Rian Johnson's Knives Out has been a critical and commercial success since its debut, continuing the tradition of the classic American murder mystery with Daniel Craig in the lead role. When the series began in 2019, Craig's Bond-like portrayal of Benoit Blanc drew crowds to theaters in droves. However, as anticipation builds for the third installment set for a 2025 release to mirror the success of its parent films, fans are already discontent with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery's projected $210 million budget, a jaw-dropping fiscal jump from the modest budget of the first film.

Jeff Sneider, an industry insider on X, claims that the budget for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is reportedly five times greater than the $40 million spent on the first film, bringing the third installment's budget to around $210 million. Netflix initially paid $469 million for the rights to the Knives Out sequels. The reported budget for Wake Up Dead Man would be almost half of what Netflix originally invested in the sequels, leading to fan disappointment and a search for explanations for the significant financial increase.

The reported budget for the third installment is surprising, especially given that Netflix and other streaming services have been cutting costs, leading to the potential cancellation of numerous series and films, with some even being removed from their platforms. This news is even more startling considering that the first movie, with its $40 million budget, performed exceptionally well, prompting audiences to question the justification for such a significant budget increase. 

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Although the budget has yet to be officially confirmed, fans are eager for an explanation behind the escalation.

Despite fans' persistent objections, the significant budget increase for the third Knives Out film compared to the first may be attributed to two main factors. First, the third installment might expand its shooting locations internationally, driving up costs. Additionally, the film reportedly features the most expensive cast to date. Nevertheless, fans still find it difficult to accept the increased budget.

Many fans firmly believe there is no need for the budget to increase to such an extent, while others are hoping the movie will be worth the alleged financial jump.

Some fans responded with humor, questioning whether Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc will travel internationally or across multiple universes, leaning on the speculation that the next mystery might span several locations. However, given the success of Knives Out: Glass Onion, which remains one of the streamer's most-watched original films, the streamer may have been more generous with the budget this time in hopes of replicating the success of the previous films.

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What do you think of fans' disappointment with the financial leap in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery from the first film? Let us know in the comments below!