‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Film, Smashes Box Office Records
The Animated Phenomenon Achieves a Rare Crossover Success With Its Record-breaking Viewership and a Historic Theatrical Run
Netflix has a new all-time hit. KPop Demon Hunters, an animated fantasy musical about a K-pop girl group moonlighting as demon fighters, has become the most-watched film in Netflix history, the company confirmed Tuesday.
The movie has drawn 236 million views globally since its June 20 release, surpassing the previous record holder Red Notice (230.9 million). By hours watched, it also leads Netflix’s rankings, with 454 million total hours viewed compared to Red Notice at 414 million and Don’t Look Up at 377 million.
Netflix rarely pushes animated films into its top global charts, but the performance of KPop Demon Hunters makes it one of the platform’s most successful titles in any category. The film stayed among the Top 10 most-watched English-language films for nine consecutive weeks and continues to attract new audiences through word of mouth and its charting soundtrack.
Box Office and Music Chart Success
In a rare experiment for the streamer, Netflix gave KPop Demon Hunters a limited theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada. Over the weekend of August 23–24, the film played in roughly 1,700 theaters in a singalong format. According to box office estimates, it grossed $18–20 million, finishing as the No. 1 film at the U.S. box office that weekend.
It marked the first time a Netflix release has reached No. 1 in theaters after debuting on streaming. The studio did not officially confirm box office figures, but sources across the industry reported that ticket demand was strong, with approximately 1,100 sold-out screenings.
Released alongside the film, it features 12 original songs written by an international team of producers. The film’s music made an unusual chart impact, placing four songs in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 at the same time — “Golden” at No. 1, “Your Idol” at No. 2, “Soda Pop” at No. 5, and “How It’s Done” at No. 10.
“Golden” made history as the first No.1 song by a K-pop girl group on the Hot 100, even if the group — Huntr/x — exists only within the film’s universe. It was also the first time a female trio has held the top spot on the chart since Destiny’s Child in 2001. The soundtrack went on to reach No. 8 on the Billboard 200, the best performance for a film soundtrack in nearly a decade.
On Spotify, the fictional Huntr/x has attracted more than 51 million monthly listeners, rivaling real-world K-pop acts in scale.
Cultural Impact and What Comes Next
Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, KPop Demon Hunters combines anime-inspired visuals, K-pop performance sequences, and supernatural action. Critics highlighted the film’s mix of animation, music, and action, calling it energetic, inventive, and effective at building a lively, self-contained world.
The film currently holds a 97% critics score and 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling both critical and fan enthusiasm. Its unusual combination of music, pop culture, and fantasy themes has fueled strong engagement on social media, where clips of the film’s songs and battles have gone viral on TikTok and Instagram.
The project was produced by Sony Pictures Animation, which financed the film at an estimated $100 million budget under its output deal with Netflix. While Netflix owns distribution rights, Sony covered production costs and collected a premium. The arrangement has proven to be one of the most profitable of its kind.
The success has sparked franchise speculation. Reports suggest that Netflix and Sony are exploring ways to expand the franchise, including potential sequels, a related series, and even a stage production. Analysts also note that “Golden” could be a strong contender for Best Original Song at next year’s Academy Awards, while the film itself is expected to compete in the Best Animated Feature category.
Conclusion
Backed by unprecedented streaming figures, a weekend at the top of the box office, and music success on the charts, KPop Demon Hunters has grown into a cultural milestone beyond Netflix. It is a rare cultural phenomenon bridging streaming, theaters, and music — and it signals a new model for how animated musicals can succeed globally.
Netflix’s gamble on an unconventional story of K-pop idols fighting demons has paid off, reshaping the platform’s record books and setting the stage for one of its most valuable franchises to date.
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