The animated musical KPop Demon Hunters has become a global sensation, smashing Netflix viewership records and dominating music charts. Now it’s headed to theaters, where it’s expected to top the U.S. box office.
After shattering viewership records on Netflix and climbing to the top of global music charts, the animated musical KPop Demon Hunters is now making its big-screen debut.
This summer hit follows a trio of young Korean pop stars who battle demons using high-energy songs and synchronized dance moves.
Since its Netflix release on June 20, the film has racked up 210 million views and is poised to become the platform’s most-watched movie ever by next week. It also boasts five of the world’s top ten most-streamed songs on Spotify.
Analysts expect its phenomenal momentum to continue in theaters, with predictions that it could land at number one at the U.S. box office this weekend. Thousands of costumed fans are expected to pack “karaoke screenings” already sold out across the country.
“It’s crazy, wild, surreal,” said singer EJAE, who co-wrote the film’s breakout hit Golden and performs as the voice of the heroine Rumi, during a premiere screening at Netflix’s Hollywood headquarters.
“I’m so grateful to be part of this cultural phenomenon,” she added.
Netflix is releasing the film in theaters across five countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Triple threat
The story follows HUNTR/X, a K-Pop girl group whose three singers secretly moonlight as demon hunters protecting Earth.
Their music, powered by the passion of their fans, maintains a magical barrier that keeps evil spirits locked away in another realm.
But the demons strike back by forming their own boy band, the Saja Boys—handsome rivals who feed off the crowd’s energy to destroy the barrier between worlds.
The loyalty of the heroines is tested, and an unlikely romance unfolds, all within 90 minutes of catchy ballads and upbeat pop anthems.
The film’s colorful animation blends Seoul’s gleaming skyscrapers with traditional bathhouses and thatched-roof countryside homes.
“This film is a triple threat—it’s got a fantastic story, stunning animation, and unforgettable music,” said Wendy Lee Szany, a Los Angeles-based film critic and K-Pop fan, in an interview with AFP.
The soundtrack currently holds three spots in Billboard’s Top 10, a feat not achieved by a movie soundtrack since the 1990s.
Blending the worldwide passion for K-Pop with stylish supernatural elements seems like the perfect formula for Netflix’s algorithm, but no one predicted this level of success.
Produced by Sony Pictures, KPop Demon Hunters was originally intended for theaters but was sold to Netflix during the pandemic when cinemas were shut down.
Word of mouth
Its streaming release ended up being a blessing, driving massive buzz, according to John Nguyen, founder of Nerd Reactor, a pop culture site.
“People shared it, talked about it, posted videos of fans and families singing along in their living rooms,” he explained.
Usually reluctant to release its films theatrically, Netflix is now seizing the opportunity with karaoke screenings scheduled this weekend in 1,700 theaters across North America.
Fans are encouraged to dress up and record themselves singing along.
“At the Los Angeles premiere, there were so many kids singing at the top of their lungs,” Szany laughed. “I thought, wow, they know every word better than I do.”
This kind of interactive event frustrates some purists but proved highly profitable when Taylor Swift’s concert film grossed $260 million in 2023.
Early forecasts suggest KPop Demon Hunters could pull in $15 million domestically this weekend and claim the top spot at the box office.
For theaters still recovering from the pandemic and the Hollywood strikes of 2023, this boost—ironically coming from Netflix, often blamed for stealing audiences—will be more than welcome.
By Andrew MARSZAL / AFP
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