she begins receiving threatening messages via an app called DigiDrop. The film introduces a small cast of plausible suspects, forcing Violet—and the audience—to figure out who is stalking her before it’s too late.

• Key Entities: Suspense thriller, DigiDrop app, widowed mother Violet, closed-circle suspects, modern technology mystery.
• Why It’s Like Knives Out: It employs the classic whodunit device of introducing multiple suspects at the story's onset, turning a seemingly simple scenario into a complex and dangerous puzzle.

Stylish & Witty Ensemble Mysteries You Might Have Missed

The true joy of the Rian Johnson films is their ability to deliver a genuine mystery while maintaining a stylish aesthetic and a wickedly witty script. These films, though not direct whodunits, perfectly capture that unique blend of tone and topical authority.

5. They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

This Netflix original is a brilliant mystery-comedy that tackles social commentary with a slick, neo-noir style. A trio of unlikely heroes—a drug dealer, a pimp, and a sex worker—uncover a vast government conspiracy involving cloning in their neighborhood. The film is a masterclass in stylish world-building and sharp, witty dialogue.

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• Key Entities: John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, Teyonah Parris, neo-noir style, social commentary, conspiracy thriller.
• Why It’s Like Knives Out: The mystery is complex and unspools slowly, the dialogue is relentlessly funny and smart, and the film uses the mystery genre to critique societal issues, much like Glass Onion satirizes the tech elite.

6. A Simple Favor (2018)

Directed by Paul Feig, this stylish black comedy thriller is a highly underrated gem. It follows a mommy blogger (Anna Kendrick) who attempts to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of her elegant, mysterious, and wealthy friend (Blake Lively). The film is packed with twists, high fashion, and a central mystery that keeps you guessing until the final moments.

• Key Entities: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Paul Feig (Director), black comedy, fashion, disappearance mystery.
• Why It’s Like Knives Out: It has a stylish, affluent setting, a complex web of lies and secrets among the wealthy, and a tone that balances dark thrills with genuine comedic moments.

7. The Nice Guys (2016)

A spiritual successor to the buddy-cop genre, this Shane Black-directed film is a prime example of a mystery driven by razor-sharp, witty dialogue. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, two private investigators (Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe) are forced to team up to investigate the disappearance of a young woman and the death of a porn star. The mystery is secondary to the incredible chemistry and hilarious script.

• Key Entities: Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Shane Black (Director), 1970s Los Angeles, buddy-cop, witty dialogue.
• Why It’s Like Knives Out: The emphasis on character-driven comedy and brilliantly crafted, snappy dialogue is a direct match for the tone of the Benoit Blanc films.

The Classic & Influential Whodunits

To fully appreciate the modern whodunit, it’s essential to acknowledge the classics and the films that paved the way for Rian Johnson's success. These titles are integral to the genre's topical authority.

8. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Before The Nice Guys, Shane Black perfected his witty, self-aware mystery style with this neo-noir comedy. A petty thief (Robert Downey Jr.) is mistaken for an actor and accidentally gets entangled with a private investigator (Val Kilmer) and a struggling actress (Michelle Monaghan) in a complex Hollywood murder mystery. The film constantly breaks the fourth wall and revels in its cleverness.

• Key Entities: Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Shane Black, neo-noir, self-aware humor, Hollywood mystery.
• Why It’s Like Knives Out: It is a foundational text for the "witty dialogue mystery," demonstrating that a complex murder plot can be delivered with non-stop humor and meta-commentary.

9. Murder Mystery (2019) & Murder Mystery 2 (2023)

This Netflix two-part franchise is the ultimate high-concept, low-stakes mystery-comedy. Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston play a working-class couple who find themselves framed for murder on a billionaire’s yacht (in the first film) and then caught up in a kidnapping at a private island wedding (in the sequel). While broader in humor than Knives Out, the premise is pure Agatha Christie.

• Key Entities: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Netflix, billionaire’s yacht, private island, Agatha Christie influence.
• Why It’s Like Knives Out: It’s a direct modern homage to the closed-circle whodunit, featuring a lavish, exotic setting and a large cast of eccentric, wealthy suspects, all filtered through a comedic lens.

10. Clue (1985)

No list of great ensemble mysteries is complete without the film adaptation of the classic board game. Set in a secluded mansion, the film features a brilliant ensemble cast of characters—all named after the board game pieces—who try to figure out which of them is the murderer. The film is famous for its multiple endings, encouraging repeat viewings and interactive sleuthing.

• Key Entities: Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, board game adaptation, secluded mansion, multiple endings, classic ensemble comedy.
• Why It’s Like Knives Out: It is the definitive reference for the comedic, closed-room ensemble mystery. Its witty script, over-the-top characters, and focus on the mechanics of the whodunit make it a clear spiritual predecessor to Rian Johnson's work.

The Enduring Appeal of the Modern Whodunit

The enduring popularity of films like Knives Out and Glass Onion lies in their ability to offer more than just a puzzle. They provide a satisfying blend of escapism, intellectual challenge, and social satire. By gathering an ensemble cast of complex, often morally dubious characters in a stylish, isolated setting, the films allow the audience to become an active participant in the investigation, alongside the brilliant, eccentric detective.

This new wave of mystery movies, from the upcoming intensity of Wake Up Dead Man to the cozy charm of The Thursday Murder Club, ensures that the whodunit genre is not just surviving but thriving. Whether you prefer the dark comedy of *It's What's Inside* or the retro style of *The Nice Guys*, there is a clever, witty, and stylish mystery waiting to be solved.