If there’s one thing that Netflix has made abundantly clear over the past few years, it’s that it simply has no interest in putting a moderate or large slate of movies into theaters. The streaming service’s executives have said time and again that Netflix titles belong in the Netflix library and that its subscribers deserve to have access to its movies as quickly as possible. However, now that the streaming giant has had a taste of box office success with “KPop Demon Hunters,” will Netflix change its mind? The animated movie began a limited-run theatrical window on Friday, Aug. 22, and zoomed straight to the top of the box office charts.

According to Monday’s box office estimates, “KPop Demon Hunters” hit the $18 million mark during its weekend in theaters, leading all other theatrical titles. The number could be as high as $20 million, but Netflix doesn’t reveal the actual box-office receipts of its theatrical movies, so the true number will remain hidden.

“KPop Demon Hunters” has been available to stream on Netflix since June, and is closing in on the title of being Netflix’s No. 1 all-time, most-watched English-language film on the platform, and is already at the top of the list of animated titles. The movie’s soundtrack has also spent several weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart.

Despite the success, Netflix only released the movie to theaters for two days, appearing in 2,180 cinemas across the United States and Canada. Even though the film is the current box office No. 1, few analysts anticipate that Netflix will begin aiming more movies at theaters, and will instead continue its policy of making most of its films straight-to-streaming.

Following up on the success of “KPop Demon Hunters” in theaters, the movie has released a sing-along version for viewers to enjoy starting on Monday, Aug. 25. This special edition of the film is available to watch on Netflix now, and will likely get even more people belting out such hits as “Soda Pop,” “Your Idol,” and “Golden.”

“KPop Demon Hunters” follows the adventures of Huntr/x, a group of three K-pop superstars who use their identities as a cover to protect their secret: they’re top-notch demon hunters who face their toughest task yet when they discover a group of sinister supernaturals is posing as a boy band. Stream the movie — and its singalong companion — on Netflix now.

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Netflix is a leading subscription-based video streaming service that offers on-demand access to an extensive library of over 3,000 movies, 2,000+ TV shows, and a growing collection of acclaimed Netflix originals. Renowned for producing groundbreaking content, Netflix has become a cultural powerhouse with hit originals like “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “The Crown,” “Tiger King,” “Bridgerton,” “The Witcher,” and “Black Mirror.”

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The platform constantly updates its catalog, introducing fresh content alongside timeless classics and international hits. Netflix’s commitment to storytelling has also earned critical acclaim, with award-winning exclusives such as “Roma,” “Marriage Story,” “The Power of the Dog,” “Mank,” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” In 2023, their animated film “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, further solidifying Netflix’s reputation for high-quality content.

Recently, Netflix has expanded beyond standard movies and TV titles with the addition of video podcasts, and is also exploring a digital store that would offer third-party streamers within the app.

Netflix offers three plans – stream on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard with Ads” ($8.99) plan, on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard” ($19.99) plan, and 4 devices in up to 4K on the “Premium” ($26.99) plan.

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