Since its June 20 debut, “KPop Demon Hunters” has surpassed “Red Notice” to become the streaming giant’s most-watched English-language film of all time.
LOS ANGELES — Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation are reportedly in early discussions about a sequel to “KPop Demon Hunters,” following the animated musical’s historic box office weekend and record-breaking streaming performance.
The sequel talks come on the heels of the film’s unprecedented and unexpected success. Since its June 20 debut, “KPop Demon Hunters” officially surpassed 2021’s “Red Notice” to become the streaming giant’s most-watched English-language film of all time with 236 million views.
Over the weekend, Netflix took the film to theaters for special sing-along screenings. The limited theatrical release across 1,750 theaters generated an estimated $16-18 million over Saturday and Sunday, giving Netflix its first No. 1 box office finish in the company’s 18-year history.
“It may turn out to be higher,” said David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm FranchiseRe, calling it “a completely unique two-day musical event.”
The original film, which cost an estimated $100 million to produce, follows K-pop superstar trio HUNTR/X — consisting of Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) — who balance their pop stardom with secret identities as demon hunters protecting their fans from supernatural threats.
Netflix’s streaming-first model has long been at odds with traditional Hollywood distribution. The film was originally developed and produced by Sony Pictures, which then sold it to the streaming giant. The success story of “KPop Demon Hunters” is a rare instance where a streaming-first release generated both critical acclaim and massive viewership numbers before transitioning to a successful theatrical run — a model that could influence how major streaming platforms approach high-profile releases in the future.
Not all theater chains participated in the weekend event. AMC, the largest theater chain in North America, declined to show the movie, though this didn’t dampen the film’s box office performance.
While sequel talks are underway, no official announcement has been made regarding a timeline for a potential follow-up film.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.