• KPop Demon Hunters earns $18 million in North America, marking Netflix's first box-office victory.
• The film, about a KPop girl group battling demons, has become a cultural sensation.
• Limited theatrical release led to over 1,000 sold-out screenings.
• Netflix's refusal to disclose exact ticket sales has led to varied estimates.
• The success showcases a shift in audience engagement with streaming films in theaters.

Netflix's animated film KPop Demon Hunters has made history by topping the North American box office, grossing an estimated $18 million during a special singalong event. This milestone marks a rare achievement for Netflix, achieving significant box office success with a film originally designed for streaming, the first of its kind in the company's 18-year history, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and HuffPost.

The film, which features a KPop girl group that battles demons, has captivated audiences and dominated both streaming charts and box office figures, beating competitors such as Warner Bros' horror movie Weapons, which earned $15.6 million during the same weekend. Analysis from multiple sources indicated that this unique musical event reached unprecedented engagement levels for a film initially made for home viewing, with one analyst describing it as a "completely unique two-day musical event," according to HuffPost and Reuters.

The limited theatrical release saw more than 1,000 screenings across multiple countries, with initial projections suggesting a gross of up to $20 million despite Netflix's policy of not reporting exact ticket sales, making it even more significant for the streaming giant, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The film's cultural impact is evident, with its songs topping streaming charts and drawing fans to theaters for a one-of-a-kind experience, as noted by David Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. The successful run of KPop Demon Hunters signals a new direction for Netflix, which has typically focused on streaming releases, marking a possible shift in the way audiences engage with films, according to HuffPost and Reuters.