Critics’ reviews

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

34 reviews from 34 publications. Critics’ score 76: 25 positive, 7 mixed, 2 negative.

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76
Positive
25
Mixed
7
Negative
2

Most critics enjoy Glass Onion, and a good number think it better than the first Knives Out: bigger and twistier without the usual sequel slack. The praise clusters on two performances: Janelle Monáe, named again and again as the film’s heart, and Daniel Craig, whose looser, sillier Benoit Blanc is a reliable pleasure. Rian Johnson’s plotting, with its shifts in time and its patient character work, is widely admired, as is the sharper aim taken at the super-rich.

The reservations cluster on the satire itself. Several critics find the politics self-satisfied and the jokes too many, and a few worry that the topical references will date quickly. The opening is called slow or overstuffed, the runtime generous, and the finale messier than the first film’s. The spread is wide: a handful of five-star verdicts sit alongside a small but firm dissent. The New Yorker finds the film clever but cold, The Wrap finds it forgettable, and even they exempt Monáe.

Little White Lies
24 November 2022 · 5/5/5 · David Jenkins
100

Jenkins delivers an exuberant verdict, calling the film an exceptionally fun and incisive mystery. He especially praises Daniel Craig’s comic intensity and Janelle Monáe’s nuanced performance.

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IndieWire
10 September 2022 · A- · Kate Erbland
90

Erbland finds the sequel a delightful, sharply constructed whodunit that confidently stands on its own. She praises its playful genre twists and Daniel Craig’s loose, silly performance as Benoit Blanc.

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The AV Club
21 November 2022 · A- · Todd Gilchrist
90

The critic finds the sequel a joyful, whip-smart crowd-pleaser that improves on the original. They single out Johnson’s nimble reinvention of the whodunit and Janelle Monáe’s performance as the story’s heart.

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The Hollywood Reporter
11 September 2022 · festival review · John DeFore
90*

The critic finds the sequel even more delightful than the original, without falling into the usual bloat of a follow-up. They praise its varied ensemble and the way Johnson sustains momentum through the plot’s shifts in time.

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Empire
21 November 2022 · ★★★★ · John Nugent
80

Nugent finds it a fizzy, entertaining crowd-pleaser, though the comedy sometimes feels overindulgent. He praises Janelle Monáe’s performance and the maze-like script.

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Evening Standard
23 November 2022 · ★★★★ · Charlotte O'Sullivan
80

O'Sullivan calls the film fantastic, intelligent and outrageously funny, though it starts slowly. She particularly praises Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc, Janelle Monáe's performance and the film's satire of the self-aggrandising rich.

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Radio Times
21 November 2022 · James Mottram
80*

Mottram’s headline and description present the film as a marvellously entertaining whodunnit. They single out Daniel Craig’s return as Benoit Blanc for praise.

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Time Out
8 November 2022 · ★★★★ · Phil de Semlyen
80

The review finds the film a winning blend of satire and sleuthing. It praises the smart, sassy mystery and Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc as a Poirot for the super-rich era.

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Total Film
21 December 2022 · ★★★★ · Jamie Graham
80

The review finds the sequel almost as sharp as the original and highly entertaining, though its larger scale may not suit everyone. It praises Rian Johnson’s cleverly twisting screenplay and its playful genre deconstruction.

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Vulture
11 September 2022 · festival review · Alison Willmore
80*

Willmore finds the sequel bigger, more precisely designed, and more satisfying than its predecessor. She particularly praises its patient character work, which makes the characters’ moral hollowness emerge gradually.

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Los Angeles Times
11 September 2022 · festival review · Justin Chang
75*

Chang finds the film splendidly entertaining, though less airtight and somewhat more derivative than its predecessor. He especially praises the dexterity of Johnson’s plotting and the sharper satire of the billionaire class.

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Variety
10 September 2022 · festival review · Owen Gleiberman
75*

Gleiberman finds the sequel thoroughly entertaining, though its killer reveal is less satisfying than the original’s. He praises Janelle Monáe’s performance as the fascinating, quietly indignant Andi.

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Sight and Sound
27 November 2022 · BFI
70*

The review finds the film largely charming and ingenious, despite its shortcomings. It praises the pacing and inventive mystery while faulting the humor’s staying power and the characters’ lack of depth.

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Screen Daily
11 September 2022 · festival review · Wendy Ide
65*

The visible page confirms this is a Toronto review, but the critic’s verdict is unavailable in the paywalled text. The standfirst highlights the Greek setting and Netflix’s takeover of Johnson’s whodunnit series, without revealing a specific praise or complaint.

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The Guardian
11 September 2022 · festival review · Benjamin Lee
65*

Lee finds the sequel entertaining but less potent than the original, with its excesses often blunting the fun. He praises Johnson’s intricate plotting and Kate Hudson’s comic performance, while faulting the overstuffed opening and its too-many jokes.

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The i Paper
18 October 2022 · Geoffrey Macnab
65*

Macnab finds the film hard to like at first because its characters are obnoxious, but ultimately considers it plenty of fun. He praises the exuberant storytelling and lively performances, particularly Daniel Craig and Janelle Monáe.

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The New York Times
21 November 2022
65*

The page is identifiable as a review, but its verdict cannot be verified from the available text. No praised or criticized element is visible in the blocked page.

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Slant Magazine
14 September 2022 · ★★½/4 · Kenji Fujishima
62

The critic finds the film an entertaining, twist-filled sequel whose political commentary feels self-satisfied and pandering. They praise the ensemble performances, especially Janelle Monáe’s quietly wounding portrayal.

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The New Yorker
18 November 2022 · Anthony Lane
40*

Lane finds the film clever and entertaining but ultimately thin and cold. He praises its intricate, twisting storytelling and Kate Hudson’s comic performance, while faulting the unlikable characters for leaving the story emotionally chilly.

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Den of Geek
23 December 2022 · ★★★★★ · David Crow
100

Crow finds the sequel supremely entertaining and praises its sharp satire of wealth and privilege. He singles out Janelle Monáe’s performance and righteous fury as a standout.

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Collider
11 September 2022 · A · Ross Bonaime
95

Bonaime calls it a deeply satisfying, entertaining mystery that surpasses its predecessor. He especially praises Johnson’s nimble storytelling and the cast, while noting that a few ensemble members get little to do.

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Deadline
11 September 2022 · festival review · Damon Wise
94*

The critic calls the film an exciting, funny crowd-pleaser with a meticulously plotted mystery. He especially praises Janelle Monáe’s performance, while noting that the explosive finale is somewhat messy.

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/Film
11 September 2022 · 9/10 · Chris Evangelista
90

The critic says Glass Onion surpasses its predecessor with a bigger, funnier, more intricate mystery. They single out Daniel Craig’s performance as Blanc as especially hilarious and memorable.

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Consequence
23 December 2022 · festival review · Amber Dowling
85*

The critic finds the sequel silly, absurd fun and suggests it may surpass the original. She praises the lively ensemble and the film’s deftly handled social commentary.

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Paste
29 December 2022 · 8.0 · Kathy Michelle Chacón
82*

Chacón finds the sequel sillier and more over-the-top than its predecessor, but even more enjoyable. She praises Johnson’s visual comedy and the film’s lively, twist-filled take on murder mysteries.

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Digital Spy
23 December 2022 · Gabriella Geisinger
80*

The critic finds the sequel equally entertaining and satisfying, with no sequel fatigue yet. They single out the ensemble and its entertaining, nuanced satire of the wealthy for praise.

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NME
22 November 2022 · ★★★★ · James Mottram
80

The review calls it an almost impossible-to-resist, bigger and twistier sequel that makes for especially fun repeat viewing. It praises the crowded ensemble, singling out Janelle Monáe as the standout alongside Daniel Craig.

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The Skinny
24 October 2022 · ★★★★ · Rory Doherty
80

Doherty finds the sequel deliriously fun and meticulously crafted, despite its overly didactic social commentary and topical references that may quickly date. He praises the game cast, slick style, and convoluted mystery’s crowd-pleasing climax.

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Film Stories
23 December 2022 · Simon Brew
75*

The critic finds the film hugely entertaining and very funny, though it runs longer than it needs to. They single out Daniel Craig’s comic performance and the editing’s wit for praise.

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Eye for Film
27 December 2022 · Amber Wilkinson
70*

Wilkinson finds the film a sharper, more precise follow-up, though its setup runs long and its topical satire may date. She praises the cast’s playful performances, the visual and scripted humour, and the costume design.

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Polygon
26 December 2022 · Oli Welsh
70*

Welsh finds the film flashy, fun entertainment, despite muddled themes and a finale that fails to land. He especially praises Janelle Monáe’s multifaceted performance and the cast’s lively comic turns.

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The Playlist
festival review
65*

The URL identifies this as a review of the 2022 film, but the page content is blocked. Its verdict and any specific praise or criticism cannot be determined.

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The Ringer
23 November 2022 · Adam Nayman
60*

Nayman finds the film enjoyable but disposable, with its satire too self-righteous to feel especially trenchant. He praises Janelle Monáe’s performance and her scenes with Daniel Craig, while finding much of the supporting cast underused or stuck in easy comic shtick.

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The Wrap
11 September 2022 · festival review
30*

The critic finds the sequel uninspired and forgettable, with little suspense or memorable characterization. Janelle Monáe is singled out for delivering the film’s most complex role with distinction.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate