---
title: "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery"
critics_score: 76
critics_reviews: 34
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022): what the critics said

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

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 — David Jenkins

Rating 5/5/5. 24 November 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery)

## IndieWire — Kate Erbland

Rating A-. 10 September 2022. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/glass-onion-knives-out-2-review-rian-johnson-1234761029/)

## The AV Club — Todd Gilchrist

Rating A-. 21 November 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/glass-onion-review-daniel-craig-rian-johnson-monae-1849706476)

## The Hollywood Reporter — John DeFore

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2022. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-rian-johnson-daniel-craig-kate-hudseon-janelle-monae-1235217185/)

## Empire — John Nugent

Rating 4/5. 21 November 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery/)

## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan

Rating 4/5. 23 November 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-movie-review-daniel-craig-b1032842.html)

## Radio Times — James Mottram

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 November 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/glass-onion-knives-out-mystery-review/)

## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen

Rating 4/5. 8 November 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-2022)

## Total Film — Jamie Graham

Rating 4/5. 21 December 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/glass-onion-review-knives-out-2/)

## Vulture — Alison Willmore

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2022. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-movie-review.html)

## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2022. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-09-11/glass-onion-the-fabelmans-reviews-toronto-2022)

## Variety — Owen Gleiberman

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2022. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-review-daniel-craig-rian-johnson-1235367783/)

## Sight and Sound — BFI

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 November 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/glass-onion-this-knives-out-sequel-well-paced-screwball-mystery)

## Screen Daily — Wendy Ide

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2022. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-toronto-review/5174337.article)

## The Guardian — Benjamin Lee

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2022. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/11/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-review-sequel-has-more-bung-for-buck-but-blunter-weapon)

## The i Paper — Geoffrey Macnab

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-review-thoroughly-obnoxious-characters-makes-this-sequel-hard-to-like-1918448)

## The New York Times

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 21 November 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/21/movies/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-review.html)

## Slant Magazine — Kenji Fujishima

Rating 2.5/4. 14 September 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-review-rian-johnson/)

## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane

Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 18 November 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/11/28/the-unlikable-souls-of-glass-onion)

## Den of Geek — David Crow

Rating 5/5. 23 December 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/glass-onion-review-rian-johnson-knives-out/)

## Collider — Ross Bonaime

Rating A. 11 September 2022. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/knives-out-2-review-glass-onion-rian-johnson-daniel-craig/)

## Deadline — Damon Wise

Fi1m's normalised score 94/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2022. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://deadline.com/2022/09/toronto-review-rian-johnson-glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-netflix-1235114718/)

## /Film — Chris Evangelista

Rating 9/10. 11 September 2022. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1002610/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-review-rian-johnson-outdoes-himself-with-a-hilarious-new-benoit-blanc-mystery-tiff/)

## Consequence — Amber Dowling

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2022. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2022/12/glass-onion-review-knives-out-2/)

## Paste — Kathy Michelle Chacón

Rating 8.0. 29 December 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/netflix/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-review)

## Digital Spy — Gabriella Geisinger

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a42294175/glass-onion-review/)

## NME — James Mottram

Rating 4/5. 22 November 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/glass-onion-review-knives-out-2-daniel-craig-3330126)

## The Skinny — Rory Doherty

Rating ★★★★. 24 October 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery)

## Film Stories — Simon Brew

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-review-daniel-craig-takes-a-bath/)

## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 December 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-2022-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)

## Polygon — Oli Welsh

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 December 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23474865/glass-onion-review-knives-out-sequel-netflix-streaming/)

## The Playlist

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/glass-onion-review-rian-johnsons-knives-out-sequel-is-another-twisty-delight-tiff-20220910/)

## The Ringer — Adam Nayman

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 23 November 2022. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2022/11/23/movies/glass-onion-knives-out-mystery-sequel)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2022. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/glass-onion-film-review-knives-daniel-craig/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery.md