Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is probably the biggest movie in theaters

The animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," released by Netflix, is projected to rake in between $18 million and $20 million at the domestic box office this weekend, positioning it as the leading film despite only being shown on Saturday and Sunday. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Netflix, as it is the first time the platform has claimed the top spot in theaters. In the realm of streaming, this isn't an isolated incident. Earlier this summer, Apple's film "F1," distributed by Warner Bros., launched with a staggering $57 million. Nevertheless, Netflix's triumph in theaters highlights a shift in its approach to film releases, though it comes with caveats. Notably, Netflix does not disclose its box office figures, so these are preliminary estimates sourced from industry analysts rather than official announcements. This weekend has been relatively quiet in terms of new film releases, with the next highest-grossing title being "Weapons," which earned an estimated $15.4 million, bringing its domestic total to $115 million after three weekends. The success of "KPop Demon Hunters" is particularly remarkable given that it has been available for streaming since late June, where it has already achieved the status of the second most-watched film on Netflix, accumulating over 210 million views. The film features a predominantly Korean and Korean American voice cast and tells the tale of a K-Pop girl group that battles demons, including a rival boy band. One of its standout tracks, "Golden," has topped the Billboard charts and amassed over 400 million streams on Spotify. Despite the film's popularity, AMC Theatres, adhering to its policy of exclusive theatrical windows, opted not to show the singalong version of "KPop Demon Hunters," making it the only major theater chain to take this stance. This decision may reflect the complex relationship between traditional theaters and streaming services as they continue to navigate the evolving landscape of film distribution.