In 2021, Sony Pictures signed a pay-one output deal with Netflix, giving Netflix first-look rights at any project the studio plans to release. Made possible by this business decision, Netflix swooped in and was granted the opportunity to release Sony’s latest project “KPop Demon Hunters” on the streaming service instead of via theatrical release. What was initially believed to be a minor project Netflix acquired for distribution ended up becoming one of the biggest cultural sensations of the decade.
When watching the film, I was immediately drawn to how much love the film was created with. In every frame of the animation, you are able to see the artists’ behind-the-scenes passion and dedication. Beyond that passion, a strong script and phenomenal voice acting make the film as enjoyable as it can possibly be.
The characters within the movie are impeccably written and extremely likeable, even if not particularly relatable. However, the film spends its entire runtime examining the main character, Rumi, and does not provide as much of a voice or background to its supporting cast. Even though I found this to be a small issue when fully connecting with the story, it is a problem that will most likely be fixed in any sequels.
The strongest aspect of the film lies in its original music. The composers behind the now smash hit songs were obviously students of K-pop and sought to make impactful contributions to the genre. All of these elements harmoniously blend together to form a movie that is confident in what it is and what sort of impact it wants to leave audiences with.
The level of the film’s impact is visible in every area possible, with the film topping charts of all kinds. The most impressive statistic of the movie lies in the fact that it is now the most streamed film of all time on Netflix, surpassing the previous record holder, “Red Notice.” Paired with a sing-along release that went No. 1 at the U.S. box office and made $19 million in two days, the project has dominated film charts.
In addition, the film’s soundtrack has also taken over the music scene, with “Golden” becoming the first girl-group song to top the Billboard Hot 100 in 24 years. To date, the soundtrack has accumulated over 2 billion streams on Spotify, with all seven songs surpassing 200 million plays and over 54 million monthly listeners tuning in to the film’s Spotify.
Even months after its summer release, “KPop Demon Hunters” remains a cultural phenomenon and points to an exciting future for the franchise, and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.
