Netflix scores a box office win with Glass Onion theatrical release
It certainly is a strange world when the big winner of the Thanksgiving weekend box office might be ... Netflix?
For the first time, the streamer debuted a film in all three of the major U.S. theater chains over the holiday weekend, and it was a resounding success. Glass Onion, the sequel to Knives Out, played in about 600 U.S. theaters beginning Nov. 23 in what Netflix dubbed a "sneak preview event."
But despite its release being limited, Glass Onion grossed $13.3 million domestically over five days and is projected to make $15 million by Tuesday, Deadline reports. Netflix hasn't confirmed these numbers, but it would be the biggest theatrical opening for one of the streamer's movies.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It also isn't that far below the $18.6 million five-day gross of Disney's Strange World, even though that was a wide release playing in thousands of theaters. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was number one at the box office with $64 million over five days, but it's possible Glass Onion could have come close to topping it had the film played on more screens. Knives Out grossed over $300 million worldwide.
Glass Onion's success came during an otherwise disappointing Thanksgiving weekend at the movies. Not only did Disney's Strange World bomb, but only $95 million was grossed over the three-day weekend across all movies, per IndieWire — down from $181 million over Thanksgiving 2019. Adult-oriented movies like The Fabelmans and Devotion also disappointed.
After years of Netflix clashing with theater chains, the box office success of Glass Onion could lead to more streaming films debuting at your local multiplex. Still, in a sign Netflix continues to prioritize streaming debuts, the company didn't commit to a traditional, wide theatrical release for Glass Onion — likely losing out on millions of dollars in additional ticket sales, experts said. Instead, the film will leave theaters after a week before hitting streaming on Dec. 23.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Critics’ choice: Watering holes for gourmandsFeature An endless selection of Mexican spirits, a Dublin-inspired bar, and an upscale Baltimore pub
-
Argentinian beef is at the center of American farmers’ woesThe Explainer ‘It feels like a slap in the face to rural America,’ said one farmer
-
‘Businesses that lose money and are uncompetitive won’t survive’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
The 5 best TV shows about the mobThe Week Recommends From the show that launched TV’s golden age to a Batman spin-off, viewers can’t get enough of these magnificent mobsters
-
Tim Robinson falls out of a chair, chefs compete for Michelin stars and Martin Scorsese gets the documentary treatment in October TVthe week recommends This month's new television releases include ‘The Chair Company,’ ‘Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars’ and ‘Mr. Scorsese’
-
Hungary’s Krasznahorkai wins Nobel for literatureSpeed Read László Krasznahorkai is the author of acclaimed novels like ‘The Melancholy of Resistance’ and ‘Satantango’
-
Primatologist Jane Goodall dies at 91Speed Read She rose to fame following her groundbreaking field research with chimpanzees
-
Jump scare! Evil villain! These are fall’s most exciting horror movie releases.The Week Recommends An Airbnb rental gone wrong and another ‘Frankenstein’ adaptation highlight this autumn’s horror crop
-
'The Office' spinoff, a 'Mare of Easttown' follow-up and the Guinness family royalty in September TVthe week recommends This month's new television releases include 'The Paper,' 'Task' and 'House of Guinness'
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclubSpeed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's illsSpeed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
