Rian Johnson Expresses Disappointment In Limitations For Wake Up Dead Man’s Theatrical Release

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This month brings the release of Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the latest installment in the popular series. Like the first Knives Out movie from 2019—which introduced Detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, and his investigation into a puzzling murder—this new film will be available in a limited number of theaters and on Netflix. However, the director has expressed some frustration with how the movie is being released.

The first two movies were critically acclaimed for their clever whodunit plots and sharp commentary on wealth and privilege, featuring a talented cast of famous actors. The original Knives Out had a typical cinema release through Lionsgate, but Netflix distributed the sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

The movie Glass Onion played in theaters briefly in November 2022 before becoming available on Netflix a month later. Following a similar pattern, Wake Up Dead Man will be shown in select theaters for two weeks, starting November 26th, and will then be released on Netflix on December 12th. This limited theatrical release is common for Netflix films aiming to qualify for awards.

Director Johnson is upset that his film, Wake Up Dead Man, won’t be shown in AMC theaters. He explained on X (formerly Twitter) that AMC declined to show the movie, but it will be playing at Landmark, Alamo Drafthouse, and other chains instead. He also noted that if audiences want it, the film could stay in theaters even after it becomes available on Netflix on December 12th – it just depends on whether theaters choose to keep it.

See Johnson’s post below:

Netflix and AMC haven’t always seen eye-to-eye on how Netflix releases movies in theaters, which meant many Netflix films weren’t shown at AMC cinemas. However, AMC made an exception for Glass Onion and recently joined in the Halloween re-release of KPop Demon Hunters.

The recent collaboration between these two companies seemed promising, but plans for the third movie in the popular murder mystery series unfortunately fell apart. This is likely to disappoint fans, especially those who prefer going to AMC theaters or are members of the AMC Stubs program.

The next Benoit Blanc mystery, “Wake Up Dead Man,” centers around the seemingly impossible murder of a powerful minister (Josh Brolin). The investigation focuses on a younger priest (Josh O’Connor) who becomes the prime suspect after publicly disagreeing with the minister’s religious views. Early reviews are very positive, with a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting the film is likely to be a success.

The cast of ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ is impressive, featuring Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. Despite potential box office challenges, dedicated fans will probably still want to see it in theaters.

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2025-11-21 21:20