“Weapons” continues to dominate the box office, successfully retaining its top position on Friday. However, there’s a noteworthy contender making waves: Netflix’s animated hit, “KPop Demon Hunters”. With the summer movie season winding down and theaters seeing a decline in attendance, the release of a sing-along version of this film may actually lead it to triumph over the weekend.
This emerging scenario marks a significant shift for Netflix, a company that has historically avoided theatrical releases. In fact, the company’s CEO referred to traditional movie theaters as “outdated” back in April. Interestingly, “KPop Demon Hunters” has been available for over two months on Netflix and is currently making headlines as it ranks as the second most-watched film in the platform's history. Despite its availability for home viewing, there’s a clear desire among fans to experience this animated musical on the big screen.
Produced by Sony Pictures Animation before being acquired by Netflix, “KPop Demon Hunters” is set to release in more than 1,700 theaters this weekend. This is a significant increase compared to the last theatrical effort by Netflix, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” which was shown in approximately 600 locations during the Thanksgiving holiday of 2022. While Netflix did not disclose box office earnings for that release, it would be a remarkable change if the company chooses to provide figures this time, even though that could dilute their claim to the No. 1 spot.
Meanwhile, “Weapons” is off to a strong start this weekend, earning $4.7 million on Friday, representing only a 37% decline from its previous week’s total. This marks another solid performance for the acclaimed horror film, which saw a modest 43% drop during its second weekend. The writer-director Zach Cregger’s R-rated original has now surpassed $105 million in North America, making it the 13th highest-grossing film of the year.
Opening this weekend is “Honey Don’t!”, distributed by Universal’s specialty label Focus Features. After receiving lukewarm reviews from its Cannes premiere in May, the film has debuted in 1,417 theaters, earning $1.4 million on Friday and preview screenings. It is projected to open with a total of around $3.2 million, which, while not stellar, would still surpass the opening weekend of the co-writers Tricia Cooke and Ethan Coen’s previous film, “Drive-Away Dolls,” which debuted to just $2.4 million in 2024.
The third position in the box office rankings is likely to be held by Disney’s “Freakier Friday,” which added $2.8 million on Friday, reflecting a 38% drop from the previous week. This PG-rated comedy sequel, featuring the reunion of Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, is expected to reach approximately $70 million by the end of its third weekend.
Disney’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is in fourth place, bringing in $1.6 million on Friday, marking a 36% decrease from its previous week. The Marvel Studios project has reached a domestic total of $252 million. In fifth place, Universal’s “The Bad Guys 2” is projected to earn $5.1 million in its fourth weekend, maintaining a solid performance with a 32% drop, leading to a domestic gross of $66 million through Sunday.
On the other hand, “Nobody 2” from Universal is expected to fall to sixth place, projecting $3.5 million in its second weekend with a 62% decline from its opening. This R-rated sequel is anticipated to hit a total of $16.3 million domestically by the end of its second Sunday, compared to its predecessor, which earned $11.8 million in its debut weekend in early 2021.
Debuting outside the top ten, Bleecker Street releases “Relay,” directed by David Mackenzie and featuring Riz Ahmed and Lily James, across 1,483 locations. This thriller, which received positive reviews from last year’s Toronto Film Festival, hopes to surpass $2 million in its opening weekend. Additionally, Vertical is releasing “Eden,” directed by Ron Howard, in 664 venues. This thriller features a star-studded cast including Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby, Sydney Sweeney, and Ana de Armas, but has received mediocre reviews and is also expected to open outside the top ten.
In conjunction with the debut of “KPop Demon Hunters,” A24 is also re-releasing a months-old animated film, “Ne Zha II,” in 2,228 locations. This mythological epic initially opened in North America in February and eventually grossed $20 million domestically. A24’s re-release, featuring a new English dub led by Michelle Yeoh, is not expected to generate significant box office returns, with Friday’s earnings projected at around $690,000. However, even with these modest figures, “Ne Zha II” remains a global powerhouse, having earned over $2 billion worldwide, the majority of which was generated in its home market.
