This weekend, the animated film ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is set to make waves at the box office, projected to earn between $18 million and $20 million. This impressive figure positions it as the leading film in theaters, despite only being available for a portion of the weekend, specifically Saturday and Sunday.
While it’s not uncommon for streaming films to achieve box office success, this marks a significant milestone for the streaming platform behind ‘KPop Demon Hunters.’ Previously, another streaming title, ‘F1,’ made headlines by opening to a remarkable $57 million earlier this summer. However, this is the first instance where this particular streaming service has claimed the top spot in theaters.
It’s important to note that the reported figures are preliminary estimates from industry sources, as the streaming service does not publicly disclose its box office earnings. Therefore, these numbers should be viewed with some caution.
This weekend has been relatively quiet in terms of new releases, with ‘Weapons’ being the only other major contender, earning an estimated $15.4 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $115 million.
The success of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is particularly noteworthy for a company that has traditionally shied away from theatrical releases. The closest it has come to a significant theatrical presence was with the limited release of ‘Glass Onion,’ which garnered around $15 million. Anticipation is also building for Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of ‘Narnia,’ which is expected to perform even better when it debuts exclusively in IMAX next fall.
Despite being available for streaming since late June, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ has already achieved remarkable popularity, ranking as the second most-watched film on the streaming platform with over 210 million views. It sits between two other major hits, showcasing its widespread appeal.
Produced by a well-known animation studio and featuring a predominantly Korean and Korean American voice cast, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ follows a K-Pop girl group that also battles demons, including a rival boy band. The film’s soundtrack features the hit song ‘Golden,’ which has topped the Billboard charts and amassed over 400 million streams on Spotify.
In a notable move, AMC Theatres opted not to screen the singalong version of ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ adhering to its policy of exclusive theatrical windows. However, it remains the only major theater chain to take this stance.