Netflix scored its first theatrical victory as the animated musical “KPop Demon Hunters” opened at No. 1 in the United States and Canada with an estimated $18 million to $20 million in ticket sales over a two-day, sing-along engagement. Rival studio tracking indicates the film achieved the milestone on roughly 1,700 screens—none operated by AMC—despite Netflix maintaining its practice of withholding official box-office data. The limited theatrical run amplifies a breakout already evident on the streaming platform. Since premiering on 20 June, “KPop Demon Hunters” has generated 236 million views, surpassing 2021’s “Red Notice” to become Netflix’s most-watched film. Its soundtrack has proved equally potent, with four songs concurrently in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 and the single “Golden” holding the No. 1 spot, a first for any movie soundtrack. The unprecedented crossover success is prompting Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation to explore a sequel, according to people familiar with the discussions. A follow-up would extend a franchise that has bolstered Netflix’s push into family animation and hinted at a hybrid release strategy capable of delivering both streaming engagement and box-office revenue.