‘Kpop Demon Hunters’ Tops Box Office in Theatrical Debut

In a box office twist, a film from the theatrical-averse Netflix appears to be No. 1 on North American charts. “Kpop Demon Hunters,” a singalong version of the hit animated musical, is estimated to have earned $18 million to $20 million on Saturday and Sunday.

Netflix isn’t reporting grosses, but projections from rival studios and exhibitors would put ticket sales for “Kpop Demon Hunters” ahead of those for “Weapons,” which collected a strong $15.6 million from 3,631 North American theaters in its third weekend of release.

“Kpop Demon Hunters” playing on 1,700 screens (that’s nearly double the theater count for the streamer’s “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” in 2022) and roughly 1,150 of those showings were reportedly sold out, according to knowledgable sources. That “Kpop Demon Hunters,” a fantasy adventure about a Kpop girl group who protects the world from demons with their music, is available on the big screen at all is rare — and not just because it’s backed by Netflix, which doesn’t prioritize theatrical. It’s unusual because “Kpop Demon Hunters” isn’t new; the movie debuted on Netflix about two months ago. But in the time since, it has become the second-most watched film ever on the platform while three of the film’s original tunes — “Golden,” “Your Idol” and “Soda Pop” — are currently in the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Though it’s a boon for theaters during a painfully slow weekend, that’s not why Netflix brought “Kpop Demon Hunters” to multiplexes. The streaming behemoth is hoping that excitement will drive people back to the platform for re-watches or the inevitable sequel.

“There is no CinemaScore, but audiences, particularly kids, love this movie. That’s why it’s here,” says analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.

Although “Weapons” didn’t finish in first place as expected, the scary movie has…