20 Best Movies Like Knives Out That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Movies Like Knives Out

What are the finest films that are similar to Knives out? Rian Johnson’s critically acclaimed thriller was influenced by a number of other movies that fans should watch.

An original film by Rian Johnson in a year full with comic book movies, rehashes, and sequels stands out as one of the year’s most enjoyable entertainments. A affluent family’s elder patriarch dies at a family gathering in Knives Out, a classic whodunit murder mystery.

The movie was a hit with audiences thanks to its stellar cast, intelligent writing, and plenty of laughs. Despite the fact that it has a unique vibe and does an excellent job of playing with genre conventions, there are a number of excellent films that have a similar sense of intrigue.

Colin McCormick updated this page on October 25, 2021: The arrival of autumn means that moviegoers are on the lookout for appropriate fare to enjoy during this season. Knives Out has become a must-see film for the next autumn season, and it does so while simultaneously presenting an intriguing murder mystery. Knives Out is a terrific choice for fans of Rian Johnson’s comedic style, but there are a number of excellent alternatives for those looking for something new to watch in the wake of the Rian Johnson sequels.

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Accessible via Prime Video, Hulu, Topic, Spectrum on Demand, and ARROW.

James Bond actor Daniel Craig has featured in a variety of noteworthy ventures outside of the Bond series, despite his enduring fame. The remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, starring Benoit Blanc as Benoit Blanc, is also a good choice for fans of Knives Out.

On behalf of the affluent family, Craig is engaged by the patriarch as a private investigator to look into the murder of his niece decades previously. On top of that, Christopher Plummer portrays the patriarch in this film as well. This is a darker mystery story than the previous one, so fans should be aware of that.

2. Mystery Team (2009)

Mystery Team (2009)

All of the above-mentioned services can be accessed via the Roku, Hoopla and VUDU Free, as well as Redbox and Pluto TV.

Rian Johnson’s Knives Out definitely draws inspiration from Agatha Christie novels. Similarly, Mystery Team seems to be influenced by classics like The Hardy Boys, but with an R-rated slant.

As a gang of high school seniors, they are the outsiders because of their early fixation with solving local crimes. But when they are recruited to investigate a murder, the young guys find themselves in over their heads. It’s a witty and unique dark comedy that should be seen by more people.

3. The Brothers Bloom (2008)

In addition to the above, the film can be viewed on YouTube, Hoopla, VUDU, Tubi TV and Kanopy as well as on Redbox, Mubi and Pluto TV.

Even though Rian Johnson has worked on big-budget films like Star Wars: The Last Jedi, he prefers smaller mysteries. starring Mark Ruffalo and Adrien Brody as a couple of scam artists, TheBrothers Bloom was Johnson’s second feature-length film.

As with the previous film, this one shows how Johnson can honor a genre while simultaneously having fun with its conventions. It’s an entertaining caper, made much better by the colorful cast.

4. Murder By Death (1976)

Murder By Death (1976)

Apple TV users can rent this movie.

Despite the fact that Knives Out toys with with the murder mystery premise in witty and smart ways, it never crosses over into parody territory. But if you’re searching for a full-blown comedy in the genre, Murder by Death is a great choice.

It’s a dinner party murder mystery with a twist: the guests are all detectives from around the globe. While it’s wonderful fun when a mystery presents itself, it’s much better when the various sleuth archetypes compete to solve it.

5. Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Benoit Blanc has the potential to become one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time because to the success of Knives Out and its planned sequels. However, no character can match Sherlock Holmes when it comes to that.

With Robert Downey Jr. in the role, Holmes was given a big-budget makeover. There are some interesting mystery aspects thrown in for good measure in this period-style action film. In addition, Downey Jr.’s Holmes and Jude Law’s Watson are a standout.

6. The Nice Guys (2016)

Even though Rian Johnson’s picture falls squarely within the murder mystery genre, it manages to mess with the rules of the genre in a variety of unexpected ways. Shane Black’s brilliant crime-comedy The Nice Guys also pulls off this technique.

It stars Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe as two private eyes who team up to investigate a missing-person case.. A lover of the hard-boiled detective genre, Black has a distinct viewpoint on how to play with the rules of those films.

7. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

At its heart, Knives Out is a story about a troubled family unit. As soon as they don’t get what they want, the Thrombeys transform into a bunch of rambunctious youngsters.

Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums, despite its lack of a murder mystery, has a lot in common with the Trombeys. The Tenenbaums are likewise a bunch of bright and wealthy people who come together in one large dysfunctional party where their own personal troubles are brought to the forefront.

8. Sleuth (1972)

Knives Out was influenced by a number of other films, but there are a few that had a direct impact on the film’s development. Sleuth was one of many influences cited by director Rian Johnson.

Actor Laurence Olivier portrays a famous detective novelist in the 1972 picture, in which he plays cat-and-mouse with his wife’s lover, Michael Caine. Film director Gary Johnson has admitted that he borrowed the distant and enormous house setting for his own films.

9. Deathtrap (1982)

Deathtrap (1982)

In a murder mystery, persons who are involved in the creative process are interesting characters. Picture director Sidney Lumet’s 1982 film Deathtrap stars Michael Caine as an unsuccessful playwright who plots to murder and steal the work of a more talented up and coming playwright (Christopher Reeves).

The film provides a creative and original twist on the genre. Also, it’s amusing in a really dark way, which makes Knives Out one of the most enjoyable movies.

10. Ready Or Not (2019)

Knives Out manages to be both a gripping murder mystery and a thought-provoking look at power and privilege inequality at the same time. It was a common motif in several of this year’s movies, including the horror-comedy Ready or Not.

Weaving plays a young woman who will be married into a wealthy board game-playing family in the film, and her performance is a breakout one. A deadly game of hide-and-seek ensues on her wedding night, though. If you’ve never seen it, it’s a crazy, hilarious, and gory romp.

11. Brick (2005)

Brick (2005)

Johnson’s first excursion into the mystery genre was not Knives Out. As a matter of fact, Brick was the director’s first feature-length film. While investigating the disappearance of his ex, Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as a high school student.

With an old-fashioned detective story, the film is set in a modern high school. The film’s unique and captivating vibe is enhanced by the use of a stylised approach. And much like any good mystery film, the central enigma keeps you on your toes the entire time.

12. Scream (1996)

The “whodunit” mystery may often be used in horror films as the targeted adolescents struggle to figure out who the culprit is as they are killed off one by one in their stories. The Ghostface killer stalks the heroes in Scream, which follows a similar plot arc. Horror clichés are used effectively throughout the film.

With characters who have seen all the traditional slasher films, this movie effectively avoids clichés. To keep the audience guessing until the killer is ultimately exposed in an effective manner, the movie does a terrific job of playing with those assumptions.

13. Bad Times At The El Royale (2018)

Bad Times At The El Royale (2018)

One of the nice things about Knives Out is watching some of the best actors in the business together on the big screen and playing characters with their own secrets. Bad Times at the El Royale, another underappreciated classic, has a similar structure. All of the stars of the film are cast as strangers who come together in the motel in the title, including Jeff Bridges and Dakota Johnson.

Each character’s backstory is gradually revealed in the film, and the paths of these people begin to cross.

14. Identity (2003)

An unnamed motel guest in the rainy night of Identity is just like the strangers in Bad Times at the El Royale. As the others try to figure out which of the visitors is the assassin, the guests begin to die one by one.

The cast includes John Cusack, Amanda Peet, and Ray Liotta in a twisting thriller. Even though the ending reveal was a letdown for some, the film maintains an excellent dark and scary tone that keeps you riveted to your seat.

15. Green For Danger (1946)

Green For Danger (1946)

When it comes to movies Johnson would have drawn inspiration from as a kid, Green for Danger, an earlier murder thriller, fits the bill. Forensics detectives are looking into the death of an anesthesiologist in this film, which features Alastair Sim as the detective.

This investigator, like Daniel Craig’s Southern homicidal detective in Knives Out, is an eccentric one who brings a lot of humor to the murder case. The movie gradually reveals layers of mystery until the ultimate, rewarding reveal that was right in front of you the whole time..

16. Game Night (2018)

Despite the fact that Knives Out is about an alleged murder, the comedy is not lacking. Game Night is another great mystery comedy that combines humor and suspense. As a couple, Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams are hosting a game night with their pals. As a result, they find themselves in a world of peril as their murder mystery turns out to be true

Having a stellar ensemble to work with adds a lot of life to this intelligent and funny plot. The chuckles keep getting bigger as the stakes get higher and more ludicrous.

17. Murder On The Orient Express (2017)

Murder On The Orient Express (2017)

Johnson admits that Agatha Christie is a major influence on Knives Out. Murder on the Orient Express is one of the most popular mysteries ever written by the famed author.

Kenneth Branagh’s 2017 rendition of the narrative is the most recent version worth seeing. Kenneth Branagh portrays the famous and eccentric investigator Hercule Poirot in a murder investigation on an expensive train. Exciting adventure is provided by an all-star group of actors, an intriguing mystery, and Branagh’s witty performance.

18. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Whodunits and hard-boiled detective stories have a lot in common. Similarly to Knives Out, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang employs a similar mystery structure but subverts the genre clichés.

An investigation into the death of a young woman leads Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer to uncover a greater plot. A wonderful buddy action ride and a sophisticated mystery are woven together in Shane Black’s funny script.

19. Gosford Park (2001)

Gosford Park (2001)

Despite the film’s hackneyed concept, Robert Altman transforms it into a gripping thriller. Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, and Clive Owen are some of the best actors in the business, lending their talents to a familiar yet compelling subject.

An examination of social inequalities and who wields authority in a household like this is woven into this mystery. If you’re looking for something that’s both amusing and scary, this is the story for you.

20. Clue (1985)

Clue (1985)

Clue established that making a movie out of a board game can be done well. Colonel Mustard and Miss Scarlet attend a party at a mansion where the host is assassinated and the others must find the killer’s identity. The movie is based on the popular game.

Moviegoers will enjoy the premise and array of characters, led by Tim Curry as the butler, who does an excellent job. Fast-paced jokes per minute make the film a joy to see.

knives out

As a senior writer at Screen Rant, Colin McCormick has been a part of the team since 2019. Colin also contributes news, features, and reviews to Game Rant in addition to his job as Screen Rant. As far back as the first time he saw The Lion King in the theater, Colin has had an insatiable desire to see movies on the big screen ever since. Colin is also a fan of the latest must-watch television shows. In addition to finding exciting projects in any genre, he has a special place in his heart for movies based on Elmore Leonard’s novels that are laced with a smattering of black humour.