Much like the main K-pop groups in the movie, K-pop Demon Hunters has amassed a cult following. Though the movie is more directed towards younger audiences, it also has a loyal fan base of all ages. You might’ve passed someone driving, and hear them blasting Golden at full volume. It’s taken over every media platform. So what causes the drive for teens to love the movie just as much as its younger audience?
K-pop Demon Hunters is a new movie on Netflix. It was released in June 2025, is a cartoon musical set in modern-day Korea. It features the mythical elements of Demons and Demon Hunters. The movie follows Huntr/x, a star K-pop group who are Demon Hunters, and the Saja Boys, a more recent global phenomenon, who are Demons. The plot unfolds through a beautiful animation style and high-energy songs. It currently has a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 99% audience score.
Many watch K-pop Demon Hunters several times. senior Sofia Brinkerhoff says she has seen the movie at least seven times. “It’s so enjoyable and it doesn’t get less enjoyable, so I keep watching it.”
This movie has completely captured audiences. It seems like everyone, from five-year-olds to fifty-year-olds, is watching it and loving it. This has meant that even though the movie is a Netflix original and was originally released directly to Netflix, they’ve also started showing it in theaters. Around 700 Netflix originals are released a year, with around 20 being released in theaters a year. This means it’s a very popular movie when it’s released in theaters. Many attributed the success to the originality of the movie.
“[KPop Demon Hunters] is getting kids excited. It’s getting more people into Korean culture. I think that adults are actually excited about movies again,” said senior Kate Christopherson. “It’s a good movie, it’s phenomenal, but I mostly think it’s the lack of competition that makes it so loved at the moment.”
Maya Phillips in an August NY Times article said that the movie appeals to K-pop fans because of the music and similar visuals to iconic K-pop groups. This is just one of the many reasons for the success. Because of the similarities between Huntr/x and real K-pop groups, they feel like they can relate to the movie even more.
The movie quickly became beloved. At the time of this article, it’s only been released for three months. It has already become the most watched movie in Netflix history, with over 300 million views, writes Sophie Evans in a recent ScreenRant article.
“I think everyone was really attracted to it because it’s been a great movie within the kid’s movies that have been released in the past two years,” Says senior Addisyn McDermott. “KPop Demon Hunters was built in a way where it was satisfying for both adults and children.”
Many agree that this film is generally good. Some believe it’s fantastic, while others say it’s simply mediocre. But the thing that seems to be what sets the movie apart is its soundtrack. The music from Huntr/x and the Saja Boys has smashed through records previously set by real KPop Giants like BTS and Blackpink. Golden, the top song from the film, has topped the charts globally for five weeks, stated in a Billboard article by Gary Trust, September 15. It is even played frequently on multiple radio stations, which is unprecedented for a cartoon movie song.
“I liked the music because they use it as a way to hook you into the movie,” says senior Addisyn McDermott. “In fact, they start off the movie with music and that’s one of the most interesting songs.”
The obsession teenagers seem to have with KPop Demon Hunters doesn’t seem to be about the movie or the bright colors and fun characters. It’s something deeper; the characters are relatable and push through their own hard struggles. It’s about the music, which isn’t just fun and catchy, but also has meaning and captivates audiences. It’s about sheer love of the movie and, of course, the fact that many agree it’s the best movie to come out recently.
