Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Tops Box Office with $18M Sing-Along Event

Netflix’s animated phenomenon, “KPop Demon Hunters,” achieved a significant milestone by dominating the North American box office with an estimated $18 million in ticket sales, marking its first major theatrical success.

While Netflix traditionally avoids reporting official box office data, rival studios and exhibitors provide projections for its performance. This success stands out, especially given Netflix’s primary focus on home streaming.

Netflix released “KPop Demon Hunters” in June, and it has already become the platform’s most-watched animated film. The weekend event targeted its massive fanbase by offering sing-along screenings in theatres across five countries.

The film follows a K-pop girl group that uses its music to protect the world from demons. Fans attended dressed in costume, ready to sing along to the movie’s popular soundtrack.

Buwan ng Wika is GOLDEN! 💛 Pakinggan ang Tagalog version of “Golden” from KPOP Demon Hunters, available now on Spotify! #KPOPDemonHunters #Golden pic.twitter.com/gU9eOTWncy

— Netflix Philippines (@Netflix_PH) August 25, 2025

Industry analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research highlighted the unique achievement. “This weekend, a streaming production made for viewing at home is connecting on a level that theatrical hits rarely reach,” he said. “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.”

Due to Netflix’s reporting policies, the official weekend box office winner will likely be the buzzy horror film “Weapons” from Warner Bros. It earned $15.6 million, topping the chart for the third consecutive week.

It's time to seal the Honmoon.

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS SING-ALONG is now on Netflix 🎤 🎶 pic.twitter.com/gEx6YOrROR

— Netflix (@netflix) August 25, 2025

Disney’s “Freakier Friday” secured third place. The long-awaited sequel to the 2003 body-swap comedy starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis earned $9.2 million.

Fourth place went to Disney’s Marvel reboot, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which held strong with $5.9 million. Universal’s family sequel “The Bad Guys 2” rounded out the top five, earning $5.1 million. The remainder of the top ten included “Nobody 2” ($3.7M), “Superman” ($3.4M), “Honey Don’t” ($3.0M), “The Naked Gun” ($2.95M), and “Jurassic World: Rebirth” ($2.1M).