Rian Johnson Says ‘I Don’t’ Agree With Netflix CEO Over Movie Theater Model Being ‘Outdated’: I Want ‘Knives Out 3’ in ‘Many Theaters For as Long as Possible’

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Rian Johnson, during an interview with Business Insider while promoting “Poker Face” Season 2, expressed his desire for the upcoming “Knives Out” film, titled “Wake Up Dead Man,” to be screened in as many cinemas as feasible. However, whether Netflix will grant this request by the end of the year is yet to be determined. This statement comes following a stir caused online by Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos who criticized the traditional movie theater model as “outdated.

Johnson didn’t exactly agree with Sarandos, he said. ‘I really enjoy movies and going to see them,’ Johnson shared. ‘But if I had a chance to talk to Ted about it directly, it could be a whole different conversation than this one-liner being used here.’ So, Johnson wasn’t trying to argue with Ted indirectly through his statement.

The filmmaker emphasized that cinema isn’t fading away, referencing the recent box office hits such as “Sinners” and “A Minecraft Movie.” John further commented: “It’s clear that if a movie appeals to audiences, they will flock to theaters for it. The communal experience of being in a packed house and sharing this moment is invaluable. It’s something I cherish and yearn for more of in our world.

Ted Sarandos attended the Time100 Summit recently and commented, “We’re experiencing a phase of transformation. For many, the dream was to create movies for large cinema screens and have audiences, who were strangers, watch them over two months, filling theaters with tears and sold-out shows. However, this idea seems outdated now.

Ted Sarandos expressed his viewpoint on whether filmmakers who aim to create movies “for cinema, for the shared experience” consider this an old-fashioned concept. He stated, “I believe it is – for most people, not everyone. If you’re fortunate enough to reside near Manhattan and can easily walk to a movie theater, that’s great. However, the majority of the country doesn’t have this luxury.

For the premiere of “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” in 2022, Netflix deviated from its usual approach by collaborating with cinema chains such as AMC for a wider theatrical distribution. The movie was screened in approximately 600 theaters across the country for a week before it became available to stream. Since then, Netflix hasn’t struck a similar deal with a major theater chain, but they are planning to join forces with Imax for the release of Greta Gerwig’s “Chronicles of Narnia” film on Thanksgiving Day in 2026. The movie will play on Imax screens for two weeks before making its debut on Netflix on Christmas Day.

Johnson expressed his desire for the third ‘Knives Out’ film to play in numerous cinemas for an extended period. He plans to strive for maximum theatrical release, aiming to have as many viewers as possible enjoy it on the big screen.

Title “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Sequel” penned and helmed by Johnson. Once more, Daniel Craig reprises his role as detective Benoit Blanc for a fresh enigma involving stars such as Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. The movie is scheduled for release in the fall.

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2025-05-03 02:16