Rian Johnson’s New Murder Mystery Continues An Impressive 13-Year-Old Streak

Wake Up ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man is already continuing an outstanding streak for director Rian Johnson that has lasted for 13 years. Johnson’s Knives Out series has been a remarkable success, transforming Johnson into a modern Agatha Christie. His latest Whodunit finds Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc investigating the murder of a local monsignor in a small town in upstate New York.

The director once again recruited a stellar cast for Knives Out 3‘s characters that includes Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington, Thomas Haden Church, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, and Daryl McCormack. The first full trailer previewed the excellent cast, giving a glimpse at what their characters will bring to the table.

The Knives Out films have been consistent so far as both films were hits with critics and audiences. Even Glᴀss Onion performed well at the box office in its brief theatrical run before arriving on Netflix. Based on early reviews, Wake Up ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man is not only continuing a franchise trend, but is also keeping an impressive streak alive for Johnson.

Rian Johnson’s Last 5 Films All Have 91% Or Higher On Rotten Tomatoes

Daniel Craig Leaning Up Against a Tree in a Cemetery in Knives Out Wake Up ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man

Daniel Craig Leaning Up Against a Tree in a Cemetery in Knives Out Wake Up ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man

Wake Up ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. While only a few critics have shared their reviews online, it currently holds a 96% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 26 reviews. That’s already a great number, and ᴀssuming the reviews remain strong once more reviews come out, it should stay within that range.

Johnson’s latest film is the fifth in a row to receive a 91% or higher on RT, starting with 2012’s sci-fi thriller Looper, which holds a 93%. Knives Out holds a 97% and its sequel, Glᴀss Onion, earned a 91%. Despite the mixed reactions from audiences, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi was a hit with critics, and currently holds a 91%.

Year

Rian Johnson Movie

Rotten Tomatoes Score

2012

Looper

93%

2017

Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

91%

2019

Knives Out

97%

2022

Glᴀss Onion

91%

2025

Wake Up ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man

96%

Johnson has long found success with the Knives Out movies and beyond thanks to how they showcase his unique vision. The Last Jedi is still wildly divisive, but its boldness to break franchise and genre norms is what so many appreciate about it. That’s a hallmark of any Rian Johnson movie, and Wake Up ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man sounds no different.

Looper cleverly used time travel to tell a captivating story and was a clear level-up from a filmmaker who showcased great promise with 2005’s Brick and 2008’s The Brothers Bloom. The underrated sci-fi film kick-started this current streak, even if the reasons why Johnson found success can be seen in his prior work.

Besides Knives Out, his Peacock series, Poker Face, is another project that shows how his distinct blend of humorous characters and twists can create engaging mysteries. It has a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, too.

Wake Up ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man‘s early reviews show that he’s not just an engaging storyteller, but one of the most consistently great directors working today, no matter what genre he works in. This streak is evidence of the quality he continues to deliver.

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