In a surprising turn of events for the movie industry, Netflix’s animated streaming hit, “KPop Demon Hunters,” made an unusual foray into movie theaters over the weekend, offering a sing-along version in more than 1,700 locations. This move is particularly notable given Netflix CEO’s previous dismissal of movie theaters as “outdated.” Despite having been available on Netflix for over two months and ranking as the second most-watched film ever on the platform, there was a clear demand from fans to experience the film on the big screen. While “Weapons” maintained its top box office spot with $4.7 million on Friday, “KPop Demon Hunters” was poised to potentially win the weekend, though Netflix, true to form, did not report box office grosses, even if it meant foregoing bragging rights for the No. 1 spot. This theatrical release far surpassed Netflix's previous limited run for “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” which played in approximately 600 locations.

The weekend also saw other notable box office performances. “Honey Don’t!” from Universal’s Focus Features opened in 1,417 theaters, earning $1.4 million across Friday and previews, and projected a $3.2 million bow. Disney’s “Freakier Friday” secured third place, adding $2.8 million on Friday for an estimated $70 million total by its third weekend. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” by Marvel Studios took fourth, with $1.6 million on Friday pushing its domestic total to $252 million. Universal’s “The Bad Guys 2” was set for fifth, projecting $5.1 million in its fourth weekend, aiming for a $66 million domestic total. “Nobody 2” was expected to fall to sixth, projecting $3.5 million in its sophomore outing. Outside the top 10, Bleecker Street released “Relay” in 1,483 locations, while Vertical debuted Ron Howard’s “Eden” in 664 venues. A24 also re-released the Chinese animated film “Ne Zha II” in 2,228 locations, adding a new English dub, which grossed around $690,000 on Friday, a modest sum for a film that has already earned over $2 billion globally, mostly from its native country.

“KPop Demon Hunters,” produced by Sony Pictures Animation, is a high-energy, high-concept supernatural action comedy. The film centers on a trio of ultra-talented supernatural protectors known as Huntrix: Mira, a rebellious woldo-wielding warrior; Zoey, a Burbank-raised rapper; and Rumi, a purple-braided orphan. They leverage their popularity as girl band superstars to defend the mortal world from the demon king Gwi-Ma, portrayed by Byung Hun Lee. Their mission involves building a barrier called the Golden Honmoon to block the demons permanently.

The plot thickens with the introduction of Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), one of Gwi-Ma’s tortured acolytes, who forms a rival K-pop group, the Saja Boys, with four other handsome demons to lure Huntrix’s fans to the dark side. An unexpected romance blossoms between Jinu and Rumi, adding a human-demon rom-com element to the story. Despite a predictable romantic subplot, the film stands out for its playful approach to computer animation, developed by co-directors Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang. Taking cues from webtoons and manhwa (Korean graphic novels), the animation emphasizes dynamic silhouettes and lively key poses, enhanced by cute comic-book touches, such as pupils swelling into red hearts or eyes changing shapes to reflect characters’ reactions.

The violence in “KPop Demon Hunters” is visually appealing, with phosphorescent pink weapons slicing through demons, causing them to explode into confetti. The film efficiently navigates an exposition-heavy first act, revealing Rumi’s secret: she is the hybrid daughter of a pop-singer mom and a demon dad, marked by the same purple imprints as the spirits she is sworn to eliminate. Her trusted trainer, Celine (Yunjin Kim), is aware of her hybrid status, believing Rumi can control her demon genes, but did not foresee her falling for Jinu, who also harbors secrets. A subplot involving Rumi’s voice issues provides some character moments, including a spa trip and a staycation, accompanied by adorable animal sidekicks inspired by Korean folklore.

The K-pop angle is central to the film, featuring original songs and catchy choreography. The macaronic soundtrack, blending English and Korean lyrics, includes Huntrix hits like “How It’s Done,” “Golden,” and “Takedown” (the latter covered by Twice in the end credits), along with a standout duet, “Free,” performed by Ejae and Andrew Choi (Rumi’s and Jinu’s singing voices). The nimble, genre-hopping nature of the movie immerses fans so completely that they might not even realize they are watching a musical, often finding themselves singing along.