#GlassOnion
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Rian Johnson’s sequel to Knives Out, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022, and hit Netflix on December 23, 2022.
The Film
Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) investigates a murder at a tech billionaire’s private Greek island during a pandemic-era murder mystery party. The ensemble cast included Edward Norton (Miles Bron), Janelle Monáe (Andi Brand/Helen), Kate Hudson (Birdie Jay), Dave Bautista (Duke Cody), Kathryn Hahn (Claire Debella), and Leslie Odom Jr. (Lionel Toussaint).
The film satirized tech bro culture, pandemic excess, and influencer stupidity while delivering twists, layered flashbacks, and Blanc’s signature drawl. Unlike Knives Out’s “whodunit,” Glass Onion was a “why-dunit” with a mid-film reveal that recontextualized the entire plot.
Cultural Impact
Janelle Monáe’s dual performance as twins Andi and Helen became a highlight—her transformation from meek Helen to vengeful arsonist (literally smashing Bron’s glass sculptures) delivered catharsis.
The film coined “glass onion” as a metaphor for things that seem complex but are transparently simple—a dig at pseudo-intellectual billionaires like Elon Musk (Miles Bron’s clear inspiration).
The Mona Lisa burning became an instant meme. Blanc’s “It’s a dangerous thing to mistake speaking without thought for speaking the truth” line went viral during the Twitter/Musk chaos of late 2022.
Netflix vs. Theaters
Netflix paid $469 million for Knives Out sequels—one of the biggest film deals ever. Glass Onion got a limited one-week theatrical release (Thanksgiving 2022), earning $15 million before hitting Netflix.
Theaters wanted longer runs; Netflix refused, sparking industry debate about streaming vs. theatrical windows.
Reception
Critics loved it (93% Rotten Tomatoes), praising Johnson’s sharp writing and the ensemble’s chemistry. It became Netflix’s most-watched film of 2022.
A third Benoit Blanc mystery, Wake Up Dead Man, is slated for 2025.