This weekend delivered one of the most surprising box office stories of the year, as Netflix’s animated sing-along KPOP Demon Hunters stormed theaters for a two-day run and grossed an estimated $18–20 million. The achievement is striking considering it only played Saturday and Sunday across 1,700 locations — without AMC theaters, which sat out due to ongoing disputes with Netflix over release windows.
Using the low-end $18M estimate, the film pulled a per-theater average of $10,588, more than double Warner Bros.’ Weapons, which officially topped Comscore’s chart with $15.6M from 3,631 theaters ($4,296 average). While Netflix’s refusal to report grosses leaves the performance unofficial, the buzz surrounding KPOP Demon Hunters made it the weekend’s undeniable headline.
The film’s theatrical demand was driven by months of streaming success. Since premiering on Netflix June 20, it has become the streamer’s second-most-watched English-language movie ever with nearly 210M views. Advance tickets for its surprise expansion sold briskly, with more than 1,000 sellouts in days. The success echoed Angel Studios’ Sound of Freedom in 2023, which leveraged grassroots fandom into a blockbuster opening.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ Weapons held the top official spot for a third straight weekend, dropping 36% to $15.6M. The horror hit has earned $115.9M domestic and $199.4M worldwide after 17 days, continuing its strong trajectory and profitability thanks to its modest $38M budget.
Disney’s Fantastic Four: First Steps also kept its footing, landing third with $5.9M. After a month in release, it has grossed $257.3M domestic and $490.1M worldwide — the highest of any Fantastic Four film to date. With $500M in sight, the reboot has proven there’s still demand for Marvel’s First Family.
Weekend Box Office – August 22–24, 2025
(Comscore official results; Netflix estimates noted separately)
| Rank | Film | Weekend Gross | Locations | Per-Theater Avg. | Domestic Total | Worldwide Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weapons (WB) | $15.6M (-36%) | 3,631 | $4,296 | $115.9M | $199.4M |
| 2 | Freakier Friday (Disney) | $9.7M (-35%) | 3,975 | $2,439 | $70.5M | $113.5M |
| 3 | Fantastic Four: First Steps (Disney/Marvel) | $5.9M (-35%) | 4,125 | $1,430 | $257.3M | $490.1M |
| 4 | The Bad Guys 2 (Sony Animation) | $5.1M (-32%) | 3,852 | $1,325 | $66.2M | $149.1M |
| 5 | Nobody 2 (Lionsgate) | $3.7M (-60%) | 3,260 | $1,134 | $16.5M | $28.1M |
| — | KPOP Demon Hunters (Netflix) | Est. $18–20M | 1,700 | $10,588 | N/A | N/A |
Lexi Carson covers the buzziest campaigns, brand beefs, and streaming shake-ups. She’s known for her razor-sharp takes, obsession with 90s ad jingles, and a red bob that’s never once missed a deadline.
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