Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Director Rian Johnson 'Frustrated' at Limited Theatrical Release, Suggests Fans Call Up Their Local Theater Manager to Ask if It’s Coming

Rian Johnson has expressed vexation astatine the constricted theatrical merchandise of his caller Benoit Blanc Netflix film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

Streamer Netflix volition merchandise Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery successful theaters connected November 26, successful clip for the Thanksgiving holiday, earlier releasing it connected Netflix itself connected December 12.

But it volition lone merchandise successful “select” theaters, arsenic opposed to nationwide — thing that has intelligibly near the Star Wars: The Last Jedi writer and manager unimpressed.

Taking to societal media, Johnson replied to 1 instrumentality who expressed interest aft failing to find a section screening. “I’m arsenic frustrated arsenic you that it’s not everywhere, but caller theaters volition beryllium added truthful support checking,” Johnson tweeted. “And besides if you’re inclined it wouldn’t wounded to interaction the manager of your section theatre and (politely!) inquire them if it’s coming.”

In different societal media post, Johnson shared the authoritative website of Wake Up Dead Man arsenic “the champion mode to find if there’s a theatre adjacent you playing” the film, earlier adding: “For those asking, sadly AMC would not play the movie, it’s going to beryllium Landmark, Alamo, and different chains. And it tin perfectly enactment successful theaters aft the 12/12 Netflix driblet if there’s request — it’s up to the theaters to decide.”

It’s uncommon for Netflix to merchandise its movies successful theaters. Guillermo del Toro’s latest, Frankenstein, had a abbreviated theatrical tally nationwide successful October up of its November 7 premiere connected the streaming platform, and planetary improvement KPop Demon Hunters deed theaters aft its explosive motorboat connected Netflix. Even the last occurrence of Stranger Things Season 5 volition driblet successful theaters simultaneously with its Netflix premiere.

But Netflix has indicated it won't alteration its long-standing presumption connected theaters versus streaming. “There’s nary alteration successful the strategy," CEO Ted Sarandos explained of the company’s argumentation connected theatrical organisation during a caller net conference. "Our strategy is to springiness our members exclusive first-run movies connected Netflix.” In fact, Sarandos went connected to asseverate that KPop Demon Hunters lone became a sensation “because it was released connected Netflix first.”

IGN’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery reappraisal returned a 7/10. We said: “Wake Up Dead Man is simply a coagulated 3rd introduction for Benoit Blanc, yet delivering the classic-style enigma the bid has sorely needed.”

Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Netflix.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].