As Netflix continues to innovate in the animation space, KPop Demon Hunters emerges as a groundbreaking film that is capturing global attention.
KPop Demon Hunters: A New Era for Netflix Animation
KPop Demon Hunters, released on June 20, has quickly become one of Netflix’s most successful animated films, amassing 80 million views and featuring chart-topping music. Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, expressed his enthusiasm for the film during a call following the company’s second-quarter earnings report.
Original Animation Triumph
“This film is a phenomenal success right from the start. I am really proud of the team for creating original animation — not a sequel or a live-action remake. Original animation has faced challenges for years,” Sarandos noted. He highlighted that Leo, The Sea Beast, and now KPop Demon Hunters represent a significant shift in the industry, blending music and pop culture effectively.
Impact on K-Pop Culture
The fictional bands in the film are shattering K-pop records previously held by BTS and Blackpink, achieving the highest-charting soundtrack of 2025 on the Billboard 200. Notably, the song “Golden” recently topped the Billboard Global Charts, and the soundtrack has become the #1 movie soundtrack on Spotify, marking a historic achievement as the first K-pop album to reach #1 on both the U.S. Apple Music chart and iTunes charts simultaneously. Seven tracks from the album are currently featured on the Billboard Hot 100.
Driving Fandom
“The music will drive fandom for these fictional K-pop bands, particularly for hits like ‘Golden’ and ‘Soda Pop’. These songs have become massive hits, and they all originated from a film exclusive to Netflix. We are thrilled to penetrate the culture with original animated features,” Sarandos added.
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Netflix’s Top Films
In the first half of 2025, other top films included Back in Action with 165 million views, STRAW by Tyler Perry with 103 million, and The Life List starring Sofia Carson with 96 million views. Seth Gordon’s Back In Action featuring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz was the most-viewed title overall.
Global Success of Non-English Films
Netflix also celebrated the success of non-English films, with Exterritorial from Germany garnering 88 million views, making it the fourth most popular non-English film ever. Other notable films include Counterattack from Mexico, iHostage from the Netherlands, and Ad Vitam from France.
Future Projects
Looking ahead, Netflix teased upcoming projects such as Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2, Kathryn Bigelow’s political thriller A House of Dynamite, and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. Other anticipated releases include Noah Baumbach’s coming-of-age comedy/drama Jay Kelly and another original animated musical, In Your Dreams.
