Like the rest of the Knives Out movies, Wake Up Dead Man is full of extremely fun revelations — the kind that can turn the whodunit story on its head and, as was the case for many of those attending the film’s premiere in Toronto, Canada, produce audible gasps. Those shared moments of surprise are part of what makes the movie such a great theatrical experience, so it sucks that most people won’t get the opportunity to see it in a theater at all.
Wake Up Dead Man isn’t alone. Netflix was very present at the Toronto International Film Festival this year, with films like Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, Edward Berger’s Ballad of a Small Player, and Sundance darling Train Dreams. And while each of those movies will be heading to the big screen, they’ll only be in select theaters for extremely short windows, the minimum necessary for awards eligibility. Unless they live in New York City or Los Angeles, the average person won’t have any options aside from waiting for the films to hit Netflix and stream them from home.
This is not me arguing that theaters are better than watching stuff at home. I subscribe to far too many streaming services, and I have enough Blu-rays and DVDs that it makes moving more difficult than it should be, so I understand the appeal of both. Streaming is more accessible. But nothing beats a theater for immersion. This is a plea for Netflix to recognize that these are complementary experiences and that its best movies benefit from being widely available in both formats, which used to be the case in the days of home video.
For a film like Frankenstein, for example, I love being able to shut out the world and just soak in the atmosphere. As always, one of the big selling points for a Guillermo del Toro movie is its painstakingly crafted world, and Frankenstein doesn’t disappoint there. The costumes are beautiful, the creature is terrifying, and the sets are stunning. These are all things that I’m able to appreciate all the more in a theater. When I was watching Ballad of a Small Player, meanwhile, I could really feel the stress and anguish of the main character because I spent so much time looking at Colin Farrell’s sweating face on a giant screen.
There may be a business case for Netflix to support theaters more widely, but it’s not one that fits into the company’s current strategy. The original Knives Out did well at the box office before the streamer scooped up the franchise, and KPop Demon Hunters recently flexed its might in theaters, but Netflix is in the business of selling subscriptions, not movie tickets. Still, I think the streamer has a moral obligation here. That might sound dramatic, but if Netflix wants to be seen as a steward of film culture — and its continued presence at festivals like TIFF suggests that it does — then it needs to do more than just look at what subscribers want. It needs to do what’s best for each project.
These aren’t just random films meant to appeal to as wide an audience as possible: they’re passion projects from established directors, the kind that have audiences whooping with delight when the credits roll during a premiere. Del Toro has been vocal about wanting to make his version of Frankenstein for years, and now he’s finally done it. Knives Out director Rian Johnson and actor Daniel Craig clearly love making these mystery movies, and both looked incredibly happy and energetic while introducing Wake Up Dead Man at its premiere. For both artists and audiences, theaters offer a way to celebrate and appreciate films in a special, time-honored way that’s just not possible with streaming.
There is precedent for the two formats supporting each other. Marvel and Pixar movies still premiere in theaters before eventually making their way to Disney Plus, and Apple has been experimenting with some success, as well; its Brad Pitt flick F1 out-grossed a successful Superman movie at the box office, and it will soon be streaming on Apple TV Plus.
And, look, I don’t really expect Netflix to change anytime soon. It’s a company that is steadfastly focused on subscription growth, and movie theaters don’t seem to fit into that plan, aside from creating the opportunity to win a few Oscars. But I just spent most of the past week in various movie theaters watching nearly two dozen films, including some of the best that Netflix has to offer, and it really drove home how powerful the theatrical experience could be when it works. And gasping alongside hundreds of people only made me want to rewatch Wake Up Dead Man more, which is exactly what I plan to do once it’s streaming.
