I was told a couple of months ago that Netflix was prioritizing “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” over any other title they have this fall, and for good reason.
Netflix thinks they have a contender in Rian Johnson’s sequel to the ultra-popular 2019 murder-mystery. So much so that they will be trying something they haven’t in a long while: a full-scaled theatrical release.
In fact, the “Knives Out” sequel has been dated as being available on the streaming platform December 23rd. I’m told a late November release in theaters is being planned. That’s practically a month before it is available for free on Netflix. This goes along, more or less, with what the big studios have been doing with their blockbusters this summer.
It’s obvious that Netflix sees not just major awards potential with this film but also blockbuster numbers at the box-office. The original “Knives Out” grossed $165 million in the US alone, and $311 million worldwide.
Prioritizing this one for awards over, say, “Bardo” is a choice, but we haven’t seen these films and Netflix has. Regardless, those are their top two for the fall season, with an impending campaign for Janelle Monáe’s performance in Johnson’s film being planned. Everything else, including “White Noise,” “The Wonder,” “Blonde,” have been relegated to second fiddle.
Alongside Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans,” Johnson’s film will probably be the hottest ticket at TIFF in September.