Netflix’s animated feature KPop Demon Hunters has become a full-blown cultural phenomenon.
Released on June 20, 2025, the film quickly became Netflix’s most-watched English-language movie, racking up an astounding 236 million views. It also made history as the streamer’s first title to reach the No. 1 spot at the global box office, thanks in part to its sold-out Sing-Along edition, which generated an estimated $19.2 million in U.S. theaters over a single weekend.
Photo: Netflix
Originally produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the movie shifted away from a traditional theatrical rollout when Netflix struck a deal to fund its $100 million production budget, plus an additional $25 million fee. Sony still benefits through soundtrack sales, publishing rights, and its animation unit Imageworks, which worked on the project.
KPop Demon Hunters‘ music has been another driving force behind its popularity. The original soundtrack officially sent four songs into the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 10 at the same time, an achievement so rare that only a handful of legendary films in music history can claim it.
Huntrix’s “Golden” climbed to No. 1 on August 16, 2025, after weeks of dominating streaming platforms with more than 32.8 million global plays.
Meanwhile, boy group Saja Boys is having their own breakout moment. Their single “Your Idol” made a massive leap from No. 8 to No. 4, marking the group’s first-ever Top 5 entry after eight weeks on the chart. Adding to the excitement, their bubbly track “Soda Pop” climbed back into the Top 10, moving from No. 14 to No. 10.
This puts Kpop Demon Hunters in the same league as legendary soundtracks like Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Waiting to Exhale (1995) — films remembered as much for their music as for their stories.
Following in Legendary Footsteps
The breakout success has sparked speculation about expanding the story. Director Maggie Kang has hinted that the sequel could dive deeper into the origins and backstories of the demon-hunting K-pop idols.
“We wanted to introduce the world with a non-origin origin story,” Kang explained, noting that many details about the characters’ pasts were intentionally left out of the first film. “The sequel would be a chance to explore who these girls are, how they were chosen, and the journeys that shaped them.”
For now, a follow-up remains in the planning stage. Whether Kang and the original creative team will return is still unclear. Still, with both Netflix and Sony seeing phenomenal success, it seems unlikely they’ll let this franchise go anytime soon.
ALSO READ: 5 Animated Originals You Should Watch If You Loved “KPop Demon Hunters”
Are you streaming the KPop Demon Hunters OST on repeat, or did the songs first hook you after watching the film?
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