Mila Kunis has a knack for popping up exactly where you don’t expect her. Just when you think she’s settled into the "cool mom" phase of her career, she pivots. Hard.
Last year, we saw her playing the grounded, slightly resentful daughter to Michael Keaton in the dramedy Goodrich. It was a quiet, indie-style performance that reminded everyone she can actually act when she’s not being chased by space royalty or yelling at kids in a minivan. But honestly, the buzz right now isn’t about heartfelt family dramas. It's about a murder. Specifically, a Benoit Blanc murder.
Mila Kunis has joined the circus for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third installment in Rian Johnson’s massive whodunit franchise.
The film hit the festival circuit in late 2025 and landed on Netflix in December, but as we roll into 2026, the conversation hasn't slowed down. If anything, people are still trying to parse out exactly how her character, Chief Geraldine Scott, fits into the most convoluted puzzle Benoit Blanc has ever faced.
The Wake Up Dead Man Hype is Real
Look, the first Knives Out was a lightning-in-a-bottle moment. The second one, Glass Onion, was a loud, colorful satire of the ultra-rich. But Wake Up Dead Man feels different. It’s darker. It's grittier. And somehow, Mila Kunis is the one holding a lot of the narrative tension.
In this new film, Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc finds himself entangled in a mystery involving a missing inheritance and a dead priest. Yeah, it’s a bit of a departure from the high-tech island of the last movie. Kunis plays a local police chief who is—to put it mildly—not impressed by Blanc’s Southern drawl or his "eccentric" methods.
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People usually expect Mila to play the funny best friend or the witty lead. Seeing her as a hardened, somewhat cynical law enforcement officer in a Rian Johnson script is a breath of fresh air. She’s trading quips with the likes of Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, and Jeremy Renner. That’s a heavy-hitting room, and she doesn't just hold her own; she kinda steals the scenes she's in.
Why this role matters for her career right now
Mila’s career has been a bit of a rollercoaster. She had the Black Swan peak, the Ted and Bad Moms commercial goldmines, and then some weird experimental stuff like Jupiter Ascending (we don't talk about that one as much).
But lately, she’s been leaning into "actor" roles. Luckiest Girl Alive was a dark, difficult watch on Netflix that proved she could carry a heavy drama. Goodrich showed her nuance. Joining the Knives Out universe is basically the "prestige blockbuster" seal of approval. It’s the kind of movie that gets you invited to the fancy awards luncheons while still being a massive hit with people watching on their couches on a Tuesday night.
What's actually happening in Wake Up Dead Man?
Without giving away the whole farm—because let’s be real, the joy of these movies is the "aha!" moment—the plot revolves around a divisive Catholic priest. Blanc is investigating the fallout of his death, and the suspects are, as usual, a bunch of horrible people played by very famous actors.
Mila’s Chief Geraldine Scott represents the "real world" crashing into Blanc’s theatrical world.
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- She’s skeptical.
- She’s local.
- She has zero patience for the "master detective" tropes.
There’s a specific scene at the midway point where she and Daniel Craig go head-to-head over evidence in a rainy cemetery. The chemistry is weirdly perfect. It’s not romantic—it’s professional friction. It’s the kind of writing Rian Johnson excels at, and Kunis delivers the dialogue with a sharp, staccato rhythm that feels very different from her Jackie Burkhart days.
The Stacked Cast Problem
One issue with these movies is that the cast is so big, people sometimes get lost. You’ve got Josh O’Connor, Andrew Scott (yes, the "Hot Priest" from Fleabag), and Kerry Washington all vying for screen time.
Some critics have argued that the ensemble is almost too talented. Does Kunis get enough to do? Honestly, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you want her as the lead, you’ll be disappointed. But if you want a pivotal character who provides the moral (or immoral?) anchor for the local investigation, she’s exactly where she needs to be.
What’s Next: Beyond the Mystery
If you’re already looking past the Knives Out craze, Mila isn’t slowing down. There’s been a lot of talk about her next project, The 47 Night Stand.
It’s a romantic comedy she’s producing and starring in for Skydance. It’s written by Greg Malins, who worked on Friends and How I Met Your Mother. So, expect something fast-paced and probably a bit nostalgic for that classic 90s/00s rom-com vibe.
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She’s also rumored to be attached to a project called Nightwatching, a thriller about a mother hiding from an intruder during a blizzard. It sounds like a total 180 from a comedy, but that’s clearly the brand now: keep them guessing.
How to watch her latest work
If you want to catch up on this "new era" of Mila Kunis, here’s the roadmap for 2026:
- Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is currently streaming on Netflix. It’s the big one. It’s the one everyone is talking about at the water cooler (or the Slack channel).
- Goodrich is available on VOD. It’s worth it for the Keaton-Kunis chemistry alone.
- Keep an eye out for The 47 Night Stand updates. Production has been moving along, and we might see a trailer by the end of this year.
The take-away here is pretty simple: Mila Kunis isn't just a sitcom star anymore. She’s become one of those reliable actors who can anchor a massive Netflix franchise while still doing interesting, smaller character work. She’s playing the long game, and it’s paying off.
Actionable Insight: If you’re planning a movie night, start with Wake Up Dead Man. It’s the most current representation of where her career is headed. Pay attention to how she uses her voice—it’s lower, more authoritative, and a far cry from the high-pitched comedy of her earlier years. After that, go back and watch Four Good Days on Hulu to see just how much range she’s actually developed over the last few years. You’ll see a completely different performer.