Netflix Pulls Off a Box Office Shock with “Kpop Demon Hunters”
Every once in a while, the box office throws us a curveball, and this weekend was exactly that. In a surprising twist, Netflix — the same company often criticized for being “theatrically allergic” — just landed the No. 1 spot at the North American box office. Yep, you read that right. A Netflix film, “Kpop Demon Hunters,” beat out traditional big-screen contenders and stormed into theaters like a force nobody saw coming.
And here’s the kicker: this isn’t even a brand-new movie.
A Streaming Hit Turns into a Theater Sell-Out
“Kpop Demon Hunters” originally dropped on Netflix about two months ago. Since then, it’s been an absolute monster on the platform, becoming the second-most-watched Netflix film of all time. Not only that, but the movie’s soundtrack has exploded in the real world too. Three original tracks — “Golden,” “Your Idol,” and “Soda Pop” — are currently sitting in the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100. That kind of crossover success is rare, and it explains why so many theaters were packed this weekend.
To give you some perspective, the movie played on 1,700 screens — nearly double the count that Netflix gave to “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” back in 2022. Even more jaw-dropping? Reports say about 1,150 of those screenings were sold out. Sold out! For a film you could technically just stream at home. That tells you how crazy the fanbase is right now.
The Premise: Kpop Meets Fantasy
The story behind “Kpop Demon Hunters” is as wild as its success. The film follows a Kpop girl group who protect the world from demons using the power of their music. Imagine a splash of Sailor Moon, a dash of Pitch Perfect, and a whole lot of vibrant Kpop energy rolled into one fantasy adventure. It’s flashy, fun, and unapologetically different. Kids, teens, and honestly even parents are eating it up.
Analyst David A. Gross from Franchise Entertainment Research summed it up well: “There’s no CinemaScore, but audiences, particularly kids, love this movie. That’s why it’s here.”
Box Office Numbers That Speak Loud
Industry insiders estimate “Kpop Demon Hunters” made somewhere between $18 million and $20 million this weekend. Keep in mind, Netflix doesn’t officially report grosses, so these numbers come from rival studios and theater exhibitors. But even with that margin of uncertainty, one thing’s clear — it outpaced the weekend’s expected frontrunner, “Weapons.”
“Weapons,” a horror flick from director Zach Cregger, pulled in a solid $15.6 million from over 3,600 theaters. By traditional standards, that’s a win. But the headlines belong to Netflix’s animated musical, which took the crown despite playing on less than half the number of screens.
“Weapons”: Still a Sleeper Success
Even though it finished second, don’t count out “Weapons.” With a domestic total of $115.9 million and nearly $200 million worldwide so far, it’s firmly in sleeper hit territory. That’s pretty incredible for a movie with a $38 million budget.
Cregger’s last film, “Barbarian,” turned into a word-of-mouth hit for Disney back in 2022, and he’s now building a reputation as a horror director who knows how to stretch a dollar. On top of that, “Weapons” marks Warner Bros.’ sixth consecutive theatrical win, joining the studio’s hot streak after titles like “A Minecraft Movie,” “Final Destination Bloodlines,” and even Apple’s “F1: The Movie.”
Other Players in the Top Five
Of course, the weekend wasn’t all about Netflix and horror. The top five still had some familiar faces:
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Disney’s “Freakier Friday” held onto third with $9.1 million. The Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis reunion is proving surprisingly durable, pulling in $70 million domestically and $113 million worldwide. While it’s trailing behind the 2003 original “Freaky Friday,” this is still a strong showing for a comedy sequel in 2025.
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Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” landed at No. 4 with $5.9 million in its fifth weekend. The film opened strong with $117 million, but momentum has slowed. Still, with $490 million globally, it’s outperforming other recent Marvel titles like “Captain America: Brave New World” and “Thunderbolts.”
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“The Bad Guys 2” rounded out the top five with $5.1 million. While it hasn’t matched the $250 million total of its 2022 predecessor, it’s quietly creeping toward $150 million worldwide.
A Rough Weekend for Newcomers
Not every release had a reason to celebrate. Ethan Coen’s dark comedy, “Honey, Don’t,” debuted at No. 8 with just $3 million from 1,317 theaters. Audience demographics leaned heavily female (56%) and older (nearly 70% over 25). Despite a cast stacked with names like Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Evans, and Charlie Day, the quirky mystery failed to connect with wider audiences. It’s being billed as the second part of Coen’s “lesbian B-movie trilogy,” but just like the first entry (“Drive Away Dolls”), it’s struggling to make a dent at the box office.
Meanwhile, A24 took a swing with “Ne Zha II,” an English-language release of China’s billion-dollar blockbuster. Unfortunately, it tanked stateside with a weak $1.5 million from over 2,200 theaters. To be fair, the movie doesn’t exactly need American dollars — it’s already hauled in a record-breaking $2.1 billion globally. Still, for A24, it’s a rare misstep in the wide-release market.
A Box Office in Flux
Stepping back, the broader box office picture is a little shaky. Year-to-date totals are still 5.1% ahead of last year, but that margin has been shrinking fast. Back in early July, revenues were up 16% compared to 2024. The slowdown is being felt now as the summer season limps to an end, with fewer mega-releases to keep audiences consistently engaged.
That’s why a surprise like “Kpop Demon Hunters” hitting theaters and selling out screenings is so fascinating. It’s not just a win for Netflix — it’s a lifeline for theaters trying to get through a sluggish stretch.
Why Netflix Bothered with Theaters
Here’s the real question: why would Netflix even bother with a theatrical run when the movie is already a streaming hit? The answer is pretty strategic. By dropping “Kpop Demon Hunters” into theaters, Netflix stokes fan excitement all over again, boosting re-watch potential on the platform and laying the groundwork for an inevitable sequel. The move also gives the streamer a little extra legitimacy in the theatrical space, which could come in handy for awards season or future hybrid releases.
And judging by the sold-out shows, Netflix might have cracked the code for creating “event cinema” experiences out of movies that already live online.
Final Thoughts
This weekend was a reminder that the box office isn’t always predictable. A Netflix animated musical about demon-fighting Kpop stars just dethroned a buzzy horror movie from over 3,000 more theaters. Audiences are clearly craving something fresh, flashy, and a little bit weird — and they’ll show up in droves if it hits the right notes.
While “Weapons” continues to prove horror’s staying power and Disney/Marvel keep their franchises alive, the real headline is simple: Netflix just flipped the script on how its movies can dominate both your living room and the multiplex.
And if you think “Kpop Demon Hunters” fever ends here? Think again. This feels less like a one-off and more like the beginning of a much bigger pop-culture phenomenon.
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