(Credit: Netflix)

Netflix is known for its best quality in almost all formats of content, but what it does best is its murder mysteries. But there is something everyone agrees upon. It’s that there are murder mysteries, and then there are Rian Johnson’s murder mysteries. Who doesn’t remember the first time Knives Out landed back in 2019?

It took the film just a couple of days before it became a global phenomenon. After that came Glass Onion, and Johnson again proved that the first one wasn’t just a fluke. And now, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery arrives at a time when we need it more than ever.

Since then, the director has been making films that feel both nostalgic and fresh. You can say that he knows the art of blending the comfort of a classic whodunit with the sly bite of modern satire.

Why Benoit Blanc matters now more than ever?

Think about it. Every new film of this series feels like its own never-ending mystery, packed with strange yet strong characters. Characters who have powerful egos, and then there are twists you could never predict. And that is why we need Wake Up Dead Man now more than ever.

Johnsons knows that people love a good murder mystery, but it doesn’t have to be a gritty thriller. That’s what the Knives Out films do best. They let us laugh at the rich, the careless, and the untouchable while still giving us the satisfaction of seeing the truth come out in the end.

And then, of course, there’s Benoit Blanc. Daniel Craig’s detective is exactly the kind of character we cling to right now. He is flamboyant but grounded in justice. In a world that often feels like it’s spiralling, Blanc is the reminder that someone is still paying attention, still asking the right questions, and still capable of cutting through the chaos. He isn’t perfect, but he is proof that decency and logic can win, even in a room full of liars.

The timing of Wake Up Dead Man also says something about what audiences are craving. Superhero fatigue is real. Nobody wants another hero who can fly and shoot electricity to save the world. Of course, you have prestige dramas, but they are heavier than ever.

Netflix also has a good collection of true crime shows and films, and while they are compelling, they often leave us unsettled rather than entertained. In this situation, a smart, stylish mystery feels like the antidote. It’s the kind of entertainment that makes us lean forward instead of switching off. Knives Out films have the type of stories that feel like a nice puzzle, where the punchline is equally important. Most importantly, here you actually get to leave with answers instead of cliffhangers.

Netflix knows this, of course. The Knives Out deal was one of its biggest swings, and it’s paying off because these films don’t just fill a slot. Instead, they become cultural events. People dress up for them, meme them, and argue over them. And in a time when streaming content feels disposable, Rian Johnson has built a franchise that actually feels like an occasion.

So yes, we needed Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery now more than ever. We needed the comfort of a whodunit, the thrill of a good twist, and the satisfaction of justice being served. Most of all, we needed Benoit Blanc to walk into another room full of suspects and remind us that even in the strangest times, there is still joy in solving the puzzle. All we have to do is wait till December 12th to find out who is the next murderer.