Netflix‘s animated film KPop Demon Hunters has officially become the streaming platform’s most popular movie ever, accumulating 236 million views since its June 20 release and adding another 25.4 million views in the week ending August 24.
Netflix’s previous record holder, Red Notice, accumulated 230 million views during its first 91 days on the platform after being released in 2021. KPop Demon Hunters has 24 days remaining before surpassing the same 91-day premiere window.
The film’s remarkable performance shows no signs of slowing, with Deadline reporting that KPop Demon Hunters has exhibited nearly 0% audience decline for three consecutive weeks after two straight intervals of 26 million views each.
The Sony Pictures Animation production is building on the unprecedented success of its music: on Monday (August 25), it was confirmed that KPop Demon Hunters had become the first ever soundtrack to claim four simultaneous Top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
The launch of KPop Demon Hunters The Sing-Along Event — which hit theaters and Netflix in the past week — drove additional viewing. (Netflix’s latest stats combine viewership numbers for both the original and sing-along versions.)
The theatrical sing-along event delivered an estimated $19 million at the North American box office over the weekend. It achieved more than 1,000 sold-out screenings across the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand before becoming available for streaming on Netflix.
Republic Records released the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, which features contributions from major K-pop industry figures including THEBLACKLABEL co-founder TEDDY, who has worked with BLACKPINK and Taeyang.
Grammy-nominated producers who have collaborated with BTS, TWICE, and Tomorrow X Together also contributed to the project.
The soundtrack includes an original song, Takedown, performed by three members of TWICE – Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung.
Another track, Golden recently reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 after initially hitting No. 2, making it the first Hot 100 leader by a female K-pop group.
The fictional groups created for the film – HUNTR/X and Saja Boys – have generated streaming numbers comparable to established K-pop acts.
HUNTR/X’s Golden has topped both the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts for multiple weeks, while Your Idol by Saja Boys peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100.
The film’s 12-track soundtrack features performances by EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, Andrew Choi, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, samUIL Lee, Neckwav, and Lea Salonga.
Production credits include TEDDY, 24, IDO, DOMINSUK, Jenna Andrews, Stephen Kirk, Lindgren, and executive music producer Ian Eisendrath.
The success demonstrates the commercial viability of fictional music groups when supported by authentic K-pop production talent.
Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans assembled a team capable of composing songs that industry observers say rival current K-pop hits.Music Business Worldwide
