KPop Demon Huntershas been a staggering success for Netflix following its release last month, topping the streaming service’s charts for several weeks in a row. The film centers on a group of Korean pop singers who are forced to balance their public lives with their supernatural demon hunting.
KPop Demon Huntersquickly became the #1 film on Netflix U.S., and has since gathered huge word-of-mouth praise.KPop Demon Huntersis inspired by real-life K-pop artists, one of the major factors that has drawn so many fans to the movie.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos recently commented onKPop Demon Hunters’rousing success,praising the creative team and expressing his excitement about what the project means for the streamer’s future (viaDeadline). Check out Sarandos' comments below:
One of the things that I’m excited, really proud of the team over, is [that it’s] original animation — not a sequel, not a live action remake. Original animation … is very tough and has been struggling for years […]
Getting it right matters. The storytelling matters. The innovation and animation itself matters. And the fact that people are in love with this film and in love with the music from this film, that will keep it going for a long time. So we’re really thrilled. And now the next beat is, where does it go from here?
Sarandos also recognized that the musical aspects of the movie are huge for its long-term success:
[The music will] drive fandom for these fictional K-pop bands that we have, but more importantly, for the song Golden and for the song Soda Pop. These are enormous hits and they all came from a film that’s available only on Netflix. So we’re really excited that we can pierce the culture with original animated features.
What KPop Demon Hunters' Success Means For Netflix
The Movie Has Brought New Traffic To The Platform
Netflix is best known for its original showslikeStranger ThingsandSquid Game, which have become incredibly popular over the years — but the platform is just as important in championing up-and-coming movie talents that otherwise may not have found an audience. Moreover,Sarandos' offhand “where does it go from here” comment suggests a future forKPop Demon Huntersthat may not have previously seemed possible.
Our Take On KPop Demon Hunters' Success
A Sequel Might Be On The Way
Another key focus of Sarandos' comments is the importance of original animation,and Netflix’s role in highlighting these projects and giving them a substantial audience. Notably, when speaking withDeadline, he expressed his excitement that Netflix has been able to “drive fandom” in this way. This is hugely important, as Netflix offers these films to audiences who typically wouldn’t go and see new animated movies in theaters.
KPop Demon Huntersis a comforting reminder that there’s still a place for original animation in today’s cinematic climate, and the fact that such a niche, culturally specific movie has managed to climb Netflix’s charts with such ease is definitely an encouraging sign. There have already been talks of aKPop Demon Hunterssequel or live-action remake, which proves just how high the demand is.
