Knives Out and Only Murders in the Buiding are two of the best murder mysteries in recent years. Both projects received near universal critical acclaim, with critics praising their comedic approaches to grim subject matter. Audiences also embraced them, turning them into instant successes.
The two projects also have several similarities when it comes to their colorful casts of characters. Indeed, viewers can see the main players in the movie and the show share many common traits, to the point where they can identify a clear counterpart between the characters in Only Murder in the Building and the ones in Knives Out.
Mabel Mora - Marta Cabrera
Mabel and Marta are the female leads of their respective stories. They come from humble backgrounds but manage to stay true to themselves despite the wealth that surrounds them. Mabel and Marta also actively participate in the murder mystery, ultimately discovering the true culprit.
Unlike Marta, who had a quiet life before the murder, Mabel led a more sad existence thanks to her tragic backstory. Still, they both keep going forward despite the danger, remaining committed to solving the crime and recovering some sense of normalcy in their lives.
Oscar - Fran
Oscar and Fran were both collateral damage in their respective stories. Oscar went to jail for Zoe's murder, taking the blame for Theo Dimas' crime. For her part, Fran tries to blackmail Ransom after realizing he's the murderer, only to end up dead after she underestimates how dangerous he is.
Both Oscar and Fran are supporting characters but play crucial roles in the unmasking of the true murderer. Furthermore, they both serve to remind audiences of how real the danger is, despite the often hilarious comedy of both Knives Out and Only Muders in the Building.
Jan - Ransom Drysdale
Pretty much everyone saw the Knives Out twist coming from a mile away, but the Only Murders villain reveal was much more effective. In both cases, the murderer was someone close to the protagonists, who pretended to be their ally before revealing their true nature.
Both Jan and Ransom became murderers for deeply selfish purposes. The former killed Tim after he broke up their romantic relationship, and the latter tried to kill Harlan and killed Fran to secure his share of the Thrombey money. They both get their punishment in the end, although Jan might return for the recently announced season two of Only Murders.
Detective Williams - Benoit Blanc
One of the murder mystery genre's most common tropes is the ever-constant presence of a detective meant to solve the case. Knives Out has Benoit Blanc, aka the Last Gentleman of the Sleuths, a clever, flamboyant and insightful detective with an exaggerated accent. On the other hand, Only Murders has Detective Williams, a tough and take-no-nonsense detective who initially closes the Tim Kono case before the podcast reawakens her interest.
Blanc and Williams might not seem like two peas in a pod, but their role in their respective stories is the same. They help the protagonist solve the mystery, assisting with their clever observations. Blanc does play a more active role in Ransom's fall from grace, but Detective Williams is by no means a sideline player.
Teddy Dimas - Richard Drysdale
Fans usually see Nathan Lane in funny or flamboyant roles in movies like The Birdcage and The Producers, which is why it was so surprising to see him take a more antagonistic role in Only Murders. As Teddy Dimas, Lane is menacing and even slightly sinister. Dimas is a secondary antagonist in the show, providing further insight into Zoe's murder and keeping fans invested in the story.
Like Dimas, Richard Drysdale is a secondary antagonist in Knives Out. He's Linda's two-timing husband who wants to get his hands on the family fortune. Richard and Teddy are men without morals or boundaries, willing to do everything to protect their interests while advancing their greedy agendas.
Bunny - Walt Thrombey
Bunny and Walt are two of the funniest characters in their respective stories, thanks mainly to their dry and somewhat aggressive humor. Bunny is the manager of the Arconia, a woman with very little patience for just about everything. For his part, Walt, played by Hollywood's go-to actor for bad guys, Michael Shannon, is Harlan's oldest son who runs the family's publishing business.
Bunny and Walt are not antagonists per se, but they are obstacles for the story. She does everything she can to throw Charles, Oliver, and Mabel from the Arconia, and Walt goes so far as to subtly threaten Martha into rejecting Harlan's inheritance.
Oliver Putnam - Joni Thrombey
Martin Short's Oliver is the beating heart of Only Murders. He's the one who first brings the group together and comes up with the idea of creating a podcast. His intense, slightly overbearing personality reminds audiences of Toni Collette's Joni Thrombey, a wellness guru whose antics also make her stand out among her conservative, upper-class family.
Oliver and Joni also have financial trouble that leaves them dependent on their families. However, Oliver manages to stand on his own by the season finale, whereas Joni's situation is much more uncertain at the end of Knives Out. Still, it's clear to audiences that neither is a bad person; they just made bad choices, especially when it comes to money.
Charles-Haden Savage - Linda Drysdale
Steve Martin's Charles-Haden Savage and Jamie Lee Curtis' Linda Drysdale have several things in common. They are both firmly stuck in their ways and somewhat unwilling to let others get too close. They are also oblivious to their significant other's deceits and have a tense relationship with their families.
However, Linda is much more decisive than Charles and more stubborn. Still, the similarities are significant enough to draw a clear connection between them. Most importantly, audiences can relate to both, with Linda being one of the most likable characters in Knives Out and Charles acting as Only Murder's unexpected hero.