New Netflix Thriller Dethrones Jay Kelly to Claim the #1 Spot in Top 10 Movies
Netflix’s Top 10 just flipped: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery slices into the No. 1 spot in the U.S., knocking Jay Kelly off the throne as the platform’s most-watched movie.
Rian Johnson just did it again. 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' hit Netflix and immediately muscled its way to the top of the U.S. movie chart, even bumping off 'Jay Kelly' for the crown. If you were wondering what would finally wake up the Top 10 in December, apparently it was Benoit Blanc back on the case.
By the numbers
- #1 on Netflix's U.S. Top 10 movies list in the second week of December
- Most-watched English-language film on Netflix that week
- 20.2 million views shortly after its streaming debut
- #1 in 39 countries worldwide, per Netflix's Top 10 overview
What the new mystery is actually about
Daniel Craig returns as private detective Benoit Blanc, this time in a quiet upstate New York town where a death inside a church turns the place upside down. The victim is Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, played by Josh Brolin, found dead during a Good Friday service. After a series of clashes between Wicks and a young priest named Jud Duplenticy (Josh O'Connor), suspicion lands squarely on Jud. Local authorities can’t make the pieces fit, so Blanc steps in and starts tugging at threads that lead somewhere darker.
Who is in this one
Alongside Craig, Josh Brolin, and Josh O'Connor, the ensemble includes Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, and Andrew Scott. It’s a stacked lineup, even by this franchise’s standards.
Release timing (quick and a little quirky)
The film had a limited theatrical run starting November 26, 2025, then hit Netflix on December 12. Yes, that’s a fast turnaround, but for a Netflix-backed title, it tracks. The strong streaming start rolled in basically right after it landed on the service.
How it’s playing with audiences and critics
It’s not just clicking on the charts. The movie is sitting at 93% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes from 281 reviews, and the audience score is right there too at 94%. So, both sides are on board.
And about that 'Jay Kelly' thing
Netflix’s charts specifically say 'Wake Up Dead Man' has surpassed 'Jay Kelly' to become the most-watched title. No, you didn’t misread that. It’s an odd footnote, but yes, that’s the one it passed on its way to #1.