--- title: "Knives Out: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/knives-out/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/knives-out" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Knives Out (2019): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 13 reviews: 9 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find Knives Out a funny, carefully plotted revival of the whodunnit, with Rian Johnson updating familiar conventions without losing their pleasures. Praise centres on the script’s construction and the ensemble, particularly Daniel Craig’s eccentric detective and Ana de Armas’s central performance. The reviews also welcome the treatment of inherited wealth, entitlement and snobbery, finding that the social commentary gives the comedy bite without getting in the way of the mystery. The spread runs from enthusiasm to qualified enjoyment, with reservations chiefly about how insistently clever it all feels. The Evening Standard finds the staging overly theatrical and the emotional engagement limited, while Vulture enjoys the actors but finds the final explanations confusing. Other reservations concern polished dialogue, thin characterisation and length; the disagreement is largely over whether the intricate plotting and busy performances remain entertaining enough to carry those weaknesses. ## Radio Times — Huw Fullerton Rating 5/5. 28 November 2019. Knives Out is a brilliantly political, funny and well-plotted story that pays homage to the whodunnit without pastiching it and is probably Johnson's best film yet. The critic singles out the thoughtful exploration of inherited wealth and snobbery, anchored by Ana de Armas. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/knives-out-review/) ## Sight and Sound — Kate Stables Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 28 November 2019. The critic praises Rian Johnson's inventive and witty comedy-thriller as a crowd-pleasing revival of the whodunnit genre. They single out the kinetic energy and puzzle-solving pleasures delivered by Daniel Craig's eccentric detective. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/knives-out-review-rian-johnson-revives-whodunnit-with-crowd-pleasing-panache) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 4/4/4. 27 November 2019. Johnson delivers a riotous, star-packed homage to the classic whodunnit that moves at a breathless pace while airing dirty laundry on class and politics. The critic notes some one-note characters but highlights the satisfying finale and final twist. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/knives-out) ## The i Paper — Demetrios Matheou Rating 4/5. 28 November 2019. Johnson’s modern riff on the Agatha Christie whodunnit is called gloriously entertaining, with Craig’s Columbo-like Blanc singled out as a delightfully curious highlight. The critic praises the strong ensemble turns, especially from de Armas and Evans, and the contemporary social commentary woven into the twists. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/knives-out-review-daniel-craig-offers-a-delightfully-curious-performance-with-a-bold-touch-of-columbo-368299) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 November 2019. Rian Johnson dusts off the Agatha Christie whodunit with a sleek, cleverly machined puzzle box that entertains through twists and an all-star cast. The critic praises the director’s obvious pleasure in the genre and the film’s exacting construction over its surprises. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/26/movies/knives-out-review.html) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 September 2019. Festival review. The film is a celebration of murder mysteries that puts on a nifty impression of one, with a smartly executed finale that is oddly touching. The critic singles out the rampant cleverness, twists and the human story emerging amid the swagger. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/knives-out-toronto-review/5142705.article) ## Evening Standard — David Sexton Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 29 November 2019. The film is described as a self-reflexive parody and summation of the whodunnit genre packed with clever twists, flashbacks and genre conventions. While splendidly cast and entertaining as a puzzle, it is criticised for being overly theatrical and stagey with little emotional engagement. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/knives-out-review-whodunnit-sleuth-daniel-is-here-to-find-out-a4300081.html) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 3/5. 25 November 2019. The film is a retro pleasure with murder, skulduggery and clever plotting, often deliriously fun despite overly lacquered dialogue. The critic singles out the unexpected Trumpian comeuppance theme and Ana de Armas's central role. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/knives-out) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 27 November 2019. The critic finds it comfy and enjoyable with terrific actors who relish the material and rich white bigots getting their comeuppance. He singles out the high style, self-conscious writing, and confusing final revelations as drawbacks. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2019/11/knives-out-movie-review-rian-johnsons-whodunit.html) ## Empire — Nick de Semlyen 25 November 2019. The critic calls it a sly, wry and nimble modern homage to classic murder mysteries that is exactly as fun as hoped. Johnson is praised for updating the genre while retaining its tropes, with standout performances from the ensemble and a sharp political subtext. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/knives-out/) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang 22 November 2019. Rian Johnson’s magnificently crafted tale is ingenious and irresistible, a criminally good time that weaponizes the pleasures of the classical detective story while delivering an eat-the-rich buffet of schadenfreude. The critic singles out the airtight plotting, comic high jinks, and Ana de Armas’s evolution into a commanding truth-teller. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-11-22/la-et-mn-knives-out-review-rian-johnson) ## RogerEbert.com — Brian Tallerico 25 November 2019. Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” is one of the most purely entertaining films in years, a cinematic magic trick that keeps viewers guessing while delivering scathing social commentary on class and America in 2019. The critic singles out the ingenious whodunit structure and Ana de Armas’s central performance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/knives-out-2019) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 29 November 2019. The critic finds Rian Johnson's whodunnit an entertaining, humorous country-house mystery with strong performances, especially Daniel Craig as the eccentric detective Benoit Blanc, and notes its social satire on class and family dysfunction, though it lacks some of the expected narrative twists. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/29/knives-out-review-daniel-craig-rian-johnson) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 7 September 2019. Festival review. The critic calls it a delicious throwback to the all-star whodunit and a juicy comedy thriller that is a treat from start to finish. He singles out the ingeniously plotted script, the crackerjack ensemble cast, and the subversive class commentary. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/knives-out-tiff-2019-1237825/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge 7 September 2019. Festival review. Rian Johnson pays crowd-pleasing tribute to classic whodunits with a wondrously convoluted case and an over-the-top ensemble, treating the brain teaser as comedy. The critic praises the intricate plotting and the way the film makes a statement about wealth and entitlement without the usual cheese. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/knives-out-review-1203327504/) ## HeyUGuys — Adam Solomons Rating 5/5. 11 September 2019. Festival review. The critic calls it one of the funniest films of the year, praising the complex whodunit, subversive humor, and standout performances from the all-star cast including Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas. They note its theatrical style and appeal as a welcome original studio comedy. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/knives-out-review/) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 9.5/10. 27 November 2019. The critic describes the film as a deliriously funny and endlessly entertaining whodunit with clever twists, an homage to classic mysteries, and a superb ensemble cast having a great time. They single out Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc and Ana de Armas's Marta as highlights in a giddy, twist-filled experience. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/568943/knives-out-review/) ## Film Stories Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 November 2019. The critic praises the film's gleeful fun and excellent ensemble cast, especially Daniel Craig's detective Benoit Blanc, while noting it feels slightly too long. They highlight the witty script rooted in classic mysteries and the sheer entertainment value as standout elements. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/knives-out-review-lots-of-wool-lots-of-fun/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 27 November 2019. The critic finds it a perfectly entertaining whodunnit but ultimately disappointing, noting that the promising ensemble and ambitious mystery tropes aren't fully utilized. The all-star cast and mansion setting receive praise but are underused. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/knives-out-film-review-rian-johnson-chris-evans-jamie-lee-curtis/) ## Collider — Adam Chitwood 27 November 2019. Festival review. The critic calls Knives Out a supremely entertaining whodunit that blends Agatha Christie mystery, Hitchcock thriller, and broad comedy with perfect precision into a remarkable whole. They single out the impeccably constructed script and the star-studded ensemble's performances for praise. [Read the review](https://collider.com/knives-out-review-rian-johnson/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 4 out of 5. 25 November 2019. The critic calls it one of 2019's sharpest films and an absolute blast thanks to Rian Johnson's surehanded writing and direction. The standout ensemble cast, led by Ana de Armas and Daniel Craig, is singled out for bringing fresh energy to the whodunit. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/knives-out-review-daniel-craig/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/knives-out.md