Los Angeles, CA — The animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” is making waves at the box office as it prepares for a weekend that could see it dethrone reigning champion “Weapons.” This surprising competition comes as the summer season draws to a close, with Netflix’s colorful musical garnering interest through its newly released sing-along version. The move reflects a notable shift for Netflix, which has traditionally stayed away from theatrical releases, with its CEO previously labeling cinemas as “outdated.”

Having already captured hearts on the streaming platform since its launch over two months ago, “KPop Demon Hunters” is now the second most-watched film in Netflix history. Despite its availability for home viewing, there’s a clear desire for audiences to experience the film in theaters. The animated feature is set to debut in over 1,700 locations this weekend, significantly more than its previous theatrical release for “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” which was shown in around 600 venues during Thanksgiving 2022.

Meanwhile, “Weapons” has held its own, bringing in $4.7 million on Friday, only a 37% decline from the week prior. This horror film, created by writer-director Zach Cregger, has now surpassed $105 million in domestic earnings, positioning it as the 13th highest-grossing film of the year.

New entries into the box office fray include “Honey Don’t!”, which debuts in 1,417 theaters. Despite mixed reviews from its Cannes premiere, the lesbian noir film has managed to earn approximately $1.4 million through Friday and previews, signaling a potential overall opening of around $3.2 million. This would still outpace the last film from co-writers Tricia Cooke and Ethan Coen, “Drive-Away Dolls,” which suffered a lackluster debut in 2024.

Also vying for attention is Disney’s “Freakier Friday,” holding onto its audience with an additional $2.8 million on Friday, bringing its total earnings to approximately $70 million as it enters its third weekend. In fourth place is “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” with $1.6 million on Friday and a current domestic total of $252 million.

Further down the list, Universal’s “The Bad Guys 2” is projected to earn $5.1 million in its fourth weekend, continuing to show solid performance with a 32% decrease in earnings. In comparison, “Nobody 2,” also from Universal, is facing a tougher reception, with projections suggesting it will conclude its second weekend with $3.5 million, marking a sharp 62% drop from its opening.

New films are also sprouting this weekend but might struggle to make a significant impact. David Mackenzie’s thriller “Relay,” featuring Riz Ahmed and Lily James, is aiming for just over $2 million in its debut across 1,483 locations. Similarly, Ron Howard’s “Eden,” featuring a star-studded cast including Jude Law and Ana de Armas, is expected to underperform with modest earnings in its opening weekend.

Amidst the competition, A24 is attempting to capitalize on nostalgia with the re-release of “Ne Zha II,” a Chinese animated feature that originally debuted in North America earlier this year. The film, now featuring a new English dub led by Michelle Yeoh, opened in 2,228 locations but only brought in around $690,000 on Friday. While those numbers may seem low, it is worth mentioning that “Ne Zha II” has emerged as a global sensation, amassing over $2 billion worldwide, primarily from its home market.