Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” Becomes the Most Successful Animated Film Ever, Sparking a Global Cultural Phenomenon

Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” which depicts Rumi, Mira, and Joy as K-pop girl group HUNTR/X fighting evil spirits through music, has emerged as the biggest cultural phenomenon of 2025. Released on June 20, this 95-minute movie achieved the highest viewership rate in Netflix’s streaming history and was nominated for three awards at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards: Best Animated Film, Song of the Year, and Cinematic/Box Office Achievement. The film’s success is clearly reflected in its numerical achievements. It accumulated 325.1 million views within 91 days after release, setting the best performance record among all Netflix films and series. The movie reached the top 10 in 93 countries worldwide. When Netflix first began showing it in theaters in August, over 1,300 showings across three continents were sold out, generating approximately $18 million in revenue. This marked the first time Netflix topped the theater box office charts. The harmony between music and visual aesthetics also received widespread praise. The soundtrack reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart and was streamed 830 million times. The title track “Golden” stayed at number one on the Billboard Global 200 chart for 17 weeks and was nominated for five awards, including Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the Grammys. The film was also named “2025’s Breakthrough of the Year” by the news magazine Time, with Rumi, Mira, and Joy featured on its December 29 issue cover. The film’s appeal is obvious: stylishly dressed girls passionately sing songs about self-acceptance, all with catchy melodies enhanced by creative and vibrant visuals. Tennis star Novak Djokovic danced to “Soda Pop” after winning his US Open quarterfinal match, while Lee Jae, Audrey Nu-na, and Ray A-mi, who portray Rumi, Mira, and Joy, appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show and at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The top five Halloween costume searches on Google were all of the film’s characters. This success was not inevitable. “KPop Demon Hunters” is an original story created in an era that tends to rely conservatively on familiar intellectual properties. It was released during a period when animated films that are not part of established franchises struggle to perform well at the box office, lacks famous actors who could guarantee success despite relying heavily on a specific cultural element (Korea), and involved significant risks given its production cost of around $100 million. The film was created by directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans along with producer Michelle Ong. Director Maggie Kang has worked in the animation industry for over 10 years and decided to produce a film based on Korean culture. The name of the protagonist Rumi comes from the director’s daughter, Rumi Oak, who also voiced the young version of Rumi in the movie. News of a sequel was announced in November. This film gained even more prominence thanks to the rising popularity of Korean cultural content that enjoys global acclaim, ranging from BTS and BLACKPINK to “Parasite” and “Squid Game.”