Box Office Buzz: Netflix’s ‘Kpop Demon Hunters’ Soars with $18 Million Opening, While ‘Weapons’ Shines with $15.6 Million

In a surprising turn of events, Netflix’s “Kpop Demon Hunters” has grabbed the No. 1 spot at the North American box office. This film earned between $18 million and $20 million over the weekend, outpacing expectations.

Despite Netflix not releasing official numbers, industry insiders suggest that “Kpop Demon Hunters” beat “Weapons,” which was expected to lead but is now set to bring in about $15.6 million in its third weekend. The K-pop fantasy adventure is showing on 1,700 screens, a significant increase from Netflix’s past theatrical releases.

Interestingly, “Kpop Demon Hunters” is not a new release; it debuted on Netflix just two months ago and quickly became the second-most-watched film on the platform. Three of its songs are also topping the Billboard Hot 100, highlighting its popularity. While Netflix aims to generate buzz and drive viewers to their platform for rewatches or potential sequels, AMC Theatres is the only major chain not screening it.

David A. Gross, an industry analyst, praised the film for drawing enthusiastic crowds. “For 48 hours, it captivated audiences. That’s the essence of pop entertainment,” he said. Kids and families are especially enjoying it, which adds to its appeal.

Meanwhile, “Weapons” is also finding success, grossing $115.9 million domestically and nearly $199 million globally. It’s part of a string of wins for Warner Bros., which recently enjoyed a solid streak with several hits.

As for the box office as a whole, it’s currently 5.1% ahead of last year. However, this margin has been narrowing, especially since early summer when revenues were reported 25% ahead. The total earnings from May to August stand at $3.5 billion, short of the pre-pandemic benchmark of $4 billion.

Paul Dergarabedian, a senior analyst, commented on the slower weekend, saying, “It’s not ideal for summer box office numbers.” Still, movies like “Weapons” and “Freakier Friday” are showing strong performance.

“Freakier Friday” is likely to land third this weekend, earning $9.1 million. It has secured $70 million in North America and $113 million worldwide, continuing to charm audiences despite not hitting the heights of its 2003 predecessor.

The only noteworthy new release, Ethan Coen’s “Honey Don’t!,” debuted at No. 8 with $3 million. With a predominantly female audience, the film follows an investigator unraveling a string of mysterious deaths linked to a church.

In another release, A24’s English version of China’s “Ne Zha II” didn’t fare well, attracting only $1.5 million domestically. However, the film is a blockbuster overseas, accumulating over $2.1 billion globally.

While some titles are performing steadily, the overall box office is still facing challenges. Disney’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” secured fourth place with $5.9 million after five weeks, and Universal’s “The Bad Guys 2” took fifth with $5.1 million.

As people navigate through these theatrical ups and downs, it will be interesting to see how films continue to adapt and capture audiences’ attention in this evolving landscape.



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KPop Demon Hunters,Netflix,Weapons