Netflix is expanding from the small screen to the big screen.
What happened: Over the weekend, a sing-along version of KPop Demon Hunters became the first Netflix film to top the North American box office. The animated musical grossed US$18 million in Canada and the U.S. While that wouldn’t be good enough for No. 1 on most weekends, the haul is still impressive considering the flick was in theatres for just two days.
- It also played on just ~1,600 screens, compared to over 3,000 screens for the weekend’s other top-grossing films.
Catch-up: KPop Demon Hunters might sound like a fake title devised by ChatGPT to make you feel old and out of touch, but it's been a very real cultural phenomenon. The film has generated record viewership numbers, critical praise, and even a Billboard No. 1 hit.
- It’s also an example of Canadian film excellence: Torontonian Maggie Kang wrote and co-directed the movie, blending her loves of Korean mythology and pop music.
Why it matters: Netflix has resisted giving its films full theatrical releases, opting only for limited runs, mostly to receive awards eligibility. This has upset fans looking for big-screen experiences, theatre chains looking for a cut, and critics who feel Netflix is bypassing a revenue generator. Perhaps KPop’s success will make Netflix re-think its release strategy.
Big picture: Other streamers have been betting on the theatrical experience, with Apple seeing massive success with F1, and Amazon aiming to send 14 films to theatres next year. Netflix might finally join in with its Narnia reboot, which will hit Imax in November 2026.—QH