The Knives Out Franchise Could Live On Without Netflix

"The Knives Out movies feel like a return to form in so many ways: they're not just keeping the classic, Agatha Christie-inspired murder mystery alive, but they also invoke the mid-budget thrillers that once had a tangible presence at the box office. In another life, Knives Out and its sequels could have helped even the playing field for smaller films competing against major, Marvel-ified blockbusters. Sadly, though, we're living in the timeline where Netflix scooped up the rights to distribute those films."

"Netflix Johnson would be "thrilled" to keep making Knives Out films alongside Daniel Craig, who's now played the effusive detective Benoit Blanc for three increasingly intricate films. "As long as audiences want to keep seeing it, and Daniel and I are still having fun making them and still feel like we can come up with stuff that feels not just fresh, but a fresh challenge for us, I think that'll translate to a new experience for the audience," he added."

Knives Out revitalizes Agatha Christie–style murder mysteries and recalls mid-budget theatrical thrillers. Netflix paid $450 million in 2021 for rights to two sequels, with Wake Up Dead Man serving as the second and final film in that deal. Netflix's distribution approach often deprioritizes box office, producing only brief theatrical windows for films like Glass Onion and Wake Up Dead Man. Director Rian Johnson reports feeling energized rather than burnt out and remains willing to continue the series. Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc for three increasingly intricate films. With Johnson's Netflix deal ending, future Knives Out entries could pursue wider theatrical runs.

Read at Inverse