Netflix Animation “K-pop Demon Hunters” Ranks as the Most Popular Film in Streaming History

Netflix’s animated film “K-pop Demon Hunters” has become the most popular movie in the history of streaming platforms. Released on June 20, it reached 325.1 million views, securing its place as Netflix’s highest-grossing title to date, and has remained in Netflix’s top 10 for 15 consecutive weeks. The original soundtrack was key to the film’s success. “K-pop Demon Hunters” achieved a historic milestone on the Billboard Hot 100 by having four of its tracks enter the top 10 simultaneously. The title track “Golden” stood out particularly well, holding the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks in total and for six consecutive weeks. It also topped the UK Official Singles Chart for seven weeks before dropping to second place. In the UK chart, it entered at position 93 and has stayed in the top 10 for 12 consecutive weeks. The album chart also showed strong performance; the “K-pop Demon Hunters” soundtrack regained the top spot on the U.S. Billboard 200, briefly losing it to Twenty One Pilots’ album “Bridge” and rapper Cardi B’s studio album “M.I. The Dream?” before returning to the upper ranks. The songs from the film’s soundtrack are dominating the global music market. “Soda Pop” reached position 5 on the UK chart, “Your Idol” landed at position 8, and “TAKEDOWN” appeared at position 76. Six tracks from the soundtrack, including TWICE’s “Strategy,” made it onto the Billboard Hot 100, demonstrating K-POP’s global influence. The film tells the story of a three-member girl group named Huntrix who use music to defeat demons and protect the world. It was produced by Sony Pictures Animation under the direction of Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. Although Sony initially planned to distribute it itself, it was eventually released on Netflix due to Sony’s Netflix First Look deal. The film’s success also contributed to the spread of Korean culture. In September, Namsan YTN Seoul Tower welcomed 79,200 foreign visitors, a 50.6% increase compared to the same period last year. This figure represents the highest monthly count from 2024 through September this year. It is believed that the film’s depiction of various locations in Seoul, especially Namsan as a backdrop for key scenes, drove the rise in foreign tourists. The film’s popularity has resonated deeply with K-POP fans and culture enthusiasts. On October 5 (local time), during the premiere of Season 51 of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami—whose voices portray the members of Huntrix—performed “Golden” live in a segment hosted by Bad Bunny, thrilling fans. This was the first live performance by the Huntrix members, with a full official performance set to take place on October 7 on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” A core aspect of the film’s creation was its respectful and in-depth approach to K-POP. Cultural critic Rebecca Sun commented, “This film approaches historically marginalized cultures or subcultures with respect without forcing an explanation, simply dropping viewers into that world.” As K-POP groups such as BLACKPINK, BTS, TWICE, and NewJeans exert global influence, “K-pop Demon Hunters” has helped elevate this genre to mainstream culture. Ejae, one of the main composers of “Golden,” officially announced the release of her debut solo single “In Another World” on October 24 following her SNL performance. In a social media post, she said, “At 11 years old, I wanted to be an ‘artist,’ but as time passed, I felt more comfortable working behind the scenes and didn’t think I could become an artist myself. Writing this song helped me get through difficult times, and I hope sharing it can help others as well.” Netflix and Sony Animation are reportedly already in discussions about producing a sequel to “K-pop Demon Hunters.”