Netflix has scored its first-ever box office crown as the singalong version of its animated film KPop Demon Hunters is projected to earn $18–$20 million in theatres this weekend. The milestone is notable given that the movie has already been streaming since June, where it’s become the platform’s second most-watched title of all time with over 210 million views.
The film, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and featuring a Korean/Korean American voice cast, follows a K-pop girl group that doubles as demon hunters, with its hit track Golden surpassing 400 million Spotify streams.
Although box office estimates aren’t directly reported by Netflix, industry trackers place KPop Demon Hunters ahead of rival title Weapons, which pulled in $15.4 million in its third week. The win underscores how streaming titles are increasingly crossing into theatrical dominance, following Apple’s F1, which grossed $57 million on opening weekend earlier this summer.
Notably, AMC Theatres refused to screen the singalong version due to Netflix’s non-traditional release model, though most other major chains participated.
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With Greta Gerwig’s Narnia adaptation set for an IMAX-exclusive launch next fall, Netflix appears ready to test just how far its hybrid streaming-theatre approach can go.
