Netflix may have just scored its first box office crown. In an unprecedented turn, the streaming giant’s animated film, KPop Demon Hunters is expected to gross around $18–20 million in its limited two-day theatrical run this weekend. That tally is enough to make it the No. 1 movie in North America – a milestone for Netflix, which has historically shunned traditional theatrical releases.
The sing-along special event, playing only on Saturday and Sunday in about 1,700 theaters, managed to dethrone the current horror hit “Weapons,” which earned roughly $15.6 million in its third weekend. Netflix itself doesn’t report box office figures, so industry estimates are filling the gap. But if the numbers hold, KPop Demon Hunters will give Netflix its first-ever box office topper. (Earlier this summer, a film from rival Apple – the racing drama “F1,” via Warner Bros. – set a precedent with a $57 million opening, but until now Netflix had never taken the crown.)
The success is even more striking since KPop Demon Hunters has been available to stream on Netflix since late June. Already a pop culture phenomenon with over 210 million streaming views and a soundtrack hit (“Golden”) topping the Billboard charts, the film lured fans off their couches and into cinemas for the communal sing-along experience. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation and featuring a K-pop girl group that battles demons (including a villainous boy band), this genre-blending adventure proves that even Netflix’s biggest hits can break out of the living room and conquer the big screen when given the chance.
