«The Amazing Digital Circus has become the latest YouTube hit to hit theaters.
The series, created by Australian studio Glitch Productions, has garnered hundreds of millions of views on the streaming service since its launch in 2023.
The final episode of the Glitch series has hit theaters worldwide, and according to entertainment news site Deadline, it grossed $6.8 million on its first day in the US.
This puts it ahead of horror hits like Behind the Scenes and Obsession, which were directed by famous YouTubers.
The Amazing Digital Circus (TADC) features characters who are avatars of people trapped inside a simulated universe.
The series' unique visual style, CG-based humor, and willingness to tackle emotional themes have made it incredibly popular among fans and spawned numerous internet memes.
When Glitch Productions announced plans to bring "The Last Act"—the title of the two-part finale—to theaters, fans were urged to contact theater chains and demand the film be shown.
It was a strategy similar to that used by YouTuber Markiplier, whose debut film, Iron Lungs, grossed $17.8 million in its opening weekend in the US.
However, not all fans are happy that the final episodes of TADC are being released in theaters before appearing on Glitch's official YouTube channel on June 19th.
Some accuse the company of abandoning its online roots, and fans in countries that weren't able to see the films complain they've been left out of the process.
The main controller of the Amazing Digital Circus is an artificial intelligence known as Kane [Glitch Productions].
TADC fans Lyn Porter, Kat Dingwall and Emmanuel Akinnubi told BBC Newsbeat why they love the show.
Porter, 21, says she's drawn to characters she can identify with.
«"They all have their own problems and difficulties, and watching them, you realize, 'Yeah, I act like that sometimes,'" she says.
Akinnubi, 21, who says he has been a fan of the group since day one, agrees and believes TADC's appearance also helps it gain fans.
«"It can also be aesthetically pleasing or visually pleasing to the eye, it's just very colorful and I think that's what attracts people," he says.
For 20-year-old Dingwall, the appeal of the project is that TADC started as a small developer known as Gooseworx.
«"No one from higher up told them, 'You can't do this,' they just let them tell the stories as they were.".
TADC fans Kat, Lyn and Emmanuel have mixed opinions on the decision to release 'The Last Act' in theaters [Courtesy]
Porter, who spoke to Newsbeat while waiting in costume outside a screening of "The Last Act," said she was "very excited" about the film's upcoming theatrical release.
«"To get into cosplay and sit down and watch a movie—I mean, that's a real commitment," she says.
Cineworld cinema chain employee and TADC fan Luke Fesey can confirm this.
The 24-year-old told BBC Newsbeat that the shows were packed with excited fans, some of whom were in cosplay.
«It’s really funny to see fans come in and say, „Yeah, they came to Digital Circus.“».
And Fesey praised the series for creating a "strong sense of community.".
«"I watched it when the pilot episode first aired on YouTube, and I still remember who I was watching it with. It's such a cheerful show that, when it needs to be, it's deep.".
Akinnubi plans to watch the final installment, but told Newsbeat it has already received mixed reactions due to the way it was released.
«"Some fans from low-income families and people from different countries who may be far from the cinema where the film is shown will not be able to see it and will have to wait two weeks for it to be fully released on YouTube," he says.
«"So during those two weeks, they could certainly see spoilers and have the ending spoiled for them.".
But he is confident that for many it will be a useful experience.
«"Many dedicated fans who are lucky enough to live near where the film is being shown will be able to go to the theaters, dress up as their favorite character, and see people who love the series as much as they do.".
UK box office figures released next week will give an indication of how well the film has been received by British audiences.
And one more question: will the series manage to end with dignity?
Porter says she, like other fans, is bracing herself for a dramatic ending.
«I know there will be tears, I might cry myself,» she says.
[BBC]
Listen to Newsbeat live weekdays at 12:45pm and 5:45pm – or listen to the recording here.