Netflix‘s music-led anime movie, KPop Demon Hunters, has become the most-watched original animated film in the platform’s history, according to an announcement from the streaming giant.
The film, which premiered on June 20, racked up 106.1 million views in its first month.
The movie follows fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X, whose members secretly moonlight as demon hunters tasked with maintaining a magical barrier that protects humans from the dark underworld.
It also features HUNTR/X’s nemeses, bad-boy group Saja Boys.
Its success extends beyond viewership metrics.
The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, released via Visva/Republic Records, has become the highest-charting soundtrack of 2025, with the album peaking at #2 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Seven songs from the soundtrack landed on the Billboard Hot 100.
The track “Golden” hit #1 on the Billboard Global Charts and reached No. 6 on the main Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
The soundtrack features original songs written by Danny Chung, Ido, Vince, Kush, Ejae, Jenna Andrews, Stephen Kirk, Lindgren, Mark Sonnenblick, and Daniel Rojas.
It tracks were produced by Teddy Park, 24, Ido, Dominsuk, Jenna Andrews, Stephen Kirk, Lindgren, and Ian Eisendrath.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos highlighted the cultural impact during the company’s recent Q2 earnings call, noting how the music will “drive fandom for these fictional K-pop bands that we have”.
He emphasized the significance of piercing popular culture “with original animated features” available exclusively on Netflix.
The project utilized partnerships with K-pop industry leaders, including collaboration with The Black Label, co-founded by producer Teddy Park.
Park is known for his work with YG Entertainment across Blackpink, and 2NE1, with these K-pop girl groups serving as references for the film’s animated protagonists.
The film’s success comes as Netflix continues to invest heavily in animated content and international programming. The streaming giant has been expanding its anime offerings, with more than 50% of Netflix subscribers now using the platform to watch anime content.
KPop Demon Hunters represents a crossover success that bridges American animation with Korean pop culture, tapping into the global K-pop phenomenon that has been driving significant revenue growth for the South Korean music industry.
The film’s record-breaking performance demonstrates the continued global appetite for K-pop content across different media formats, from traditional music to animated entertainment.
HUNTR/X consists of R&B singer and rapper Audrey Nuna, singer and record producer Ejae, known for her work with K-pop groups like aespa, LE SSERAFIM and TWICE, and Seoul-born singer-songwriter Rei Ami.
Saja Boys include SM Entertainment-signed singer Andrew Choi and FC ENM-signed singer and actor Kevin Woo.Music Business Worldwide
