The Art of the Whodunit: Rian Johnson on Knives Out

The modern master of murder mysteries discusses his creative process and how he’s reinventing the genre.

The creator of one of the most innovative modern mystery series in contemporary cinema, Rian Johnson, delves into the creative processes behind Knives Out, Glass Onion and the eagerly anticipated Wake Up Dead Man.

From behind-the-scenes stories to personal reflections, he reveals his approach to crafting intricate, character-driven mysteries, the evolution of Benoit Blanc as a modern detective figure and the series’ reinvention of classic whodunit tropes. He also reflects on the films, books, and storytellers that influenced him, and the way they have fed into and shaped his work. Hosted by Ali Plumb, film critic and journalist (BBC Radio 1) as part of LFF for Free at the BFI London Film Festival 2025