The animated phenomenon Kpop Demon Hunters ignited the box office over the Aug. 22-24 weekend, grossing an estimated $18 million to $20 million from 1,700 North American theaters. This impressive figure marks the highest showing of any movie during that period, surpassing New Line and Warner Bros.’ horror film Weapons, which earned $15.6 million.
A Chart-topping Sing-Along Sparks Industry Debate
The unprecedented success of the Kpop Demon Hunters sing-along event raises a crucial question: Is this a rare occurrence or a sign of a new era of cooperation between streaming giants and conventional cinemas? Most in Hollywood are betting on the former. Netflix, which has a notoriously complex relationship with theatre owners, does not release official box office numbers, leaving the exact total unknown. Representatives for Netflix declined to comment on sunday.
Despite the lack of official figures, the sing-along was a shrewd move by Netflix. It not only kept current subscribers engaged but also served as a powerful marketing tool to attract new ones, all but guaranteeing a franchise for the hit film. Kpop Demon Hunters has been a cultural sensation since its June debut, soaring to the top of Netflix’s animated film list and nearing the top of its most-watched English-language films. Its soundtrack has also been a consistent presence in the top 10 of the Billboard 200, with the song “Golden” topping the charts.
The theatrical run for the sing-along was limited, with only AMC Theatres opting out due to its policy against showing films also available at home. Major circuits like Regal Cinemas, Cinemark Theatres, and Alamo Drafthouse, though, participated, eager to capitalize on the summer box office’s slow finish. Industry insiders suggest the limited two-day release might also be a precursor to the sing-along version appearing on the streaming service, though no official announcement has been made.
The K-Pop Phenomenon’s Global Reach
The film’s narrative follows Huntr/x, a trio of K-pop stars-Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zooey (Ji-young Yoo)-who secretly battle supernatural threats to protect their fans. Their latest challenge involves an alluring rival boy band composed of disguised demons. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris appelhans, the animated feature was developed by Sony Pictures Animation with a screenplay by Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan, Kang, and Appelhans, before ultimately landing with Netflix as part of a broader deal with Sony Pictures.
s independent thriller Relay, directed by David MacKenzie and starring Riz Ahmed, Lily James, and Sam Worthington, opened in tenth place with $1.9 million from 1,483 theaters.
A24’s English-language release of the Chinese animated film Ne zha 2 debuted to $1.5 million from 2,208 theaters, failing to crack the top 10. While the film has grossed over $2.2 billion worldwide in 2025,industry analysts suggest its domestic performance was impacted by the popularity of Demon Hunters and the prior release of the original version,which earned over $21 million earlier this year.
