‘Glass Onion’ becomes most-watched movie on Netflix, with 82.1 million hours seen in its first weekend

December 28, 2022December 28, 2022 Editor

After making over $13 million at the box office in a one-week limited run in theaters last month, the Knives Out sequel debuted on Netflix Friday

There’s little doubt that Glass Onion is a smash hit.

After its Friday launch, the whodunit sequel was the No. 1 movie in the world, according to Netflix. It received 82.1 million hours of viewing in its first three days on the platform, with an estimated 35 million homes streaming the film in over 93 countries.

This figure is slightly lower than the first-weekend views. Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable received 85.86 million hours in December of last year.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery was given a one-week-only restricted release in cinemas during the week of Thanksgiving, one month before it premiered on Netflix, as part of a new release strategy. According to Box Office Mojo, it grossed little more than $13 million in the United States.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings admitted during a panel last month, per The Hollywood Reporter, that “lots” of money was missed out on due to the brief theatrical run. But, he said, “It’s a promotional tactic like film festivals, and if it works well we will do more of it. We are not trying to build a theatrical business; we are trying to break through the noise.”

Glass Onion is a sequel to the 2019 Lionsgate film Knives Out, which is not currently available to stream on the service. Last year, Netflix reportedly paid $450 million for the rights to two Knives Out sequels from writer/director Rian Johnson and star Daniel Craig, who plays detective Benoit Blanc in the murder-mystery ensemble movies.

Janelle Monáe, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Jessica Henwick, and Madelyn Cline starred in the new film. Craig got two Golden Globe nominations for Glass Onion: best picture (comedy) and best actor (comedy).

Johnson told Variety in October that the potential for future Knives Out sequels is limitless.

“If any of these can actually be what Agatha Christie did, if it can be not just in a totally different setting and a new cast but also trying something fascinating,” he remarked. “I’ll make these for as long as they allow me.”

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is now available to watch on Netflix.