Netflix surprised the industry this week when it announced that it would open GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY in theatres on 11/23, a full 30 days before its debut on Netflix. Netflix reached an agreement with mega-exhibitors AMC, Regal, and Cinemark to screen GLASS ONION at 600 U.S. locations, but only for a limited 7-day run, after which it will be unavailable until 12/23 when it launches on Netflix. The streamer is not expected to release box office figures for GLASS ONION’s limited theatrical run.
While some exhibitors are disappointed that they only will have access to the movie for one week, it’s also true that the holiday week of 11/23-11/30 is one of the best moviegoing weeks of the year. Before last week’s announcement, the slate of Thanksgiving-week titles in theatres was looking somewhat meager, comprised of a collection of mid-size titles and pre-Oscar season, awards contenders.
These included Disney’s animated family film STRANGE WORLD, Sony’s DEVOTION, Steven Spielberg’s THE FABELMANS, and the Luca Guadangnio film BONES AND ALL starring Timothe Chalamet. GLASS ONION’s box office contribution should make an impact, both for Netflix and exhibitors. It may also represent a test case for Netflix using new strategies to release its big-budget films in partnership with theaters.