Netflix’s “K-pop Demon Hunters” Exceeds 500 Million Views, Becoming the Most Popular Series Ever

Netflix’s animated film “K-pop Demon Hunters” has set a new record for the highest number of views, emerging as a global pop culture phenomenon. As of December, it had accumulated over 500 million views, a milestone reached just five months after it broke Netflix’s own record for the most-watched film at the time of its release in August, with 236 million views.

The film centers on three female singers who save the world through mysterious music covers. Jay portrayed Rumi, the leader of the fictional girl group HUNTR/X, while Hwasa, Lay, and Annie provided the vocals. The production was handled by Sony Pictures Animation, with Netflix handling distribution.

The success of the soundtrack became a key driver of the film’s popularity. The film’s title track, “Golden,” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight consecutive weeks. When the film shattered Netflix’s viewing records in August, its soundtrack achieved a historic first by having four tracks simultaneously appear in the Top 10 of the Hot 100. The entire soundtrack album also reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart in September.

Six tracks from the film made it onto the Hot 100 year-end chart, including HUNTR/X’s “Golden,” “How It's Done,” “What It Sounds Like,” and “Takedown,” as well as the villain boy band Saza Boyz’s “Your Idol” and “Soda Pop.” Among them, “Golden” became the fourth most-streamed track in the UK charts for 2025 and also ranked as the most streamed newly released song in that country during the same year.

The success of the film and its soundtrack led to a sequel. “K-pop Demon Hunters” won the Best Animated Feature award at the Critics’ Choice Awards, while “Golden” received the Best Song award. Jay said in her acceptance speech, “When I wrote this song, I was living through my character Rumi’s life. Her experiences and journey deeply resonated with me.” The film also received nominations in three categories at the Golden Globe Awards and five categories at the Grammy Awards, solidifying its status as the standout title of that award season.

In August of this year, a special solo version of the film dominated the U.S. box office for one week. The production company is currently developing a sequel, with a release target set for 2029.