When summer cinema goers go away, the anime fans come out to play.

Netflix’s two-day weekend release of the kitschy animated “Kpop Demon Hunters” is on track to topple “Weapons” as the biggest title at the box office on this, traditionally one of the lowest attendance weekends for movies all year.

Anime is one of those corners of North American film fandom that reliably shows up for new titles, often parked in slower parts of the release calendar. A “Demon Slayer” release slated to open big $20 million+) in early Sept.

The great anime artists are celebrated far and wide and make animated films in a wide range of genres, even celebrating the creation of the WWII Zero airplane. But the most popular anime is like the most popular horror — typically long-running fantasy franchises that have developed a following of fans who pay attention to the thin, meandering storylines and favorite characters.

It’s not for everyone. But they buy their tickets in advance for these “event” movies. This one’s showing Sat. and Sunday.

Box Office Mojo confirms that the theatrical “Kpop” flavored release, quickly moving to streaming, drew some $18 million in genre fan ticket sales this weekend.

“Weapons” collected $15 million and change.

“Freakier Friday” won’t surrender its place in the top five. adding another $8,9. Nor will “Fantastic Four” ($5.8) or “Bad Guys 2” ($5.1). “Nobody 2” ($3.7) will.

The wide-ish “new” releases playing the whole Thursday night through Sunday “opening weekend” don’t appear to be making a splash at all.

Ethan Coen’s “Honey Don’t” with Margaret Qualley and Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans isn’t playing all that widely and earned $3 million. I think the nearest cinema playing it for me is 90 minutes away. That’s a real vote of confidence from Focus Features.

“Relay” starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James and Sam Worthington earned just under $2. It’s a solid, tricky thriller, very well-acted. Worth seeing. Almost nobody will, as it didn’t crack the Top Ten (11th).

Ron Howard’s “Eden” won’t manage a ripple and it deserves better — $1 million.

I’ll update the little data expected to come in later Sunday, as tracking box office “winners” will be nothing to brag about until after Labor Day.

Will “Jurassic World: Rebirth” hang around the top ten until then? Stay tuned.