Netflix’s Big Win with KPOP – Demon Hunter
Netflix has achieved a significant milestone with its latest release, KPOP – Demon Hunter, which has become the platform’s most popular English-language film. The movie, which was released in 1,300 North American cinemas, is estimated to have earned around $18 million over the weekend, although Netflix does not officially report ticket sales.
A Successful Weekend Run
The weekend run for KPOP – Demon Hunter was impressive, with the film playing in leading chains except for AMC, which does not show films that are also available on streaming platforms. The movie’s success is a testament to Netflix’s growing influence in the film industry. The singing version of the film will debut on the platform on Monday, August 25, featuring the voices of Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ken Jeong.
The Film’s Plot and Production
KPOP – Demon Hunter is an animated film produced by Sony Pictures Animation, which tells the story of an all-girl K-pop band that chases demons and stands against a demonic boy band. The film has been well-received by audiences, with over 1.5 million participants and an average ticket price of $13.63 for standard tickets and $16.31 for premium large formats.
Will Netflix Change its Theater Strategy?
Despite the success of KPOP – Demon Hunter, it is unlikely that Netflix will change its theater strategy. The company’s top executives have repeatedly stated that their focus is on providing value to subscribers at home, and theater releases are seen as an advertising effort. Netflix plans to release several more films in theaters later this year, including Noah Baumbach’s drama Jay Kelly, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, and Kathryn Bigelow’s ensemble White House thriller A House of Dynamite.
Box Office Results
According to Comscore, the horror film Weapons took the top spot at the box office over the weekend, earning $15.6 million from 3,631 locations. KPOP – Demon Hunter was not reported as the number one film, but its estimated earnings of $18 million are still impressive. The three-day cash session achieved around $60.1 million, which increases to around $78 million when including KPOP – Demon Hunter.
Other Film Releases
Several other films were released over the weekend, including Ethan Coen’s dark comedy Treasure Not, which earned $3 million from 1,317 locations. David Mackenzie’s thriller Relay earned $1.9 million from 1,483 locations, while Ron Howard’s survival thriller Eden earned just over $1 million from 664 locations. The English-language version of the Chinese cinema mass Ne ZHA 2 earned $1.5 million, increasing the film’s total earnings to $22.4 million.
Upcoming Film Releases
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will premiere several new films in the coming weeks, including Rian Johnson’s The Dead Man Wake Up: A Knife from the Secret, which will be released in theaters in November and on the platform on December 12. Other upcoming releases include Jay Kelly, Frankenstein, and A House of Dynamite, which will all be released in theaters and on the platform later this year.
