KPop Demon Hunters is such a massive hit for Netflix that it temporarily cracked their ironclad anti-theater belief system. They allowed a sing-along version of the movie to screen nationwide, but for one weekend only. Mere hours later, that version was dumped onto the service as if to say “never again.”
There is money to be made, of course, but Netflix’s steadfast insistence on refusing to do things that make money against all logic is only rivaled by Nintendo’s. If you’d asked me days ago if there would ever be a second theatrical turn for KPDH, I’d definitely say “no.” But I was wrong: another was just announced and this time it will screen in even more theaters, as all three major companies (Regal, AMC, Cinemark) have signed on. Over 400 in all. One near you!
Perhaps the sales of those new Fortnite skins and official Spirit Halloween costumes was the catalyst that moved the needle, because they’re actually encouraging fans to wear those costumes when they attend. That’s why the release is timed to Halloween — October 31 through November 2. The press release doesn’t specify if this is the sing-along version again or the caption-less original, but you can be assured no matter which you get, people in the aisles WILL be singing.
The only new wide release that will have competition with KPop Demon Hunters on Halloween weekend is Bugonia starring Emma Stone, which to refresh your memory is the subject of those weird trailers playing on TV where a woman has been shaven bald and kidnapped by people who believe she is an alien. This year’s box office has proven to be very unpredictable, to say the least, but my call is that HUNTR/X lands on top again.
It is apparently going to take even more than this, though, for Netflix to truly change their stance on theaters. It was reported that the Duffer Brothers wished to screen the feature-length series finale of Stranger Things, still their biggest series. It’s a move that would have precedence as Big N actually allowed parts of Season 4 to screen in 2022. But Netflix refused. And now the Duffers are at Paramount.
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