A thrilling Chicago Cubs victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 18, 2025, has gained renewed attention through its appearance in Rian Johnson's latest film, 'Wake Up Dead Man.' The movie, set in 2025, incorporates footage from the record-setting game during a pivotal scene. Director Johnson selected the Cubs game for its perfect timing on Good Friday.
In 'Wake Up Dead Man,' the third installment in Johnson's 'Knives Out' series, actor Thomas Haden Church's character, Sampson, is depicted as a dedicated Cubs fan watching baseball on an old rabbit-ears TV. The film establishes this fandom early with a clip from an August 7, 2024, game at Wrigley Field, showing Minnesota Twins' Willi Castro making an out against Chicago pitcher Drew Smyly in the top of the fifth inning. The footage takes minor artistic license, splicing in infield action more typical of a groundout than Castro's actual flyout to center.
The centerpiece, however, is the April 18, 2025, Good Friday matchup, which aligns precisely with the movie's plot timeline—the day of a murder. Johnson discussed the choice on the MLB Network Podcast, noting the film was shot in 2024 but set in the future. 'Through most of editing, we had slugged—I think we actually slugged in a Dodgers game on there just as a temporary thing, because that game hadn't happened yet,' he said. 'And so we were waiting until the very last moment of post-production, until we had that specific Cubs game that happened, that I was like, "OK, this one will work." It happens the day of the murder. It happens at exactly the right time. Luckily there wasn't a rain delay.' The Cubs' tradition of day games on Fridays made them ideal for the afternoon slot.
On the field, the Cubs edged the D-backs 13-11 in a historic slugfest at Wrigley Field. Arizona overcame a 7-1 deficit with 10 runs in the top of the eighth, but Chicago responded with three home runs in four batters in the bottom half, regaining the lead. Seven homers were hit total, including two grand slams, and 21 runs crossed the plate over three half-innings. Ryan Pressly sealed the win by retiring Corbin Carroll with two outs in the ninth, stranding the tying run.
The game set marks: The D-backs were the first team since the 2006 Royals to score 10-plus in an inning and lose, while the Cubs joined six others in the past 125 years to allow 10-plus and still win. The eighth inning's 16 combined runs were a Wrigley record since 1914. 'I mean, it's unbelievable,' D-backs outfielder Randal Grichuk said postgame. 'I don’t know if I’ve ever been a part of a game like that.'
Johnson's inclusion revives interest in this forgotten gem from the 2025 season, blending cinema and sports in unexpected ways.
