‘KPop Demon Hunters’ marks Netflix’s first box office no. 1 with limited release
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Aug 25, 2025, 23:03 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters secured the top spot at the box office. It earned an estimated $16 million to $18 million during a limited theatrical release. The animated musical was screened in 1,750 theaters across the United States and Canada. Weapons and Freakier Friday also performed well. The success highlights audience enthusiasm during the summer movie season.
Netflix claimed its first-ever No. 1 box office title this weekend as KPop Demon Hunters generated an estimated $16 million to $18 million in ticket sales during a limited theatrical run, according to rival studio estimates released Sunday.
The animated musical, already one of Netflix’s most popular releases on its streaming platform, was screened in 1,750 theaters across the United States and Canada for sing-along events on Saturday and Sunday. Because Netflix does not publicly report ticket revenue, three distribution executives from competing studios provided independent estimates of the film’s performance on condition of anonymity; some estimates placed the total as high as $20 million.
The achievement marks a milestone for Netflix, whose emphasis on streaming has long disrupted traditional Hollywood distribution models. Ironically, the hit film was developed and produced by Sony Pictures before being sold to the streamer.
“This is a completely unique two-day musical event,” said David A. Gross, head of the film consulting firm FranchiseRe. “Theater owners are quick on their feet and can add capacity according to demand, so the final numbers may end up even higher.”
AMC Theatres, the largest chain in North America, declined to participate in the release. Still, the limited rollout underscored the film’s drawing power. KPop Demon Hunters debuted on Netflix in late June and has since become the company’s most-watched animated original film.
The story follows Huntr/x, a K-pop trio made up of Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zooey (Ji-young Yoo), who double as demon hunters. Their mission: protect fans while confronting a rival boy band revealed to be demons in disguise.
Elsewhere at the box office, Zach Cregger’s horror film Weapons continued its strong run, earning $15.6 million domestically in its third weekend and pushing its global total past $100 million. Disney’s Freakier Friday followed with $9.2 million, holding steady with only a 36 percent drop from last week, according to data firm Comscore.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, said the recent performances highlight audience enthusiasm during a competitive summer. “We have to look at the goodwill generated by people having these great summer moviegoing experiences as a more important metric than just bottom-line dollars,” he said.
Other top performers included The Fantastic Four: First Steps with $5.9 million in its fifth weekend and Honey Don’t!, a dark comedy starring Margaret Qualley, which opened with $3 million from 1,317 theaters.
Final domestic box office totals will be released Monday.
Estimated top 10 films in U.S. and Canadian theaters, Friday through Sunday, according to Comscore:
The animated musical, already one of Netflix’s most popular releases on its streaming platform, was screened in 1,750 theaters across the United States and Canada for sing-along events on Saturday and Sunday. Because Netflix does not publicly report ticket revenue, three distribution executives from competing studios provided independent estimates of the film’s performance on condition of anonymity; some estimates placed the total as high as $20 million.
The achievement marks a milestone for Netflix, whose emphasis on streaming has long disrupted traditional Hollywood distribution models. Ironically, the hit film was developed and produced by Sony Pictures before being sold to the streamer.
“This is a completely unique two-day musical event,” said David A. Gross, head of the film consulting firm FranchiseRe. “Theater owners are quick on their feet and can add capacity according to demand, so the final numbers may end up even higher.”
AMC Theatres, the largest chain in North America, declined to participate in the release. Still, the limited rollout underscored the film’s drawing power. KPop Demon Hunters debuted on Netflix in late June and has since become the company’s most-watched animated original film.
The story follows Huntr/x, a K-pop trio made up of Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zooey (Ji-young Yoo), who double as demon hunters. Their mission: protect fans while confronting a rival boy band revealed to be demons in disguise.
Elsewhere at the box office, Zach Cregger’s horror film Weapons continued its strong run, earning $15.6 million domestically in its third weekend and pushing its global total past $100 million. Disney’s Freakier Friday followed with $9.2 million, holding steady with only a 36 percent drop from last week, according to data firm Comscore.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, said the recent performances highlight audience enthusiasm during a competitive summer. “We have to look at the goodwill generated by people having these great summer moviegoing experiences as a more important metric than just bottom-line dollars,” he said.
Other top performers included The Fantastic Four: First Steps with $5.9 million in its fifth weekend and Honey Don’t!, a dark comedy starring Margaret Qualley, which opened with $3 million from 1,317 theaters.
Final domestic box office totals will be released Monday.
Estimated top 10 films in U.S. and Canadian theaters, Friday through Sunday, according to Comscore:
- KPop Demon Hunters, $16 million to $18 million (studio estimates).
- Weapons, $15.6 million.
- Freakier Friday, $9.2 million.
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps, $5.9 million.
- The Bad Guys 2, $5.1 million.
- Nobody 2, $3.7 million.
- Superman, $3.4 million.
- Honey Don’t!, $3 million.
- The Naked Gun, $3 million.
- Jurassic World Rebirth, $2.1 million