Under a deal being seen as a breakthrough in relations between Netflix and major exhibitors, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is to get a one-week theatrical run in 600 US theatres as well as select cinemas in other territories a month before its streaming debut.
Netflix, which is describing the November 23-29 run as a “sneak preview event,” says this is the first time one of its films will debut across all three of the biggest US cinema chains – AMC, Regal and Cinemark.
As well as playing in the big three circuits, which between them operate more than 1,400 US cinemas, the potential blockbuster will screen that week in “additional select” cinemas in the US and internationally, said Netflix, with non-US markets including the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain, Israel, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The company declined to comment on how many cinemas outside the US would be involved.
After the one-week cinema run - which in the US will coincide with the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend - Glass Onion will make its global streaming debut on Netflix on December 23.
Though Cinemark has previously screened some Netflix titles, other big US exhibitors have mostly shunned films from the streaming giant because of the short window the company has allowed before the films’ streaming debuts.
Recently, however, there has been speculation that Netflix might make more use of theatrical releasing. Several of the company’s award season contenders – among them Bardo and White Noise and Blonde – are being given limited theatrical runs ahead of their streaming launches.
The plan for Glass Onion suggests a bigger commitment to the strategy and an increased willingness on the part of exhibitors to work with Netflix on unconventional release plans.
Written and directed by Rian Johnson, Glass Onion is the follow-up to Johnson’s 2019 hit Knives Out, with Daniel Craig returning to star and a supporting cast including Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr, Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista. The film had its world premiere at last month’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Commenting on the film’s theatrical release plan, Johnson said: “I’m over the moon that Netflix has worked with AMC, Regal and Cinemark to get Glass Onion in theatres for this one-of-a-kind sneak preview. These movies are made to thrill audiences, and I can’t wait to feel the energy of the crowd as they experience Glass Onion. Between this and the release on Netflix in December, I’m excited that audiences around the world will be able to enjoy the film!”
Netflix head of global film Scott Stuber added: “We’re excited to offer fans an exclusive sneak preview of Rian’s incredible film. Given the excitement surrounding the premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, we hope fans will enjoy this special theatrical event in celebration of the film’s global debut on Netflix in December.”
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