Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery hits Netflix this Friday, December 12, 2025, bringing Benoit Blanc back for his darkest and twistiest case yet. Daniel Craig returns as the legendary Southern sleuth, drawn into a chilling new mystery tied to a small-town church, buried sins, and a death that refuses to stay in the past. With a moodier, more gothic tone than Knives Out and Glass Onion, this new chapter promises razor-sharp turns, rich atmosphere, and the kind of slow-burn suspense that’s perfect for a December movie night.
Joined by a stacked ensemble cast—including Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, and more—Blanc finds himself surrounded by liars, believers, and survivors, each hiding something worth killing for. As secrets rise to the surface and loyalties splinter, the question isn’t just who did it, but what waking the dead will cost everyone involved. Queue it up on Netflix this Friday and let the guessing game begin.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery ~ Photo by John Wilson ~ Courtesy of NETFLIXWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery ~ Photo by John Wilson ~ Courtesy of NETFLIXWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery ~ PHOTO BY FRANK OCKENFELS ~ Courtesy of NETFLIXWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery ~ Movie Poster ~ Courtesy of NETFLIX
Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) is the glue that holds her chaotic, lovable family together every holiday season. From perfectly frosted cookies to meticulously wrapped gifts, no one decks the halls quite like Claire. But this year, after planning a special outing for her family, they make a crucial mistake and leave her home alone. Fed up and feeling under appreciated, she sets off on an impromptu adventure of her own. As her family scrambles to find her, Claire discovers the unexpected magic of a Christmas gone off-script.
With a dazzling ensemble cast including Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, Dominic Sessa, Danielle Brooks, Devery Jacobs, Havana Rose Liu, Maude Apatow, Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria and Joan Chen, and directed by Michael Showalter, Oh. What. Fun. is a spirited holiday comedy that honors and celebrates every overworked holiday host.
THE MOVIE REVIEW:
Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) has a Christmas problem, she feels under-appreciated. Year after year she goes all out, decorating, baking, shopping, planning, cooking, wrapping presents, getting the entire extended family together and keeping them happy and festive. Her husband Nick doesn’t help as much as she would like, but then he is a guy. There is a Best Holiday Mom Contest being held by her favorite TV Talk show hosted by Zazzy Tims. Claire would love nothing more than to be nominated by her children but they are so busy with their lives they forget to nominate her.
As Christmas Eve approaches there are festive fiascos around the house as the family piles in one after another, bringing their own personal dramas with them. Claire also has a long running animosity with the neighbor family next door, the two Mom’s always trying to one up each other during the holidays. The Final straw for Claire comes when the whole family is getting ready to go to a Christmas show in the city. As they are piling into different cars in the rush to go, Claire pops over to her rival neighbor to give her a homemade Christmas goodie bag. With the family all thinking that she is in one of the other cars, they leave Mom Claire behind.
When Claire realizes that her family has left her behind, it was the last straw. She packs a few things as well as some Christmas snacks and heads off in her car. She’s had enough, she is leaving the family. Depressed, frustrated and under-appreciated she hits the road not knowing where she is going. And that’s where the rest of this Festive fiasco takes us, following Claire’s new forlorn, underappreciated Christmas alone and her family’s stark realization that Claire has had enough, packed her bag and hit the road.
As I watched, I couldn’t help but think of Christmas Vacation. I don’t know if it was intentionally paying homage to, or trying to duplicate some of the humorous holiday scenes we all know and love in Christmas Vacation. It was no where near as funny as the classic Christmas Vacation. I feel like it was trying too hard. The names of the characters were a little out there, Eva Langoria as Zazzy Tims? Chloë Grace Moritz brought her girlfriend DJ Sweatpants? Claire’s arch nemesis neighbor Jeanne Wang-Wasserman? Sammy’s girlfriend is named Mae-Bell?
It was alright, a little campy and not as funny as I think they wanted it to be. I think if you are a guy, you are not gonna get it nor like it. If you are a gal, Mom or Grandmother, I think you are going to be right on top of the bandwagon. This Christmas Catastrophe is made for women about women being under-appreciated at the holidays.
Get in the Holiday Spirit with the new Holiday Rom-Com Merv starring Zooey Deschanel, Charlie Cox, Chris Redd, and Patricia Heaton. Streaming Globally on Prime Video Wednesday December 10th, 2025.
When their beloved dog Merv loses his spark after their split, Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) are forced into the world’s most awkward co-parenting arrangement. Hoping to shake Merv out of his funk, Russ takes him to Florida for a much-needed getaway—only for Anna to show up unexpectedly. As Merv slowly gets his groove back, turns out fixing their dog’s broken heart may lead to a few sparks of their own.
Between Netflix and Prime, there are 5 New Movie Releases this week!
The Fakenapping (a Saudi Arabian comedy film, originally in Arabic), Lost in the Spotlight (an Indonesian comedy-drama film, originally in Indonesian) and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (the third installment in the Knives Out Movie Franchise) all debut on Netflix this week.
While Prime brings us Merv (a Holiday Rom-com starring Zooey Deschanel) and Tell Me Softly (a Spanish Romance Movie).
NETFLIX:
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Babylon December 7
2022 R
A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.
Brad Pitt Margot Robbie Jean Smart
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Cast Away December 7
2000 PG-13
A FedEx executive undergoes a physical and emotional transformation after crash landing on a deserted island.
Tom Hanks Helen Hunt Paul Sanchez
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The Fakenapping December 10
2025 Unrated
Failed entrepreneur Sattam finds himself tangled in a madcap scheme when he decides to repay his debts by kidnapping his own father.
Abdullah AlDaris Mohammed Aldokhei Saeed Alewiran
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Lost in the Spotlight December 11
2025 Unrated
A narcissistic performer’s world crumbles when he mysteriously loses his talent right before the biggest opportunity of his career.
Vino G. Bastian Dea Panendra Agus Kuncoro
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Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery December 12
(New Movie)
2025 PG-13
Benoit Blanc returns for his most dangerous case yet.
Daniel Craig Josh O’Connor Glenn Close
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The Talented Mr. Ripley December 13
1999 R
In late 1950s New York, a young underachiever named Tom Ripley is sent to Italy to retrieve Dickie Greenleaf, a rich and spoiled millionaire playboy. But when the errand fails, Ripley takes extreme measures.
Matt Damon Gwyneth Paltrow Jude Law
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PRIME:
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Transformers: The Last Knight December 9
2017 PG-13
A deadly threat from Earth’s history reappears and a hunt for a lost artifact takes place between Autobots and Decepticons, while Optimus Prime encounters his creator in space.
Mark Wahlberg Anthony Hopkins Josh Duhamel
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Merv December 10
2025 PG
A recently separated couple take their shared dog on a holiday trip to cheer him up, but end up reconnecting romantically.
Zooey Deschanel Charlie Cox Ellyn Jameson
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Tell Me Softly December 12
2025 Unrated
Kamila’s life turns upside down when the Di Bianco brothers return after 7 years. Thiago gave her first kiss, Taylor was her protector. Now she’s changed, but they still have a way of getting through to her like no one else can.
Henry Cavill stars as Major Gus March-Phillips who is brought out of Military Prison by Brigadier Colin Gubbins “M” and Ian Fleming late 1941 in England during World War II. He is tasked with headingOperation Postmaster, a last resort mission dreamt up by Winston Churchill, “M” and Ian. An unsanctioned secret operation to go to the Spanish island of Fernando Po in Africa, where the Nazi’s are resupplying their U-boats that are decimating the Royal Navy fleet, and destroy the resupply ships.
Accompanied by Irishman Henry Hayes(Hero Fiennes Tiffin), Freddy “The Buzz” “Frogman” Alvarez(Henry Golding), and “The Danish Hammer” Anders Lassen(Alan Ritchson), they sail around the coast of Africa to La Palma Canary Islands where they storm a Nazi Garrison and extract Geoffrey Appleyard(Alex Pettyfer). They then continue on the Swedish fishing Trawler Maid Of Honor to the Spanish port of Fernando Po to destroy the Nazi resupply ships. A suicide mission fraught with perils and unexpected twists and turns. They sail between the British Navy ships on one side who will incarcerate them and the Nazi U-boats on the other that will kill them.
This is based on the true story of the first Black Ops before there was such a thing. The beginnings of Agencies like the Navy Seals, CIA and other world agencies that were spawned to do the dirty work under the radar. Gus March-Phillips was the inspiration for James Bond in Ian Flemings novels. Sir Christopher Lee who starred in and was a consultant on numerous James Bond movies, was a member of The Ministry Of Gentlemanly Warfare in it’s early days. He was also second cousin to Ian Fleming.
Cavill delivers his most charismatic performance since The Man from U.N.C.L.E., channeling that mustached grit with Guy Ritchie flair, while his co-stars, like a sharp-shooting Eiza González and the ever-reliable Alan Ritchson, match his energy beat for beat. Christopher Lee’s nod to real history adds gravitas, reminding us these men and women changed the course of history.
A thrilling blend of fact, legend, and adrenaline-fueled storytelling, this is one of the best True Story war films of recent years. These men and women helped change the course of history. It’s a fantastic story well told and portrayed by all involved in this movie. I love the True Story Movies and I love this one.
A great adventure!
Well done and highly recommended!
Two Thumbs Up
Alex Pettyfer, Alan Ritchson, Henry Cavill, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Henry Goldin in THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE. Photo Credit: Dan Smith for Lionsgate. Courtesy of Lionsgate.
STREAMING MOVIE NIGHT 