KPop Demon Hunters has been confirmed by Netflix as the most-watched film in its history, surpassing the star-studded action movie Red Notice. The film has now garnered more than 236 million total views, cementing its status as a global hit.
This unprecedented success follows a summer of domination for the film, which has also had impressive wins at the box office and on music charts.
The film, which follows a world-famous K-pop group who secretly battle demons, made a rare move for a Netflix original by receiving a limited theatrical release. This included a special sing-along version that sold out shows across more than 1,000 venues. The cinematic run earned a reported $18 million in a single weekend, making it the highest-grossing movie of the weekend, a surprising win for Netflix. The sing-along version has now also been released on the streamer, with Netflix combining its viewership with the original film, leading to a massive boost in its numbers.
Read more: ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Shatters Netflix Records, Becomes Most-Watched Animated Movie Ever
While rival studios like Disney and Universal have focused on live-action remakes of popular hits, KPop Demon Hunters has stood out by embracing an entirely new story with unknown characters and original songs. It was produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the same studio behind the hit Spider-Verse movies, and features a vibrant visual style dominated by a persistent pink and purple hue.
A Soundtrack That Smashes Records
The film’s soundtrack has been a key driver of its success, setting records of its own. It became the first soundtrack to have four songs in the Top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. Its main hit, “Golden,” remains at No. 1, and three of its tracks are in the top five, a feat not seen since the ‘Saturday Night Fever’ soundtrack in 1978.
Arden Cho, one of the film’s main voice actors, attributes the film’s popularity to the relatability of its characters. “On stage, they’re perfect,” she said. “But put them together and they’re goofy, they’re real, they’re making funny faces. They eat all the things that they want, and they’re burping. I think it makes us, as girls, feel seen.”
Read more: ‘KPop Demon Hunters’: Creators Share Secrets in Reddit AMA
The show’s real-world followers have been instrumental in its success, driving its summer chart dominance and social media buzz, proving that the love of the fans is a powerful force, both on and off-screen.
