Two men sitting in the front seats of a vintage car at night. The driver (Daniel Craig), an man with graying hair and beard wearing a tan coat, grips the steering wheel while leooking ahead with a serious expression. In the passenger seat, a younger man (Josh O’Connor) with dark hair wearing a dark jacket holds a white paper bag. The scene is dimly lit with warm, golden lighting filtering through the car windows, creating a moody, film noir atmosphere. Rain droplets are visible on the windshield.

About BFI LFF 2025: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

He solved the murder of a patriarch of a bitter, feuding family. He entered the labyrinthine world of a tech bro to peel away the layers of deceit and treachery to reveal their murderer. Now Benoit Blanc faces his toughest challenge yet – he’s going to church!

Rian Johnson’s detective mastermind, gamely portrayed by Daniel Craig, has become one of the great fictional crime solvers. Part-Agatha Christie detective, a la Poirot and Marple, with a little of Arthur Conan Doyle’s eccentric super sleuth Sherlock Holmes thrown in for good measure, yet Blanc is a singular creation.

What also made previous entries of the Benoit Blanc mysteries, is the extraordinary roster of actors who populate Johnson’s intricately drawn worlds. In honouring the spirit of these brilliantly crafted films, we wouldn’t dare reveal any secrets, but the fact that Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery stars Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Cailee Spaeny, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church and Andrew Scott, alongside Craig, is a solid lead that you will be kept guessing and wildly entertained with this killer Opening Night Gala.

Presented as part of the 69th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express.

Priority booking for Supporters' Circle members will open on 10 September 2025 at 10am. General Admission tickets will go on sale on 16 September 2025 at 10am.

Booking info

To book Accessible tickets and free Companion tickets, please visit our Accessible Bookings page. Companion tickets will initially show a standard ticket price, but once your account is set-up and you are logged in, this will be reduced to £0 at checkout.

Duration includes trailers, adverts and any Q&A/panel. For events such as NT Live, Colour Box and Reel & Meal there will be minimal advertising. We do not admit latecomers after the main feature has started and we have a limited food & drink policy.

MAC’s cinema programme has been generously supported by BFI Film Audience Network and Film Hub Midlands.

Dates and times