Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters Scores First-Ever Box Office Win with $18M Weekend
Animated hit turns streaming success into a theatrical phenomenon, grossing $18M in just two days.
Sing-along release surprises Hollywood by topping the charts, signaling Netflix’s growing theatrical potential
Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters delivered an unexpected triumph at the domestic box office, surging to the No. 1 spot over the weekend with an estimated $18 million in ticket sales. The animated film, released for streaming on June 20, returned to theaters in a limited sing-along event, selling out more than 1,000 screens and captivating fans during its one-weekend run.
The milestone marks Netflix’s first-ever box office win, underscoring the growing crossover appeal of its streaming hits in theatrical settings. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, KPop Demon Hunters also stands as the streamer’s most-watched original animated film, with more than 210 million views globally—second only to Red Notice among Netflix’s English-language films.
“This caught a lot of people off guard,” said Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango. “Its ability to surprise everyone in the industry says a lot for a movie that many had already watched multiple times.”
The sing-along version opened in 1,700 theaters over Saturday and Sunday, while also joining Netflix’s streaming library on Monday. Analysts compared its opening momentum to Beyoncé’s and Taylor Swift’s recent concert films, both of which capitalized on immersive fan-driven experiences.
David A. Gross, who publishes the movie industry newsletter FranchiseRe, noted: “It’s doing what it’s supposed to do. The movie arrived as a phenomenon, and the phenomenon is growing.”
For the wider box office, KPop Demon Hunters edged past Warner Bros.’ Weapons, which earned $15.6 million in its third week, bringing its total to $115.8 million. Disney’s Freakier Friday, the sequel to the 2003 comedy classic, placed third with $9.2 million, followed by Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which added $5.9 million to reach $257 million domestically.
Industry experts view Netflix’s surprise victory as a turning point. “This type of success is good for everybody,” Robbins said, noting the streamer’s often tense relationship with theater chains. “This weekend should be taken as a positive step toward how they can work together in the future.”
The win also provides a boost to Hollywood’s summer season, which has generated $3.5 billion to date, according to Comscore. While major releases like Disney’s Lilo & Stitch ($421.7 million) soared, others such as Disney’s Elio ($72.93 million) underperformed.
As KPop Demon Hunters proved, fan-driven phenomena can still shake up the box office landscape—even when born on streaming platforms.
