Kpop Demon Hunters: Netflix's Movie Dominates Theaters

Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" Tops Domestic Box Office

A singalong presentation of the Netflix animated feature, “KPop Demon Hunters,” is projected to generate between $18 million and $20 million in theatrical revenue this weekend. This performance positions it as the leading film at the domestic box office.

Notably, this success is achieved despite the film being available for viewing in cinemas for only a portion of the weekend – specifically, Saturday and Sunday.

Streaming Titles and Theatrical Success

This isn’t an isolated incident of a streaming release outperforming traditional theatrical debuts. Earlier this summer, Apple’s “F1,” distributed by Warner Bros. in the U.S., opened with an even stronger $57 million.

However, this represents the first instance of a Netflix production claiming the top spot in theatrical box office rankings.

Box Office Reporting Considerations

It’s important to note that Netflix does not publicly disclose its box office earnings. Therefore, the reported figures are preliminary weekend estimates compiled by independent industry analysts, rather than official numbers released by the streaming service.

A Relatively Quiet Weekend

The weekend saw limited competition from major new releases. Following “KPop Demon Hunters,” the highest-grossing film was “Weapons,” which earned an estimated $15.4 million during its third weekend in release.

This brings “Weapons’” cumulative domestic total to $115 million.

A Shift in Netflix's Strategy?

This outcome signifies a potential turning point for Netflix, a company that has historically avoided conventional theatrical distribution. This previous stance may have contributed to the departure of some prominent filmmakers.

Previously, the closest Netflix came to a wide theatrical release was a limited one-week run of Rian Johnson’s “Glass Onion,” which grossed approximately $15 million.

Furthermore, Greta Gerwig’s upcoming “Narnia” adaptation is anticipated to achieve even greater box office results when it premieres exclusively in Imax theaters next autumn.

Success Despite Streaming Availability

The film’s success is particularly noteworthy considering it has been accessible on the Netflix streaming platform since late June. It has already ascended to the No. 2 position on Netflix’s list of all-time most-watched movies, accumulating over 210 million views.

Remarkably, it currently ranks between “Red Notice” and “Carry-On” in terms of viewership.

About "KPop Demon Hunters"

“KPop Demon Hunters,” produced by Sony Pictures Animation, features a predominantly Korean and Korean American voice cast. The narrative centers on a K-pop girl group who also engage in demon hunting, including a confrontation with a competing boy band.

“Golden,” a song from the film’s soundtrack, reached the top of the Billboard charts and has garnered over 400 million streams on Spotify.

Theatrical Distribution Challenges

AMC Theatres was the sole major cinema chain to decline screening the singalong version of “KPop Demon Hunters,” adhering to its policy of not exhibiting films lacking an exclusive theatrical window.