In early September 2025, a new movie took the title of Netflix’s all-time most-watched feature, garnering over 325 million views as of October 1, 2025. This film, of course, was none other than Sony Pictures Animation’s sing-along sensation: K-Pop Demon Hunters.
Released on June 20, 2025, the film didn’t explode until over a month later, with its popularity peaking almost six weeks after its debut. When compared to Red Notice, Netflix’s previous record-breaking hit, a chart from whatsonNetflix.com indicates K-Pop Demon Hunters kept climbing in viewership past its 9th week, while Red Notice had started to level out by that time.
On the surface, this movie is exactly what it sounds like: a K-Pop group protecting society from supernatural threats by “slaying demons with their song.” The movie features action-packed scenes, euphoric colors, and a plethora of songs that are guaranteed to worm their way into your mind, whether you like it or not. All these aspects typically cater toward children of 6-12 years, but surely young viewers alone can’t account for such incredible popularity. So, why has this seemingly juvenile movie become so sensational? Why does it reach beyond the youth? How has K-Pop Demon Hunters gone up, up, UP?
This musical marvel follows Rumi, the lead singer of a fictional all-female K-Pop trio named Huntrix. The ladies secretly fight demons, using support from their fans to strengthen the shield between the natural and demon worlds. To hinder this, the demons counter-attack with their own rival K-Pop group: the Saja Boys. With this new competitor, not only does Huntrix have to work harder to maintain their fans’ support, but Rumi also has her own inner demons to battle, which could jeopardize her relationship with her friends.
While the plot is both engaging and adorable, what seems to push this picture higher is the soundtrack that accompanies it. Of the top 100 songs on Billboard, Spotify, and Apple Music, songs from K-Pop Demon Hunters occupy four of the top ten spaces on each chart. Notably, “Golden” is number one on all three lists, and has remained so for 14 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 as of October 1, 2025.
What makes K-Pop Demon Hunters’ success even more compelling is the lack of marketing effort. What many consider to be the hit movie of summer 2023, Barbie, had a marketing budget of $150 million according to Business Insider, while K-Pop Demon Hunters had significantly less (exact numbers aren’t available). Undeniably, what accounts for its surprising success is the fans themselves. The movie didn’t need a large marketing budget because the product was so sensational on its own. Word of mouth became a highway for viewership, taking just a few passionate fans to spread the love both in the real and digital world. It became a highly contagious infection. This juggernaut blew up by harnessing the power of fans—maybe Huntrix is on to something.
To illustrate this point, I spoke with Ms. Harings, PCDS Upper School English teacher and devoted K-Pop Demon Hunters fan, who offered a rhetorical perspective. She describes the film as “the Frozen of our generation,” noting how it promotes empowering ideas of self-acceptance. She especially enjoys the music and suggests it delivers exactly what people need right now: “I feel good after I sing them…it makes people feel good after they watch it, and people need to feel good in times so overwhelmed with negative news.”
Ms. Harings also points out the versatility of the soundtrack. For those seeking a calming melody, listen to “Free.” If you’re looking for a new hype anthem, try “Your Idol” or “Takedown.” Need to feel motivated and unstoppable? Look no further than “Golden” and “This is What it Sounds Like.” Ms. Harings considers that the eclectic soundtrack is key to the film’s success: “In a good story, there’s not gonna be a single note flatline—you’re gonna have music that’s going to appeal to different moods and moments in your life and is a story, so I think that’s one of the reasons it’s successful.”
Whatever the cause, it’s undeniable that K-Pop Demon Hunters has taken the world by storm and captured the hearts of viewers. Despite modest marketing and a seemingly small target demographic, the soundtrack shines by harnessing the power of the people. As you have undoubtedly anticipated, a sequel has already been confirmed by both Sony and Netflix, and it certainly has big shoes to fill. With any luck, it’s gonna be, gonna be, golden.
