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KPop Demon Hunters just proved that streaming hits can pack theaters too, pulling in a mighty $18 million opening weekend on a limited release that outpaced even Disney’s newest titles in per-theater average. The animated action-fantasy, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and distributed through Netflix, was rolled out in just 1,700 North American theaters as a special sing-along event, yet still managed to break into the box office conversation dominated by Warner Bros.’ horror hit Weapons and Apple’s mega-budget racing drama F1: The Movie.
The win is especially striking because Netflix doesn’t traditionally report grosses, leaving industry trackers to piece together estimates. Still, exhibitors and rival studios agree that the girl-group-meets-ghost-slayers adventure, following Huntrix, a fictional K-pop trio moonlighting as demon hunters, is already a cultural force. The film’s soundtrack has climbed the Billboard charts, its songs have gone viral on TikTok, and the title is surging toward the top of Netflix’s most-watched films list.
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For theater owners, the turnout is both a surprise and a test case. Could a streamer-born franchise lure fans off couches and into seats? With fans singing along to the film’s original bangers and cosplaying their favorite idols-turned-slayers, KPop Demon Hunters may have just danced its way into box office history.
More details about KPop Demon Hunters
KPop Demon Hunters arrived on Netflix as a neon-drenched, music-fueled collision of pop stardom and supernatural warfare. Released in June 2025 by Netflix and produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the movie blends K-pop spectacle with Korean mythology, urban fantasy, and a whole lot of heart. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, who co-wrote the screenplay with Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan, the film tells the story of Huntr/x, a chart-topping girl group with a dangerous secret. By night, Rumi, voiced by Arden Cho, Mira, voiced by May Hong, and Zoey, voiced by Ji-young Yoo, let down their idol personas and become fierce demon hunters sworn to keep humanity safe.
With dazzling animation inspired by concert lighting, Korean dramas, and anime, the film mirrors everything from a pop star's life. The soundtrack, featuring contributions from EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, Kevin Woo, and even Broadway legend Lea Salonga, stormed global charts, turning original songs like Golden into instant anthems that have dominated music charts. The film is also a major hit among conversations on social media, cementing its cultural impact among fans.
What makes this success even sweeter is how it signals a shift in global storytelling. Hollywood has spent years trying to tap into K-pop’s cultural wave, but KPop Demon Hunters is the first project to channel it with this much authentic energy. With its lightsticks glowing and fandom firepower unstoppable, this film is already one of Netflix's biggest endeavors in recent times.
KPop Demon Hunters is available to stream on Netflix.
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