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The movie debuted on Netflix in late June and is currently Netflix’s most-watched animated original film.
LOS ANGELES — Netflix seems to have reached its first No. 1 box-office achievement in its 18-year history with the hit “KPop Demon Hunters.”
On Sunday, competing studios projected that “KPop Demon Hunters” topped all movies over the weekend, grossing between $16-18 million. Distribution figures were given by executives from three studios anonymously since Netflix typically doesn’t disclose ticket sales.
After dominating for weeks as one of Netflix’s most popular releases, the streamer showcased the film in 1,750 theaters for sing-along sessions on Saturday and Sunday. While studios can usually estimate ticket sales by Sunday morning, the unique nature of the “KPop Demon Hunters” release led to diverse estimates, some reaching up to $20 million.
This was a triumphant moment for “KPop Demon Hunters,” possibly the top hit of the summer and an ironic success for Netflix, whose focus on streaming has revolutionized the film industry. Another point of contention for Hollywood: Sony Pictures developed and produced the film but eventually sold it to Netflix.
Not every theater was on board. AMC, the largest theater chain in North America, opted not to screen the movie. However, this didn’t prevent Netflix from attaining the box-office success usually held by traditional competitors.
David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm FranchiseRe, called it “a completely unique two-day musical event.”
“It may turn out to be higher,” said Gross. “Theater owners are quick on their feet and can add capacity according to demand.”
The theatrical release, although limited, deviates from the usual approach of the streaming giant, which has prioritized subscriber viewing. The film, which premiered on the platform in late June, is now Netflix’s most-watched animated original.
The film centers on Huntr/x, a KPop superstar trio who double as demon hunters. The members, Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong) and Zooey (Ji-young Yoo), must protect their fans and face their biggest enemy yet: a rival boy band made up of demons in disguise.
Zach Cregger’s horror hit “Weapons” maintained strength in the box office during its third weekend, bringing in $15.6 million domestically. The buzzy horror movie has proved its staying power, raking in over $100 million globally since its release.
Disney’s “Freakier Friday” landed behind the horror movie once again, earning $9.2 million in North American theaters.
The two films are “real bright spots” as the box office heads into a “rather quiet finish” for the summer, said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for the data firm Comscore. Both films, which premiered simultaneously earlier this month, had a minimal 36% drop from last weekend.
“I think we have to look at the currency of the goodwill generated by people having these great summer moviegoing experiences,” Dergarabedian said. “We have to look at that as a more important metric than just the bottom-line dollars and cents.”
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” earned $5.9 million domestically during its fifth weekend. The movie enjoyed a strong $118 million debut but has experienced a steady decline.
Newcomer “Honey Don’t!” opened in 1,317 North American theaters with a weekend gross estimate of $3 million, in line with expectations. The movie made it to the top 10, right above “The Naked Gun.”
The dark comedy stars Margaret Qualley as Honey O’Donahue, a small-town private investigator who investigates a slew of strange deaths tied to a church in Bakersfield, California.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
- “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.
- “Relay,” $2 million.
Coyle reported from New York.
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