While the limited theatrical release of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery has ended, it’s possible the film could return to theaters.
Variety reports Netflix is considering a re-release of Rian Johnson’s Knives Out sequel following the film’s debut on the streamer.
Initially, Netflix was steadfast in its decision to only release Glass Onion for a one-week theatrical run in roughly 700 theaters to drum up excitement for the film, but things may have changed following reports that Netflix left millions on the table.
As Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos explained during the company’s most recent prerecorded earnings call, “We’re in the business of entertaining our members with Netflix movies on Netflix. So, that’s where we focus all of our energy and most of our spends.”
The film’s limited release pulled in an estimated $15 million in the United States and Canada, according to numerous news sources.
However, box office experts estimate Johnson’s film could have made $40-50 million over Thanksgiving if Netflix had given it a more traditional wide release, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Moreover, if the movie had been given a wider global release, box office analysts said the film could bring in more than $200 million in ticket sales by the conclusion of its run, per CNBC.
Given the streamer’s recent changes, which include the introduction of an ad-supported tier, many have questioned whether Netflix should reconsider its resistance to the traditional Hollywood movie release paradigm. After all, Netflix, like its rivals, is seeking innovative ways to increase revenue, and releasing original films in theaters for an extended period of time could be a way to do just that.