‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Makes Netflix Number One at the Box Office

Netflix has achieved a historic milestone in its 18-year history. The streaming giant claimed the No. 1 spot at the U.S. box office over the weekend with its animated sensation “KPop Demon Hunters.” Rival studios estimated the film earned between $16 million and $18 million in ticket sales, with some estimates as high as $20 million. The film, originally a Netflix release, was screened in 1,750 theaters for special sing-along events, turning heads in an industry accustomed to traditional theatrical releases.

A Unique Theatrical Strategy

Netflix’s decision to release “KPop Demon Hunters” in theaters marks an unusual move for the streamer. The company has long prioritized subscriber streaming over traditional box-office revenue. Despite this, Netflix successfully claimed the top spot, even as major chains like AMC declined to show the film. Distribution executives highlighted the film’s success on condition of anonymity due to Netflix’s policy of not reporting ticket sales.

The Film That Won the Crowd

“KPop Demon Hunters” centers on Huntr/x, a KPop superstar trio who secretly hunt demons. Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zooey (Ji-young Yoo) must protect their fans from a rival demon boy band. The film became one of Netflix’s most-watched animated original releases. David A. Gross, founder of FranchiseRe, called the weekend event “a completely unique two-day musical experience” and suggested ticket sales could increase as theaters adjust to audience demand.

Other Box Office Highlights

While Netflix celebrated its win, other films continued strong performances. Zach Cregger’s horror hit “Weapons” earned $15.6 million in its third weekend, reaching over $100 million globally. Disney’s “Freakier Friday” followed with $9.2 million. Both films saw a minimal 36% drop from the previous weekend, offering optimism as the summer box-office season winds down.

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” earned $5.9 million in its fifth weekend, while newcomer dark comedy “Honey Don’t!” grossed $3 million across 1,317 theaters. Other notable films in the top 10 included “The Bad Guys 2” ($5.1 million), “Nobody 2” ($3.7 million), “Superman” ($3.4 million), “The Naked Gun” ($3 million), “Jurassic World Rebirth” ($2.1 million), and “Relay” ($2 million).

Changing the Industry Landscape

The success of “KPop Demon Hunters” shows how Netflix is becoming really important in Hollywood. It also proves that people are starting to like new ways to watch movies, like combining streaming with special theater showings and this win shows that Netflix can go head-to-head with regular movie studios while still focusing on its online platform.

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