I’ll never forget the thrill of watching Knives Out in a packed theater, the audience gasping and chuckling as Benoit Blanc unraveled the Thrombey family’s secrets. That communal buzz—the laughter, the whispers—is what director Rian Johnson is determined to bring back with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third installment in his whip-smart whodunit series. In a recent interview with Business Insider, Johnson pushed back against Netflix’s streaming-first mentality, declaring he wants Wake Up Dead Man “in as many theaters for as long as possible.” With Daniel Craig returning as the drawling detective and a star-studded cast, this fight for the big screen feels personal. Here’s why Johnson’s theatrical crusade has me—and fans everywhere—pumped for fall 2025.
A Theatrical Dream in a Streaming World
Knives Out (2019), distributed by Lionsgate, was a theatrical smash, raking in $312 million worldwide on a $40 million budget. Its sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), took a different path after Netflix shelled out $450 million for two follow-ups. Despite Johnson’s pleas, Glass Onion got a measly one-week run in just 600 theaters, earning $13 million over Thanksgiving before vanishing to streaming. I remember rushing to catch it at my local AMC, savoring the vibrant visuals and crowd reactions, only to feel cheated when it disappeared. Johnson shares that frustration. “We’re going to push for everything we can get in terms of theatrical because I want as many people as possible to see it in that form,” he told Business Insider while promoting Poker Face’s second season.
His passion stems from a clash with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who called movie theaters an “outdated concept” at the Time100 Summit. Johnson, a self-professed cinema lover, respectfully disagreed: “I love movies. I love going to see movies,” he said, citing the box office wins of Sinners and A Minecraft Movie as proof audiences still crave the theater experience. For Wake Up Dead Man, set for a fall 2025 release, Johnson’s not just hoping—he’s advocating for a wider, longer theatrical window, a move echoed by star Daniel Craig, who told Variety he wants fans to “take their families and go see it at the cinemas.”
Why Theaters Matter to Johnson (and Me)
Johnson’s love for theaters isn’t just artistic—it’s practical. He believes a big-screen run builds word-of-mouth and prestige, boosting a film’s streaming success. He told Insider in 2022 about Glass Onion, “I want to show that this can happen and this can be a huge success… that those two things can complement each other.” The first Knives Out thrived on its holiday-season buzz, and I still swap theories with friends about who killed Harlan Thrombey, sparked by those theater debates. Glass Onion’s limited run, though, left fans like me feeling Netflix shortchanged the franchise’s potential.
Wake Up Dead Man promises to be Blanc’s “most dangerous case yet,” with a killer cast: Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. Shot in the U.K. and wrapped by September 2024, the film’s American setting (Johnson insisted on a U.S.-centric story) and cryptic title hint at a darker, possibly supernatural mystery. I’m already imagining gasping in a theater as Blanc unmasks the killer, the crowd’s energy amplifying every twist. Johnson’s push for theaters is about giving fans that experience, not just a solo Netflix binge.
A Battle Against Netflix’s Playbook
Netflix’s strategy prioritizes streaming—films like Damsel and Red Notice rack up millions of views at home—but Johnson sees theaters as vital. Glass Onion’s brief run was a compromise, with Netflix striking deals with AMC, Regal, and Cinemark for 600 screens, a first for the streamer. Yet, CEO Reed Hastings admitted they “left lots of money on the table,” a sentiment Johnson leveraged to argue for more screens next time. X posts reflect the fan fervor: @DiscussingFilm and @GamingAndGlobal quoted Johnson’s “as many theaters” plea, with users like @Binged_ calling it a “big aim.”
Johnson’s not alone in his fight. Craig, who’s played Blanc across all three films, told Variety in November 2024 that fans “all they want to do is take their families and go see it at the cinemas.” The duo signed with Netflix expecting robust theatrical rollouts, but Glass Onion’s one-week stint left them “hoping” for better. Johnson’s diplomatic—he calls Netflix “great partners”—but his push for Wake Up Dead Man to linger in theaters signals a quiet rebellion against Sarandos’ “outdated” jab.
A Personal Plea for the Big Screen
For me, Knives Out films are theater movies. I remember dragging my skeptical brother to the first one, only for him to cheer when Marta outsmarted Ransom. That shared joy—strangers clapping, friends dissecting clues over post-movie beers—is what Johnson’s fighting for. He told The New York Times after Glass Onion’s run, “To see full theaters with people having a blast, it was really emotional.” I felt that too, sneaking into a sold-out Glass Onion showing and laughing with the crowd at Blanc’s antics. A longer theatrical run for Wake Up Dead Man would let more fans, like my friends who missed Glass Onion’s brief window, join the fun.
Johnson’s vision aligns with his Agatha Christie-inspired approach: each Knives Out is a fresh mystery, not a sequel, with new casts and settings. Wake Up Dead Man’s tonal shift—possibly darker, per Johnson’s hints to TUDUM—deserves the big screen’s immersive pull. I’m picturing Close or Brolin’s face looming large as suspects, the theater’s darkness amplifying every red herring. X users are hyped too, with @SeriesTWBZ quoting Johnson’s push for “muitos cinemas” and fans buzzing about the cast.
Will Netflix Listen?
The odds are tricky. Netflix’s model thrives on streaming metrics, and Sarandos’ comments suggest theaters are a side hustle. Yet, Glass Onion’s $13 million haul in one week proved demand, and Johnson’s clout—bolstered by Knives Out’s Oscar nod and Glass Onion’s critical love—gives him leverage. He’s not asking for a two-month run like the first film, but “as long as possible” could mean two or three weeks, maybe more screens than Glass Onion’s 600. Craig’s star power and the ensemble’s draw (hello, Glenn Close!) make a strong case.
I’m rooting for Johnson to win this one. Wake Up Dead Man, expected to drop on Netflix in fall 2025 after a theatrical window, deserves to be a communal event. I’m already planning my theater trip, hoping to recreate that Knives Out magic with friends, strangers, and a giant Benoit Blanc solving crimes. Johnson’s fighting for us—the fans who love the big screen’s energy. Here’s to knives out, screens lit, and mysteries shared.
