Netflix Animation “K-Pop Demon Hunters” Sets Platform Record with 48.16 Billion Views; Nominated for Two Academy Awards

Netflix’s original animated film “K-Pop Demon Hunters” has achieved the highest viewing figure in the platform’s history. According to Netflix’s semi-annual viewing report released on January 20, the film ranked highest among all content viewed in the second half of 2025 (July–December), accumulating a total of 48.16 billion views.

This amount represents the most views recorded in six months for any Netflix content to date. While no movie or drama released in the past three years exceeded 165 million views in that time frame, “K-Pop Demon Hunters” far surpasses that figure. Even the combined total views of the top films from the previous three years—“Back in Action” (164.7 million views) from the first half of 2025, “Carion” (137.3 million views) from 2024’s second half, and “Damsel” (143.8 million views) from 2024’s first half—amount to only 445.8 million views, which is still less than the film’s total.

Although the movie premiered on June 20, the statistics exclude views from the first 10 days after release, meaning the actual cumulative view count is likely even higher. As of now, it has already surpassed 54 billion views and has remained in Netflix’s top 10 movies for 31 weeks.

“K-Pop Demon Hunters” follows Rumi, Mira, and Joy, members of the K-pop girl group Huntr/x with supernatural abilities, as they use the power of voice to defeat demons and protect their fans. The film was co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The film’s title track, “Golden,” is performed by Huntr/x’s actual vocalists EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI, with EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, DO, 24, and Teddy Park contributing to its composition. This song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 8 weeks and became the first K-POP track to be nominated for an Original Song award.

At the 98th Academy Awards, the film received a nomination for Best Animated Feature, while “Golden” was nominated for Best Original Song. Its competitors included “Arco,” “Elio,” “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain,” and “Zootopia 2.” Other nominees in the Original Song category were “I Lied to You” by Sinners and “Dear Me” by Diane Warren: Relentless.

The film has already won awards at previous ceremonies. It took home Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards on January 4, and also won Best Animated Film and Best Original Song at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards on January 11. Additionally, it received 10 Annie Award nominations and 5 Grammy Award nominations, with “Golden” nominated for Song of the Year and EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Director Maggie Kang said during a singalong event in New York, “Seeing fans of all ages and from all demographic groups gathered together made me realize this is something big—something that speaks to everyone.” EJAE added, “All of this has completely changed my life by 180 degrees.”