Introducing Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) is a vibrant, whip-smart neo-whodunit that builds on the success of 2019’s Knives Out, cementing writer-director Rian Johnson’s reputation as a modern master of the mystery genre. Released on November 23, 2022, for a limited theatrical run before streaming on Netflix starting December 23, this standalone sequel brings back Daniel Craig as the flamboyant detective Benoit Blanc, plunging him into a new case on a sun-drenched Greek island. With a star-studded ensemble including Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, and Kate Hudson, the film blends sharp social satire, intricate plotting, and irreverent humor, earning critical acclaim and a passionate fanbase. Titled after a Beatles song and layered with cultural references, Glass Onion is both a playful puzzle and a biting commentary on wealth and power. This article provides a comprehensive introduction to Glass Onion, exploring its plot, cast, production, themes, reception, and its place in the evolving Knives Out series.

Plot Summary

Set during the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020, Glass Onion follows tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton), who invites a group of eclectic “disruptors” to his private Greek island for a murder mystery game at his lavish mansion, dubbed the Glass Onion. The guests include Andi Brand (Janelle Monáe), his ousted business partner; Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn), a Connecticut governor; Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.), a scientist at Miles’ company, Alpha; Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson), a former model turned fashion designer, with her assistant Peg (Jessica Henwick); and Duke Cody (Dave Bautista), a men’s rights streamer, accompanied by his girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline). Unexpectedly, world-famous detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) joins the party, his presence a mystery in itself.

What begins as a theatrical game—Miles as the faux victim—takes a deadly turn when real murders occur, forcing Blanc to unravel a web of secrets, lies, and motives. Each guest has reason to resent Miles, whose latest venture, Klear, a volatile hydrogen-based fuel, threatens disaster. The plot twists through flashbacks, revealing betrayals tied to Andi’s ousting from Alpha and a crucial napkin that proves her claim to the company’s founding ideas. As Blanc peels back the layers, a mid-film structural pivot reframes the narrative, exposing the killer’s identity in a way that’s both obvious and cleverly disguised. The climax, driven by a character’s audacious act of destruction, sees the Glass Onion mansion and the Mona Lisa (on loan from the Louvre) go up in flames, delivering a chaotic yet satisfying resolution that critiques the untouchable elite.

Cast and Characters

Glass Onion boasts a dazzling ensemble, each actor bringing flair to their archetypal roles:

• Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc: Craig revels in Blanc’s theatricality, sporting a Southern drawl and a striped swimsuit, with Rian Johnson confirming the detective’s queer identity, adding depth to his charm. His performance is both goofy and incisive, a departure from his James Bond gravitas.
• Edward Norton as Miles Bron: Norton’s Miles is a gleefully exaggerated tech mogul, inspired by figures like Elon Musk, whose charisma masks incompetence. His shirtless painting and flashy outfits amplify the satire.
• Janelle Monáe as Andi Brand: Monáe delivers a standout performance, carrying the film’s emotional and narrative weight with sharp comebacks and a commanding presence, earning widespread praise.
• Kate Hudson as Birdie Jay: Hudson’s comedic turn as the oblivious, problematic fashionista is a highlight, her garish wardrobe and clueless quips stealing scenes.
• Supporting Cast: Kathryn Hahn’s Claire and Leslie Odom Jr.’s Lionel are underutilized but effective, while Dave Bautista’s Duke shines as a buffoonish influencer. Jessica Henwick’s Peg and Madelyn Cline’s Whiskey add nuance to their sidekick roles. Cameos, including Angela Lansbury and Stephen Sondheim playing Among Us with Blanc, delight fans.

The cast’s chemistry, enhanced by murder mystery games Johnson crafted for them off-set, creates a lively, chaotic energy that mirrors the film’s tone.

Production and Filmmaking

Written and directed by Rian Johnson, who also produced alongside Ram Bergman, Glass Onion was filmed in Greece and Belgrade from June to September 2021, with a $40 million budget (part of Netflix’s $469 million deal for two Knives Out sequels). The luxurious Villa 20 at the Amanzoe resort in Porto Heli served as Miles’ estate, with the glass dome added via VFX. The production housed cast and crew at the resort, fostering a “summer vacation” vibe, as Johnson described. Belgrade studios handled interior and New York scenes.

Cinematographer Steve Yedlin’s shimmering visuals capture Greece’s azure waters and the mansion’s opulent excess, contrasting the dark mystery. Costume designer Jenny Eagan’s inspired work—Blanc’s linen suits, Birdie’s rainbow dresses, Miles’ pastel linens—amplifies character and satire, with Norton’s flashback outfit earning laughs. Nathan Johnson’s score, his fifth collaboration with Rian, blends jazzy motifs with Beatles-inspired cues, released by Netflix Music on November 25, 2022. The soundtrack, featuring Johann Sebastian Bach and The Beatles’ “Glass Onion,” adds thematic depth, with references to “I Am the Walrus” and “Strawberry Fields Forever” woven into the set design.

Production faced challenges, including COVID-19 protocols (reflected in early mask-wearing scenes) and the pressure to match Knives Out’s success. Johnson’s decision to make a standalone story, rather than a direct sequel, allowed creative freedom but risked alienating fans expecting a similar tone. The film’s 139-minute runtime, longer than its predecessor’s 130 minutes, accommodates its ambitious twists but drew criticism for sagging in the middle.

Themes and Symbolism

Glass Onion explores contemporary issues through a mystery lens, balancing satire with entertainment:

• Wealth and Power: The film skewers the ultra-rich, with Miles as a bumbling yet dangerous mogul whose wealth shields his incompetence. The “disruptors” rely on his patronage, exposing the fragility of elite networks.
• Technology’s Impact: Klear’s volatility critiques reckless innovation, drawing parallels to real-world tech controversies. The film questions unchecked technological ambition, embodied by Miles’ Mona Lisa stunt.
• Truth and Deception: The glass onion metaphor—transparent yet layered—reflects the film’s structure and the characters’ hidden motives. The napkin, a simple yet pivotal MacGuffin, symbolizes truth buried by lies.
• Social Commentary: From Birdie’s sweatshop scandal to Duke’s toxic masculinity, the film pokes at cultural issues, though some critics found its critiques shallow or heavy-handed.

Symbolically, the Glass Onion mansion, with its transparent dome, represents Miles’ hollow ego, while the Mona Lisa’s destruction signifies the collapse of untouchable privilege. The puzzle box invitations and Beatles references underscore the film’s playful complexity, inviting viewers to dig for meaning, much like fans parsing the song “Glass Onion.”

Reception and Legacy

Glass Onion premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022, and received a one-week theatrical release—the widest ever for a Netflix film—grossing $15 million. It began streaming on Netflix on December 23, 2022, to widespread acclaim, earning a 91% critics’ score and 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes from 435 and over 1,000 reviews, respectively. The National Board of Review named it one of 2022’s top ten films, and it received a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 95th Academy Awards, plus six Critics’ Choice and two Golden Globe nods, winning two Critics’ Choice awards.

Critics praised Johnson’s direction, the cast’s performances (especially Monáe and Hudson), and the film’s wit, with Nell Minow calling it “a deliciously twisty remix” and David Mack noting its fun-first approach. Roger Ebert’s Christy Lemire lauded its clever details but found it “sparkling, but empty,” citing a saggy midsection and less rich characters than Knives Out. Some, like Shubhra Gupta, felt Blanc was “bland” and the mystery too convoluted, while IMDb user reviews criticized the ending as “illogical” or “cartoonish,” preferring Knives Out’s tighter plotting. Others, like The Beacon’s reviewer, hailed it as a “worthy successor,” appreciating its fresh setting and humor.

Fans on X echoed the divide, with posts praising the star-studded cast and Greek aesthetic but some lamenting the predictable mystery or over-the-top finale. The film’s cultural impact includes sparking debates about wealth inequality and tech hubris, with Miles’ Musk-like persona resonating in 2022’s social climate. Its success solidified the Knives Out franchise, with a third film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, set for 2025, and Johnson planning more Blanc adventures.

Why Watch Glass Onion?

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a rollicking, stylish whodunit that delivers laughs, twists, and a scathing takedown of the ultra-wealthy. Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc is a joy, his quirky detective work paired with a stellar cast—Janelle Monáe’s commanding turn and Kate Hudson’s comedic flair stand out. The Greek island setting, vibrant costumes, and Beatles-inspired touches create a visual and thematic feast, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie or Clue (1985). While not as tightly wound as Knives Out, its bold structure and surprise cameos make it a crowd-pleaser, best enjoyed with an audience or a cozy Netflix night.

Whether you’re decoding the puzzle box or cheering the mansion’s fiery end, Glass Onion offers escapist fun with just enough bite to spark conversation. It’s a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet invites you to peel back its layers—much like Blanc himself.

Conclusion

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a dazzling, if imperfect, sequel that expands the Knives Out universe with flair and ambition. Rian Johnson’s direction, paired with a powerhouse cast and a sun-soaked Greek backdrop, delivers a mystery that’s as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. While some find its ending divisive and its satire occasionally broad, the film’s wit, twists, and standout performances—especially from Janelle Monáe—make it a worthy follow-up. As the second chapter in Benoit Blanc’s adventures, Glass Onion proves the detective’s knack for unraveling chaos, setting the stage for more mysteries to come. Stream it on Netflix or catch a rare big-screen showing to experience a 21st-century whodunit that’s equal parts playful and pointed.