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KPop Demon Hunters 2025

Movie · 95 min · English · June 20, 2025

Directed by Maggie Kang, Chris AppelhansWritten by Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan, Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans

Starring Arden Cho, Rumi Oak, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Ahn Hyo-seop

KPop Demon Hunters represents a 2025 American animated musical urban fantasy motion picture co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, and co-written by them as well. The film was produced by Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix and features the vocal talents of Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun. The narrative centers on a K-pop girl group named Huntrix, consisting of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, who maintain dual identities as demon hunters. These characters confront a competing boy band, the Saja Boys, whose members are actually demons in disguise.

The genesis of the film stemmed from Kang’s aspiration to produce a story rooted in her Korean background, incorporating mythology, demonology, and K-pop influences into a visually unique and culturally grounded cinematic experience. Production commenced in March 2021. Visual aesthetics were shaped by concert lighting, editorial photography, music videos, anime, and Korean dramas. The musical score includes original compositions from various artists and a soundtrack composed by Marcelo Zarvos.

Streaming began on Netflix on June 20, 2025, and by year-end it achieved the status of the most-viewed original production in Netflix history, surpassing 325 million streams. A sing-along variant received select theatrical screenings from August 23–24 and October 31–November 2. The movie’s theatrical rollout was the largest in terms of number of theaters for a Netflix release, and it marked the first such film to claim the top spot at the U.S. box office. Its soundtrack made history by placing four tracks within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, and received double platinum certification in the United States during October 2025.

Critically acclaimed across all fronts, KPop Demon Hunters was praised for its animation, visual presentation, voice performances, storyline, comedic elements, and musical content. It garnered numerous honors, including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song ("Golden") at both the 83rd Golden Globe Awards and the 98th Academy Awards, as well as multiple wins at the 53rd Annie Awards. A follow-up is currently in development.