A Global Sensation Born on Netflix
On June 20, 2025, Kpop Demon Hunters, an animated film directed by Maggie Kang (known for Rise of the Guardians) and Chris Appelhans (Wish Dragon), made its debut on Netflix. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation—the studio behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and the much-anticipated Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse—this original project landed like a bombshell not just with Netflix subscribers, but with audiences worldwide.
With an impressive 95% critic score and a whopping 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Kpop Demon Hunters quickly became a global phenomenon, winning over fans on multiple fronts.
Record-Breaking Numbers
Kpop Demon Hunters has been watched more than 300 million times, making it now the most viewed film on Netflix—knocking Red Notice, which had held that crown since 2021, off its pedestal just two months after its release. But that’s not all: in September 2025, Kpop Demon Hunters went one step further and overtook even the first season of Squid Game (itself released in 2021) to become the single most watched piece of content on the entire platform. It’s the sort of success that sounds almost too good to be true.
And it didn’t stop there: a theatrical release followed, pulling in nearly $20 million at the box office. Not to mention the film’s runaway popularity on music streaming platforms, especially with the track Golden, which spent 13 straight weeks in the number one spot on the Billboard Global 200.
The Secret Recipe: Art, Music, and Unforgettable Characters
Kpop Demon Hunters’ popularity shows no signs of cooling—not just thanks to its bold artistic direction and infectious soundtrack, but also its unforgettable cast. Social media is alive with tributes to Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), and it’s a safe bet this trio will absolutely dominate Halloween costume trends this year.
After six or seven years of development, the directors and animators are reaping the rewards of their hard work—a success that’s likely to come with double the difficulty for the next installment of the franchise. Because one hit isn’t enough; now comes the real test.
The Sequel Challenge: Raising the Stakes Again
“Everyone thinks sequels are shorter, but in reality, they take just as long. They’re just as difficult to make—sometimes even harder. This film was very hard. We have to surpass it. We have to set the bar higher. We’re going to face different challenges.”
In an interview with SensaCine, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans were candid about the prospect of a second film, explaining that making a sequel is always “a complicated affair.” Contrary to popular belief, developing a follow-up is just as hard, if not harder, because you have to find a way not just to meet the same level of success, but to top it. It’s a challenge the team is willing to take on—but only with Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo, whose performances breathed life into the central trio and will continue to do so in whatever format the sequel takes.
