'KPop Demon Hunters' takes N. American box office by storm

CULTURE 24.08.2025

Netflix's monster animated hit "KPop Demon Hunters" ruled the North American box office with a special singalong event, raking in $18 million in a first victory in theaters for the streaming giant, industry estimates showed Sunday.

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Netflix refuses to report ticket sales data, so the amount is based on projections from rival studios and exhibitors, but it is a huge showing for the famously cinema-averse streamer, whose film has already topped music charts and smashed viewing records.

Released in June, "KPop Demon Hunters" is already Netflix's most-watched animated offering.

The weekend singalongs at theaters in five countries were expected to draw legions of fans ready to watch the tale of a Kpop girl group that protects the world from demons with their music -- and belt out the movie's catchy bangers.

"This weekend, a streaming production made for viewing at home is connecting on a level that theatrical hits rarely reach," said analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.

"For 48 hours, this made-for-television film is playing to sold-out audiences who are singing, dancing, dressing up, and losing themselves in the fun. That's pop entertainment at its best."

Buzzy horror film "Weapons" -- which topped the box office for the last two weeks -- will likely be the official winner again this week, given Netflix's refusal to release official figures.

The Warner Bros. movie -- which tells the story of the mysterious disappearance of a group of children from the same school class -- made $15.6 million from Friday to Sunday, Exhibitor Relations reported.

In third place was Disney's "Freakier Friday" starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, the much-anticipated sequel to the 2003 body-swapping family film, at $9.2 million.

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps," Disney's reboot of the Marvel Comics franchise, held in fourth place at $5.9 million.

And in fifth place was Universal's family-friendly animation sequel "The Bad Guys 2," about a squad of goofy animal criminals actually doing good in their rebranded lives, earning $5.1 million.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

"Nobody 2" ($3.7 million)

"Superman" ($3.4 million)

"Honey Don't" ($3.0 million)

"The Naked Gun" ($2.95 million)

"Jurassic World: Rebirth" ($2.1 million)

P.Gashi--NZN