Box Office Update
The weekend box office has seen some interesting developments, with "Weapons" maintaining its top position on Friday. However, Netflix’s animated streaming smash "KPOP Demon Hunters" could potentially win a two-day publication of a singing version at the weekend. This would be a significant turn of events for Netflix, which had previously decided to forgo a cinematic release for the film.
KPOP Demon Hunters’ Surprise Rise
"KPOP Demon Hunters" has been on Netflix for over two months and is still rising to the top of the streamer’s charts. It is now the second most popular film on the platform, and its success has led to a limited cinematic release. The animated musical, produced by Sony Pictures Animation, will be shown in over 1,700 locations on Saturday and Sunday. This is a significant increase from Netflix’s previous award qualification theater run with "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery", which played in around 600 locations.
Weapons’ Strong Performance
In the meantime, "Weapons" has maintained its lead with $4.7 million on Friday, a decrease of 43% from its daily total a week ago. The horror film has now exceeded $105 million in North America and is on track to become one of the biggest releases of the calendar year. Its strong performance is a testament to its enduring popularity, and it is expected to continue to perform well in the coming weeks.
Other New Releases
Other new releases this weekend include "Not Honey!", a lesbian noir that has earned $1.4 million on Friday, and "Freakier Friday", a comedy continuation that has added $2.8 million to its total. Disney’s "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" has also brought in $1.6 million, while Universal’s "The Bad Guys 2" is projected to earn $5.1 million on its fourth weekend.
Weekend Projections
The weekend projections are looking good for some films, with "Freakier Friday" expected to reach around $70 million by the end of its third weekend. "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" has a domestic total of $252 million, while "The Bad Guys 2" is expected to reach $66 million by Sunday. However, not all films are performing well, with "Nobody 2" expected to fall to sixth place with a decline of 62% from its opening.
Limited Releases
Some limited releases this weekend include "Relay", a thriller starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James, which is expected to earn around $2 million in its debut. Ron Howard’s "Eden" is also opening in 664 event locations, but has received mediocre reviews. A24 has also re-released the Chinese feature "Ne ZHA II" in 2,228 locations, with a new English dub led by Michelle Yeoh. However, the film’s opening numbers are slim, with around $690,000 on Friday. Despite this, "Ne ZHA II" has already earned over $2 billion worldwide, making it the biggest film of the year.
