Netflix has claimed its first North American weekend box office crown, thanks to the animated sensation KPop Demon Hunters. The film pulled in an estimated $18 million over its two-day sing-along theatrical engagement, making it the streamer’s most significant success in theaters so far.
A Record First for Netflix at the Weekend Box Office
The victory is especially notable because Netflix traditionally avoids box office competition. The company rarely stages major theatrical releases and almost never reports ticket sales. This time, however, rival studios and industry sources confirmed the $18 million figure. The achievement places Netflix at the top of the weekend charts, despite KPop Demon Hunters not being shown in AMC locations. AMC has a policy of avoiding titles that are available simultaneously at home.
The film screened in about 1,300 cinemas across North America. Entertainment research firm EntTelligence reported that over 1.5 million people attended showings. Average tickets for standard screenings cost $13.63, while premium formats averaged $16.31. Standard showings made up about 82% of attendance, with premium formats accounting for the remaining 18%.
This makes KPop Demon Hunters not only a streaming juggernaut but also a proven draw in theaters. On the Netflix platform, the film has already reached 210.5 million views, putting it on track to surpass the streamer’s all-time English-language hit, Red Notice, which sits at 230.9 million views.
A Pop Culture Phenomenon With a Twist
KPop Demon Hunters has turned into a global phenomenon. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the PG-13 film tells the story of an all-girl K-pop band who double as demon hunters. Their biggest challenge? A showdown with a rival demonic boy band.
The film’s mix of K-pop energy, colorful animation, and supernatural adventure has attracted a broad audience. A special sing-along version of the movie played this past weekend, which helped boost attendance numbers. Following the theatrical run, Netflix confirmed it would release this sing-along edition on the platform on Monday, August 25.
The voice cast includes well-known talents, and the film was directed by an accomplished creative duo. With catchy music, sharp humor, and a unique cultural twist, the film has managed to capture the imagination of both younger audiences and adult viewers.
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The movie’s weekend performance also highlights the growing popularity of event-style screenings. Fans flocked to cinemas to enjoy the sing-along version, creating a concert-like atmosphere. This strategy seems to have tapped into the communal energy that has powered other musical hits at the box office.
A Crowded Box Office Weekend
While Netflix claimed the top spot, other films also had strong showings. Comscore, which did not count KPop Demon Hunters in its official chart, listed horror hit Weapons as number one with $15.6 million in its third weekend. That brought Weapons to $115.9 million total, with global earnings expected to cross $200 million on Monday.
Elsewhere, Disney’s Freakier Friday collected $9.2 million, bringing its running total to $70.5 million. Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps continues to be a box office giant with $257.3 million so far, while Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys 2 has earned $66.2 million.
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Other new entries made smaller waves. Focus Features’ dark comedy Honey Don’t debuted in ninth place with $3 million, while Relay, a thriller from Bleecker Street, opened with $1.9 million. Vertical’s survival thriller Eden collected just over $1 million in its limited release. Meanwhile, A24 brought back Ne Zha 2 with a dubbed version, earning $1.5 million over the weekend and lifting its total to $22.4 million.
Indie titles also entered the fray. Neon’s Splitsville opened in just five theaters, making $105,572, while Mubi launched Lurker on four screens for $64,436. Lurker is expected to expand into more cities in the coming weeks.
Altogether, the three-day North American box office generated about $60.1 million according to Comscore. Including KPop Demon Hunters, the total rises to roughly $78 million. So far this year, the North American box office has reached $5.9 billion, which is about 5% higher than this point in 2024.
