With Netflix only allowing a relatively ‘small’ release, the cinema box office totals for the Knives Out sequel are impressive.
Several of the bigger streaming platforms are dabbling with theatrical release models at the moment, even Netflix who has in the past proved the most reluctant to release films in cinemas.
Past theatrical releases such as The Irishman were agreed largely to appease auteur directors such as Martin Scorsese (and played for short windows and on not many screens), and whilst that may well be part of writer/director Rian Johnson’s agreement with the company, his Knives Out sequel has earned the widest theatrical release that we’ve seen from Netflix as of yet.
Whilst this doesn’t necessarily mean that the company is looking to get future films into cinemas, a strong showing at the box office wouldn’t hurt and that’s exactly what seems to have happened, in the US at least. Despite only opening on 700 screens, a relatively small number given the film’s star power and the popularity of its predecessor, The Hollywood Reporter is estimating that Glass Onion was the best-performing new film at the US box office over the Thanksgiving weekend, with only Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Disney’s Strange World outperforming it.
Netflix doesn’t report cinema grosses so this is all estimated, but the outlet is claiming that the film would have made around $13m from the five day holiday weekend, with more days to come from its limited run, plus global takings too.
Presumably, Netflix is now set to look closely at its viewing algorithms to see how this limited release affects the streaming platform’s viewing statistics. Lots has been said of late about the importance of the theatrical window in raising the profile of home-viewing releases, and should this prove to be true, you’d have to think that Netflix would look to continue this model for select films. Especially if it helps to significantly offset the costs of pricey prestige acquisitions like Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
A third Knives Out film is on the way. Who knows? That may even end up getting a blanket cinema release at this rate…
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