KPop Demon Hunters spent an entire year in the global Top 10 on Netflix

Every so often, a film comes out of nowhere and takes everyone by surprise — and this time, it’s KPop Demon Hunters. To be fair, Netflix didn’t really bother blowing the marketing budget on this one at launch. For the first fortnight, it just sat there, buried beneath endless tiles, another animated title lost in the algorithm. Then something quite odd happened: the soundtrack turned viral on social media, and suddenly, everyone and their nan was streaming it. Now, here we are in 2026, and the mania hasn’t let up.

KPop Demon Hunters has managed 325.1 million streams on Netflix, shattering the old record held by Red Notice.

The Streaming Juggernaut

So what’s happened since? To put it plainly, KPop Demon Hunters is now Netflix’s most-watched film ever, clocking up 325.1 million views — absolutely trouncing Red Notice’s previous total. According to the latest Nielsen figures, it hit 5.59 billion minutes viewed and took second place in the annual list of top kids’ films streamed in the US, only behind Zootopia 2 (because Disney, obviously, still knows how to flog foxes and rabbits dressed as coppers). As for other kid-friendly juggernauts — Zootopia, Swapped, that actual Mario movie — none could keep pace with KPop Demon Hunters, which sat in Netflix’s global Top 10 lists for 52 weeks straight. A full year, which is just absurd.

KPop Demon Hunters spent an entire year — 52 weeks — in the global Top 10 on Netflix.

Packing Cinemas Like a Real Gig

The first film to break that streaming record, and then, as if that wasn’t enough, it actually got a round in the cinemas. Netflix rolled it out on the big screen after seeing just how fanatical the online hype had become. Fans didn’t treat these events like your usual Saturday morning family flick — they came as if they were going to a genuine concert. Numbers like "Golden" and "What It Sounds Like" properly kicked off, with on-screen lyrics to get everyone singing along in unison. The whole spectacle practically invented the animated singalong premiere, honestly. The main characters — Rumi, Mira, and Zoey — are now bonafide superstars, fictional or not, and you’d have genuine trouble walking through Seoul, London, or Los Angeles without spotting at least one bit of their merch. For the first anniversary, they put on screenings all round the world — indoors, outdoors, and even on TikTok, if you can stomach that many live comments.

The Story — A Crash Course

Here’s the pitch: an all-female K-pop group, HUNTR/X, not just musical icons but literally descended from ancient demon-fighting nobility. They’ve been tasked with defending humanity via the power of pop. Their world tour gets derailed when a rival boy band waltzes in — but surprise, those blokes are actually demons working for some age-old villain bent on tearing down the veil between Earth and the demon realm. Cue identity crises, massive concert battles, and a lot of found-family melodrama — just the sort of thing to get you belting out the choruses. For all its urban fantasy trimmings, the film’s main beats are a solid mix of loss, friendship, a dash of romance, and a shot at redemption.

Director Maggie Kang explained to Deadline: "We wanted every little detail to be historically and culturally correct. One of the biggest things is that I wanted to show Korea the way that I know it and the way it is. I didn’t want to make things up or have this be a fantasized version of Asian culture… I wanted every part of this movie to be Korean."

That authenticity angle worked a treat — the film’s full of clever cultural touches and actually looks and sounds properly Korean, even under all the fantasy nonsense. Audiences everywhere seemed to appreciate it, with the movie’s palpable love for its setting coming through in every neon-lit frame.

Sequel? Yes, But Don’t Expect Details Yet

With all that hoopla, it’s hardly a shock that Netflix is sticking with a good thing. Maggie Kang is working on a sequel — early days so there’s next to no word on the plot, although she’s promised it’ll be “fresh, surprising, and original”. Translation: expect some new supernatural shenanigans and likely more backstory for fan favourites like Mira and Zoey, plus maybe a redemption arc for those demon Saja Boys if Netflix feels merciful.

• KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix) — 325.1 million views, 5.59 billion minutes streamed
• Lead characters: Rumi, Mira, Zoey (HUNTR/X), plus the Saja Boys
• Director: Maggie Kang
• Sequel in development — no title, release window, or plot known yet