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‘KPop Demon Hunters’ poster. /News1 |
KPop Demon Hunters, a Netflix animated feature inspired by the world of K-pop, is gaining significant traction among viewers worldwide.
According to global streaming analytics platform FlixPatrol on June 23, the film ranked No. 1 in the Netflix global film category across 26 countries as of June 22—just two days after its release. It also claimed the top spot on Netflix’s overall global chart and held its position on June 21, the day after its June 20 premiere.
The action-fantasy follows K-pop idols Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, who double as demon slayers while performing as members of a hugely popular girl group. Their secret mission escalates when they discover that a fast-rising rookie boy band is, in reality, a demonic faction threatening humanity.
Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the studio behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Hotel Transylvania, KPop Demon Hunters is co-directed by Korean Canadian filmmaker Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. Kang, who grew up listening to first-generation K-pop idols, brings personal resonance to the project.
The film’s voice cast and soundtrack have also drawn attention. Actor Ahn Hyo-seop makes his debut in English-language voice work, while Lee Byung-hun voices the ancient demon king Gwima in both the English and Korean versions. Members of the K-pop group Twice—Jeong-yeon, Ji-hyo, and Chae-young—contributed to the film’s original soundtrack.
The fictional idol groups featured in the movie were reportedly inspired by real-life acts such as BTS, TXT, Stray Kids, Ateez, Monsta X, Blackpink, and Twice. Character designs were influenced by South Korean actors Cha Eun-woo and Nam Joo-hyuk.
Distinctly Korean cultural motifs—including Seoul’s Namsan Tower, traditional hanok houses, and the mythological Grim Reaper—are woven throughout the film, adding layers of local authenticity that resonate not only with K-pop fans but also with global audiences unfamiliar with Korean culture.
On the U.S. review platform Rotten Tomatoes, KPop Demon Hunters holds a 94% critics' score on the Tomatometer and a 95% audience score. International outlets have praised the film as “a dazzling fusion of animation, choreography, and an addictive soundtrack set in a captivating universe,” and “a compelling work that even non-K-pop fans can enjoy.”
[Kang Jung-a]
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