Netflix Scales Back ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Theatrical Run Despite Rian Johnson’s Push

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently sparked controversy by calling movie theaters an outdated concept. This viewpoint has been met with resistance from several filmmakers, including Rian Johnson, known for his work on the hit ‘Knives Out’ series.

Rian Johnson’s Mission For The Movies

Rian Johnson is determined to give his latest film, ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,’ a wide theatrical release. However, Netflix has other plans. According to Empire City Box Office, the streaming giant has significantly scaled back its theatrical plans for the film, leaving Johnson’s dream of a wide release unfulfilled.

This decision is a departure from Netflix’s previous approach to releasing films in theaters. In 2022, the streaming service gave ‘Glass Onion’ a two-week limited theatrical run in approximately 700 screens. The film could have ended up making $600M worldwide if it had been given a normal release.

Final Thoughts

Rian Johnson and his lead actor, Daniel Craig, have been vocal about their discontent with Netflix’s business model. They have expressed disappointment with the way ‘Glass Onion’ was stripped of a theatrical run. It appears that Netflix will continue to follow its business model, even if it means missing out on easy money.

A world premiere for ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ has been set up for September at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Source: World of Reel