Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters Tops Weekend Box Office, Surpasses Weapons

Netflix's animated musical KPop Demon Hunters claimed the top spot at the box office in its limited sing-along theatrical release, earning an estimated $18 to $20 million and surpassing the third-week $15.6 million take of the horror film Weapons. This marks Netflix's best-ever opening for a theatrical release and the film's strong performance is notable given its availability on Netflix for nine weeks prior, with 210.5 million views making it the platform's second-most watched film. Although Netflix does not disclose official box office figures, multiple industry sources agree KPop Demon Hunters outperformed Weapons, which had previously led the domestic box office for three consecutive weeks, a first for a 2025 horror film. Weapons, with a lifetime domestic gross of $115.8 million, still trails behind other 2025 horror films like Ryan Coogler's Sinners, but benefited from a release window with limited theatrical competition. The success of KPop Demon Hunters demonstrates the potential of hybrid release strategies, where streaming availability can build audience momentum ahead of limited theatrical runs, while also challenging traditional box office measurement due to lack of transparency from streaming platforms.