KPop Demon Hunters: Netflix’s animation slays its way to global stardom
KPop Demon Hunters theatrical release poster. Photo Credit- ScreenRant
In a summer dominated by franchise blockbusters, an unlikely hero has emerged on Netflix: KPop Demon Hunters, an animated musical fantasy that’s not only topped global streaming charts but also shattered records, outshining real-life K-pop giants like BTS and Blackpink. With a stellar 97% Rotten Tomatoes score and 158.8 million views in just six weeks, this vibrant tale of a fictional K-pop girl group doubling as demon hunters has become Netflix’s most-watched original animated film of all time, climbing to the fourth spot on the platform’s Top 10 most popular English-language movies ever. As fans demand sequels and its soundtrack dominates Spotify and Billboard, KPop Demon Hunters is rewriting what success looks like in the streaming era.
KPop is a magical fusion of music and myth
Released on June 20, 2025, KPop Demon Hunters follows HUNTR/X, a fictional KPop trio; Rumi (voiced by Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) who lead double lives as demon hunters. By day, they dazzle fans with their music, maintaining a magical barrier called the “honmoon” to protect humanity. By night, they battle the Saja Boys, a rival boy band secretly composed of demons led by the spirit king Gwi-ma (Lee Byung-hun). Directed by Korean-American filmmaker Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the film blends K-pop’s infectious energy with Korean mythology, vibrant animation, and a universal story of courage and friendship. Its voice cast, including Ahn Hyo-seop, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, and Ken Jeong, adds star power to this genre-bending adventure.
The premise could have been niche, but KPop Demon Hunters has proven anything but. Critics have hailed its “vibrant, stylized animation, thrilling action sequences, and unexpectedly engaging characters,” earning it a 97% Tomatometer score and a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. ScreenRant’s Ben Gibbons called it “a phenomenal family film with heart, passion, and a fast-paced plot that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats, regardless of age.” Fans on social media echo the sentiment, with @TheCartoonBase asking, “Does the film deserve a sequel?” after it racked up 176.9 million hours viewed. The answer seems to be a resounding
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How KPop Demon Hunters became a chart-topping triumph
KPop Demon Hunters isn’t just a streaming juggernaut; it’s a musical phenomenon. The soundtrack, featuring songs like “Golden” and “Your Idol,” has broken records, with HUNTR/X’s “Golden” hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s global charts and No. 2 on the Hot 100, outpacing Blackpink’s records for a female KPop group. The Saja Boys’ “Your Idol” surpassed BTS’s “Dynamite” to become the highest-charting KPop boy group track on Spotify’s U.S. Daily Top Songs. The soundtrack debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200, with 31,000 equivalent album units, and tracks like TWICE’s “TAKEDOWN” and “Soda Pop” dominate Spotify’s global charts. Netflix is now eyeing an Oscar nomination for “Golden” in the 2026 Best Original Song category, signaling its awards-season ambitions.
The film’s cultural impact extends beyond music. Posts on X highlight its global reach, with @netflix celebrating its Lollapalooza performance and new profile icons, urging fans to “report to the comment section with your bias.” The fictional HUNTR/X and Saja Boys have sparked fan art and sequel demands, with viewership soaring across 93 countries, from Asia to the U.S., France, and Germany. As Netflix’s Kim Min-young noted, “Great stories can resonate everywhere, regardless of language or culture.”()
KPop Demon Hunters record-breaking run
KPop Demon Hunters has rewritten Netflix’s record books. Debuting at No. 2 globally with 9.2 million views in its first week (June 16–22), it surged to No. 1 the following week with 24.2 million views, ending Tyler Perry’s Straw’s three-week reign. By its fifth week, it achieved a rare feat: 25.8 million views, the highest week of viewership for any Netflix film in 2025, surpassing even Happy Gilmore 2. Its sixth week saw it climb to No. 4 on Netflix’s all-time Top 10 English-language films list, with 158.8 million views, trailing only Carry-On, Don’t Look Up, and The Adam Project. Netflix noted that no other movie has grown viewership in its fifth week, a testament to its word-of-mouth momentum.
The film’s stamina is remarkable. Unlike most releases that peak early, KPop Demon Hunters has toggled between No. 1 and No. 2 on U.S. and global charts, reclaiming the top spot multiple times against heavyweights like Madea’s Destination Wedding (15% on Rotten Tomatoes) and The Old Guard 2. As @netflix declared on X, it’s “Netflix’s most-watched original animated film of ALL TIME,” a milestone celebrated with fan engagement.
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Will there be sequels to this animation
What makes KPop Demon Hunters a phenomenon? It’s more than its catchy songs or stunning visuals, it’s a cultural shift. As ScreenRant noted, the film blends music, myth, and momentum into “undeniable magic,” appealing to all ages and defying expectations for an original animated feature. Amid a summer of franchise films like Jurassic World Rebirth and Superman, its success as a standalone story is a “breath of fresh air,” per critics. The film’s universal themes; overcoming insecurity, embracing teamwork, and wielding music as power, resonate globally, while its Korean cultural roots elevate KPop’s Western influence.
Fans and creators are already clamoring for more. Directors Kang and Appelhans have teased “more to explore,” and Netflix is reportedly plotting sequels, a live-action remake, and even a TV series. The film’s ending sets up a potential franchise, and its chart-topping performance; 176.9 million hours viewed, makes a sequel all but inevitable. As Forbes mused, “A sequel, two, a prequel, a spin-off, a TV series, a live-action adaptation… I’ll be damned if we don’t get two or three of them.”
Conclusion
As KPop Demon Hunters eyes Netflix’s all-time Top 10 record, its legacy is already cemented. With 20 million views per week and a soundtrack rewriting music charts, it’s a cultural juggernaut that proves original stories can rival franchise giants. Whether it nabs an Oscar nod or spawns a universe of sequels, the film has redefined streaming success. KPop Demon Hunters is slaying demons and charts alike, proving that music, myth, and heart can create a global sensation. Watch it on Netflix, and join the millions hooked on this animated masterpiece.
