Box Office Showdown: ‘Weapons’ Tops Friday, But Will Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Hit No. 1 for the First Time?

Weapons has been dominating the box office this weekend, but it’s facing some stiff competition. Netflix’s animated hit, KPop Demon Hunters, just released a sing-along version in theaters. This is a big deal since Netflix usually sticks to streaming. The company’s CEO even called theaters “outdated” back in April.

KPop Demon Hunters has been a major success on Netflix, ranking as the second most-watched film on the platform. Despite being available at home, fans are flocking to see it on the big screen. The film will be shown in over 1,700 theaters this weekend. This is a significant leap from Netflix’s last theatrical release, Glass Onion, which only opened in about 600 locations during its Thanksgiving run.

While KPop Demon Hunters is striving for the top, Weapons kicked off with $4.7 million on Friday, only down 37% from the previous week. This horror film has gained a following, crossing the $105 million mark in North America. Its success is cementing its spot among the year’s biggest releases.

This weekend also saw the launch of Honey Don’t!, which debuted in 1,417 locations. It received mixed reviews after its Cannes premiere earlier this year. The film earned $1.4 million on Friday and is projected to wrap up the weekend with about $3.2 million. While that’s a decent start, it doesn’t compare to the disappointing $2.4 million opening of Drive-Away Dolls, another film from the same writers.

Disney’s Freakier Friday is also in the mix, raking in another $2.8 million on Friday. Its total may reach around $70 million by the end of its third weekend. Following closely, The Fantastic Four: First Steps brought in $1.6 million, boasting a total of $252 million domestically.

In fifth place, Universal’s The Bad Guys 2 is looking at $5.1 million this weekend, maintaining steady numbers with a 32% drop from last week. The original movie performed similarly, eventually earning $97 million.

On the other hand, Nobody 2 isn’t holding up as well, projecting $3.5 million this weekend—a 62% drop from its opening. The first movie managed to earn $11.8 million in a tougher market in early 2021.

New releases like David Mackenzie’s Relay, featuring Riz Ahmed and Lily James, aim to find their footing in 1,483 theaters, hoping to surpass $2 million in earnings. Another film making waves this weekend is Ne Zha II, which has returned to theaters in a re-release, but it’s struggling to make a significant impact despite its previous success in China, where it grossed over $2 billion.

In summary, as the summer movie season comes to a close, it’s clear that audiences are eager for both home viewing and the theatrical experience. This weekend’s box office race showcases not just the thirst for new content, but also the shifting landscape of how we consume films today. With KPop Demon Hunters breaking the mold for Netflix, it’s exciting to see what’s next in the world of cinema.

For more about Netflix’s evolving strategies, you can check out their official announcements.

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Honey Dont!,KPop Demon Hunters,Weapons