Netflix’s Theatrical Pivot Gets Its Biggest Test Yet as the ‘K-pop Demon Hunters’ Sequel Heads to the Big Screen

For years, Netflix built its movie strategy around keeping audiences on the couch. That approach is shifting fast, and the ‘KPop Demon Hunters‘ sequel may end up being the clearest sign of just how far the streamer is willing to go. The original film became one of Netflix’s biggest streaming successes, and the follow-up is now poised to become something much bigger.

The numbers behind the first movie explain the excitement. ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ amassed 325.1 million views in its first 90 days on the platform and spent 63 consecutive weeks in the Global Top 10. Its singalong version grossed an estimated $19 million over just 2 days, playing at every circuit except AMC, which had boycotted Netflix in the past over its reluctance to commit to a 45-day theatrical window.

Now, Netflix is officially leaning into that box office potential. Speaking at Bloomberg Screentime in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, co-CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed the sequel will play on the big screen in a major way. “When the ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ sequel comes, you can expect a very broad theatrical release,” Sarandos said, as reported by TheWrap.

The sequel is expected in 2029, and Sarandos grouped it with large family movies that can benefit from a major big-screen push. He described plans for a big, broad, global release, a notable shift from the original’s streaming-first debut.

Sarandos explained that Netflix is now dividing its releases into different categories. On one end are arthouse films like ‘La Bola Negra’ and ‘Train Dreams’, and on the other are 4-quadrant family movies built for rewatching. Netflix’s data shows that Netflix originals usually outperform pay TV window titles, with the exception of kids and family movies, which he said get a lot of rewatching.

The executive also clarified how the company measures success. He said Netflix doesn’t expect theater revenue alone to determine whether these movies succeed financially. Instead, he framed a theatrical run as a limited risk with the potential for a very big upside before the film reaches the platform.

First trailer for ‘K-POP: DEMON HUNTERS’, a new film from Sony Pictures Animation.

Releasing June 20 on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/aXU3sZQXbH

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) May 22, 2025

The sequel joins an increasingly ambitious theatrical lineup. Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ hits theaters on February 12, 2027, followed by the animated ‘Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory’ on November 5, 2027, with Netflix planning 50- and 47-day theatrical windows, respectively. David Fincher’s ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth’ will also get a 2-week IMAX-exclusive release at Thanksgiving.

‘La Bola Negra’ kicks things off first, opening in theaters on October 16. Netflix will also begin publicly reporting box office grosses for these films, a major change for a company whose lack of reporting and reluctance to commit to substantial windows previously frustrated theater owners and rival studios.

Unsurprisingly, the reaction online has been ecstatic. Under DiscussingFilm’s post about the news, one fan boldly predicted the sequel could become the first K-pop movie and the first Netflix film to reach $1 billion at the box office. Another simply celebrated more Huntr/x being confirmed.

That enthusiasm makes sense given how the original connected with audiences. The Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans-directed film follows Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), pop stars in Huntr/x who moonlight as demon hunters. Their story clearly has plenty of fans ready to buy tickets.

Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation officially confirmed the sequel was in development back in March. With a theatrical plan now locked in, the follow-up has become a high-profile test of whether Netflix can turn a streaming phenomenon into a genuine box office event.

If the singalong screenings were any indication, the appetite is already there. The question now is just how big the sequel can go when it finally arrives in cinemas worldwide.

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