Oman today_ Netflix’s animated film Kpop Demon Hunters has taken the U.S. box office by surprise. Projections indicate that by the end of the weekend, the movie will surpass $15 million in ticket sales, outpacing Weapons, which is expected to finish with $13.5 million and land at the top of the charts.
This comes at a time when many industry watchers were bracing for a sluggish weekend and one of the weakest box office showings of 2025. Netflix, however, opted to roll out its popular musical animation in more than 1,100 theaters—a move that generated significant enthusiasm among audiences.
Kpop Demon Hunters has already been viewed by more than 210.5 million people on Netflix and is on track to break the 230.9 million viewership record currently held by Red Notice. Notably, unlike many other releases, the film has not seen a decline in viewership over the past two weeks.
While official box office numbers won’t be released until Saturday, analysts believe the film’s core audience—young women—will drive a substantial portion of sales in its opening days. Netflix typically does not disclose box office earnings for its theatrical releases, but it did report $15 million in domestic revenue for Knives Out: Glass Onion.
Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the movie is set in Seoul and follows three K-pop singers who harness the power of their songs to battle demonic forces. Voice acting for the main characters—Romi, Mira, and Zoe—is provided by Arden Cho, Mi Hong, and Ji-Young Yoo.
Meanwhile, Ethan Coen’s Honey Don’t is also hitting theaters this week, opening in 1,300 locations with an expected take of just $3 million.
Netflix’s K-pop Animation Poised to Surpass Red Notice Record
