Still from Netflix’s animated movie K-Pop Demon Hunters (Image courtesy of Netflix)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — Fresh off its record-breaking streaming success, Netflix’s animated film “K-Pop Demon Hunters” is storming into theaters — and drawing sold-out crowds.
The Hollywood Reporter said Wednesday that a limited theatrical “sing-along” event, scheduled for August 23–24 across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K., has already sold out more than 1,000 screenings in North America. Over 1,700 theaters are participating, with more joining amid surging demand.
Netflix announced the event last week, inviting fans to belt out the film’s hit soundtrack together in cinemas. Promotional materials riffed on the movie’s storyline, telling audiences: “You now have the chance to seal the demon gate yourself by singing along.”
The move marks a striking turn for U.S. theater chains, many of which had long resisted Netflix films over disputes about exclusive theatrical windows. This time, however, major exhibitors including Regal Cinemas and Cinemark are enthusiastically on board, citing the film’s extraordinary popularity.
Industry experts estimate the weekend screenings could generate between $5 million and $10 million in North America alone, even without Netflix releasing official forecasts.
Directed by Korean American filmmaker Maggie Kang and produced by Sony Pictures Animation, K-Pop Demon Hunters has become Netflix’s most-watched animated film ever and the second-most viewed English-language movie in the platform’s history. Its impact has spilled into global pop culture: eight tracks from the soundtrack are currently on the Billboard Hot 100.
With its fusion of K-pop, Korean culture, and fast-rising global fandom, the film has transformed from a streaming sensation into a box office draw — and perhaps Netflix’s most unexpected theatrical triumph yet.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
