Overview
A clever detective unravels a tangled web of family secrets and lies in a luxurious estate.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- sardonic
- suspenseful
- mystery night
- group movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a sharply written, stylishly entertaining revival of the classic whodunit, driven by its ensemble and inventive mystery construction.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Benoit Blanc's investigation invites viewers to weigh contradictory family accounts and sift through a dense network of red herrings.
Harlan Thrombey's death turns his dysfunctional family against one another as they compete over wealth and approval.
Benoit Blanc is presented as a debonair, idiosyncratic investigator whose manner and language add comic flair to the inquiry.
The Thrombey family's self-serving behavior contrasts with Marta Cabrera's position as a devoted staff member and immigrant.
Films like Knives Out, and why
Gosford Park
shared whodunit structure, eccentric detective, red herrings, and playful ensemble comedy
Murder on the Orient Express
shared Agatha Christie-inspired murder mystery, wealthy suspects, and lavish estate setting
The Grand Budapest Hotel
shared sardonic crime plotting, family conflict, and stylish mystery-comedy tone
Clue
shared contemporary detective mystery, sharp dialogue, and privileged social milieu
Movie Details
- Director
- Rian Johnson
- Release Date
- 2019-11-27
- Runtime
- 131 min
- Rating
- 7.8 / 10 (14554)
Cast
- Daniel Craig
- Chris Evans
- Ana de Armas
- Jamie Lee Curtis
- Michael Shannon
- Don Johnson
- Toni Collette
- LaKeith Stanfield
- Christopher Plummer
- Katherine Langford
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Knives Out about?
- A flamboyant detective untangles a wealthy family's poisonous lies after a celebrated crime novelist dies at his own estate.
- What is Knives Out like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Knives Out as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Knives Out violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Knives Out as mild.
- What did critics think of Knives Out?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a sharply written, stylishly entertaining revival of the classic whodunit, driven by its ensemble and inventive mystery construction.
- Which films are like Knives Out?
- Films with a similar feel include Gosford Park, Murder on the Orient Express, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Clue.
- How long is Knives Out?
- Knives Out runs 131 minutes.
- Where can I watch Knives Out?
- In United States, Knives Out streams on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel.
