Overview

• Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos recently described movie theaters as an 'outdated concept,' citing limited access for many viewers outside major cities.
• Rian Johnson, director of the Knives Out series, strongly disagrees, emphasizing the enduring appeal of the theatrical experience for audiences.
• Johnson is advocating for his upcoming film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, to have a broad and extended theatrical release before its Netflix debut in fall 2025.
• He pointed to the recent box office success of films like Sinners and A Minecraft Movie as evidence of sustained audience demand for big-screen experiences.
• Netflix has yet to confirm the scale of the film's theatrical rollout, continuing its selective approach to cinema releases, including plans for Greta Gerwig’s Chronicles of Narnia in 2026.