Glass Onion: A Knives Out Movie Release and Production Facts
The Knives Out prequel titled Glass Onion: A Knives Out Movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022, and was released theatrically by Netflix on November 23, 2022. The film is produced by T-Series, 87North Productions, and Red Hour Films, with distribution handled by Netflix globally. It was written and directed by Rian Johnson, who also wrote and directed the first Knives Out film. The project was officially announced in 2020, and principal photography began in October 2021 in Greece, with additional scenes filmed in the United States. For more details on Netflix's release strategy, see the official Netflix media center at Netflix About Page.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Movie has a runtime of 139 minutes and is rated PG-13 for violence, language, and some suggestive material. The film was shot using the ARRI ALEXA 65 camera system, with cinematography by Steve Yedlin. The production budget has been reported in the range of $40 million to $45 million, though Netflix has not officially confirmed the exact figure. The movie was filmed in part on the private island of Spetses in Greece, which served as the fictional island setting of the story. According to Netflix's public earnings reports, the film was viewed in over 100 million households during its first 28 days on the platform, as noted in Netflix's Q4 2022 earnings release at Netflix Investor Relations.
Cast, Characters, and Plot of the Knives Out Prequel
The main cast of the Knives Out prequel includes Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc, Edward Norton as tech billionaire Miles Bron, Janelle Monáe as Blanc's assistant Helen Brand, Kathryn Hahn as Claire Debella, Leslie Odom Jr. as Duke Cody, Kate Hudson as Birdie Jay, Dave Bautista as Duke's bodyguard Bear, and Madelyn Cline as Whiskey. The story follows Blanc as he travels to a private island to solve a murder mystery involving a group of wealthy friends during a murder mystery game weekend. The film functions as a prequel in the sense that it is set in a different time period and features a new case, while retaining the central detective character from the first Knives Out movie. For background on Daniel Craig's career and other projects, see his profile at Forbes.
The plot centers on Miles Bron, the founder of a clean energy company called Glowe, who invites his closest friends to his Greek island mansion for a weekend of competitive murder mystery games. When one of the guests is found dead, Blanc is brought in to investigate, uncovering secrets, lies, and betrayals among the group. The film explores themes of privilege, deception, and the power of technology and wealth. The screenplay was written by Rian Johnson, who also served as executive producer alongside Ram Bergman and James Vanderbilt. The film's score was composed by Nathan Johnson, Rian Johnson's cousin, who also scored the first Knives Out movie.
Box Office, Reception, and Franchise Outlook
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Movie earned an estimated $15 million in its opening weekend at the global box office, with strong digital and streaming viewership compensating for limited theatrical runs in some markets. The film received positive reviews from critics, holding a score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes based on over 300 reviews as of the latest update. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+"