Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” Sets Animation Record, Ranking Second Among English-Language Films and First in 41 Countries Worldwide

Netflix’s original animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” has established a new milestone in streaming platform history. Since its release on June 20, it has accumulated 376 million hours of viewing time and 184.6 million views, pushing it to second place among all English-language films. Only “Red Notice,” starring Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot with 230.9 million views, ranks above it. Given Netflix’s tracking method, which measures cumulative data over 91 days after release, the film could overtake “Red Notice” if its current upward trend continues. Additionally, as Netflix’s own-produced animation, it has achieved the best performance ever for a Netflix original and topped the film charts in 41 countries worldwide. It also holds second place in film rankings on global OTT viewing tracking sites like FlixPatrol as of the seventh week after release. “KPop Demon Hunters,” produced by Sony Pictures Animation, follows three young women who are world-renowned K-Pop groups by day but fight against evil spirits attempting to steal human souls at night. The story unfolds centered around songs and music, constructing a unique universe through modern reinterpretations of Korean traditional cultural elements such as dongbaekgi, jeuseungsaja, and mudang. Korean foods like kimbap and hotteok, along with familiar Seoul landmarks such as Namsan Tower and Naksan Park’s fortress path, serve as key backdrops in the film. Traditional patterns, Korean medicine clinics, hairpins, sigingom, and hogwakdo are also utilized as core elements of its worldbuilding. These elements appeal to international viewers as fresh themes while offering domestic audiences a reimagined version of familiar cultural codes, fostering broad resonance. The OST album for “KPop Demon Hunters” has also achieved outstanding results on music charts. It held second place on Billboard’s main album chart, the Billboard 200, for two consecutive weeks (as of August 16) and has accumulated over 300 million streams. The title track “Golden” reached number one on Billboard’s Hot 100, with a total of nine songs from the OST making it onto that chart, including “Your Idol,” “Soda Pop,” and “How It's Done.” The OST tracks feature addictive repetitive melodies and lyrics in both Korean and English, sharing similarities with existing K-Pop hits. To enhance the film’s quality, Lee Byung-hun, best known internationally through Netflix’s series “Squid Game,” contributed voice acting, while the girl group TWICE and renowned producers Teddy and choreographer Lee Jung played roles in its production. The success of this film has evolved beyond mere viewing figures into a cultural phenomenon. On social platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, challenges involving dances from fictional idol groups HUNTR/X and Saja Boys are trending. Students in countries including the United States and South Korea are posting videos of singing “Golden” together during school breaks. Driven by its global popularity, Netflix is planning special sing-along screenings. On August 23 and 24 (U.S. time), some theaters in the United States and Canada will host events where fans of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys can gather to sing the film’s songs together. Cultural experts view the success of “KPop Demon Hunters” as a new possibility for South Korea’s content industry, demonstrating that K-Pop can transcend being merely a music genre to serve as a cultural code that creates global content across borders.