Netflix Breaks Records with KPop Demon Hunters Singalong Release

Netflix’s animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters” is dominating the box office with its singalong version projected to earn between $18 million and $20 million this weekend. Remarkably, the film is achieving this milestone despite screening only on Saturday and Sunday, making it the number one movie domestically.

While this isn’t the first time a streaming title has led the box office—Apple’s “F1” debuted with $57 million earlier this summer—it marks a first for Netflix, a company that has traditionally shied away from theatrical releases. The box office figures, however, come from industry estimates rather than Netflix itself, as the streamer does not publicly release such data.

The weekend was relatively quiet in terms of major releases, with “Weapons” trailing in second place at an estimated $15.4 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $115 million. Netflix’s previous theatrical efforts, like the one-week release of Rian Johnson’s “Glass Onion” ($15 million), were far more limited, and upcoming titles such as Greta Gerwig’s “Narnia” adaptation may perform even better when it hits Imax next fall.

What makes this success notable is that “KPop Demon Hunters” has been available on Netflix since late June and has already climbed to the platform’s number two spot among all-time most-watched movies, with over 210 million views. The animated feature, produced by Sony Pictures Animation, features a primarily Korean and Korean American voice cast and follows a K-Pop girl group that also battles demons, including a rival boy band.

Adding to its cultural impact, the film’s hit song “Golden” topped the Billboard charts and amassed more than 400 million Spotify streams. Despite AMC Theatres’ refusal to screen the singalong version due to its non-exclusive release, most major chains embraced it, marking a significant theatrical breakthrough for Netflix.