This was previously published in our September 2025 issue.
From slaying demons on screen to breaking records in real life — the Netflix original movie “K-Pop Demon Hunters” is killing it in every aspect.
On May 22, Netflix posted a trailer for a previously unheard of project titled “K-Pop Demon Hunters”, garnering little attention at the time. Commenters criticized the “cringy” title and humor style it flaunted, and audiences overall showed very little interest. Following the initial trailer, the studio barely marketed the movie, with only a handful of teasers dropping on the official Netflix account.
Less than a month later, on June 20, the movie premiered on Netflix. The tale of Rumi, the half-demon demon hunter, her fellow K-Pop stars Mira and Zoey, and the charismatic demon boy band the Saja Boys quickly won over the hearts of those who watched it, and word of mouth proved to be an effective advertising method. The title quickly climbed its way to number one on the Netflix Top 10 Movies, where it remains as of the writing of this article.
Audiences praised “K-Pop Demon Hunters” for its stunning animation, compelling story, and primarily, its music. As of the week of Sept. 15, all seven songs from the movie are ranked in the Billboard Hot 100, including four in the top 10, and one, “Golden,” placed at number one. It is the only animated movie to ever have four songs in the top 10, according to Billboard. The music proved so popular that the soundtrack received both a CD and vinyl release.
On Sept. 3, “K-Pop Demon Hunters” became the most-streamed original Netflix title of all time, surpassing the TV show Squid Game to grab its top slot. This is a milestone for not only the movie and Netflix in general, but for animation as a whole.
The 2020s have brought with them a noticeable shift in the animation industry. Power over the industry is slipping through Disney and Pixar’s fingers and falling to studios such as Dreamworks and Sony Animation, creator of “K-Pop Demon Hunters”. This phenomenon is further clarified by Elio, a Pixar movie released on the same day as “K-Pop Demon Hunters”, which flopped catastrophically in theaters.
This also serves as yet another example of prominence in movies as a whole shifting from theatrical releases to streaming services. While “K-Pop Demon Hunters” did eventually get a theatrical release, that was only due to the overwhelming success of its streaming release.
Crowds are clamoring for a sequel, flooding Netflix comment sections and sparking discussion online. While dedicated audiences know Netflix has a tendency to neglect its animated projects (often cancelling animated shows mid-run or before they begin) the company has confirmed a second film is in the works.
“K-Pop Demon Hunters” is doubtlessly a cultural phenomenon, dazzling kids and adults alike as its popularity skyrockets. Just as the band Huntrix dominated the world in the movie, the fictional girl group is taking over the internet in real life, to the delight of fans everywhere.
