When Netflix first announced the K-pop Demon Hunters earlier this summer it was hard to predict the response from the audience. The film was initially an experimental animated film that was marketed by Netflix through Sony Pictures Animation has now transformed into a pop-culture phenomenon. In a short amount duration, the movie has broken records and redefined the role of Netflix within the global animation. Now, with the announcement of the possibility of a KPoP Demon Hunter 2 season in the works, and the adventures of this phenomenal animated series is just beginning to get underway.
The Record-Breaking Ascent
Netflix’s latest announcement says it is KPop Demon Hunters has become the most watched Netflix original film, beating the previous record set by Red Notice. It’s not often that you find an animated film that has large audiences in this streaming age.
It’s also impressive that back the year 2021 Sony decided to lease the movie to Netflix for $25 million instead of releasing the film in theaters.
In response to the enthusiasm of the public, Netflix even hosted a special sing-along with a limited audience in cinemas. Then it was an animated film that has 236 million viewers in only two days.
| Record / Milestone | Details |
| Most-Watched Netflix Original Movie | Over 236 million people have viewed it in the span of 91 days |
| Top 10 Presence | Over the course of 10 weeks, the Netflix’s Top 10 list. |
| Global Reach | The most watched across 32 nations. |
| Billboard History | Four songs from the soundtrack simultaneously appear in the Billboard Hot 100. |
| Theatrical Success | A limited sing-along release, which was released in over 1,700 theaters was the top weekend-long box office hit. |
| Box Office Earnings | Estimated $18-20 million for a 2-day production. |
| Critical Reception | 97 90 percent critics and 91% score for the audience for Rotten Tomatoes. |
KPop Demon Hunters: When Music Meets Magic
One of the reasons for this phenomenon was the soundtrack of the film. Very rarely has a animated movie integrated its music so deep into the charts of the world. It’s been a while since the KPop Demon Hunters Season 1 have made history by putting four songs in the Top 10 simultaneously.
Songs such as Soda Pop, and Your Idol, performed by the playful Saja Boys in the story were also incorporated into playlists that are real-world.
When to Expect KPop Demon Hunters 2 Trailer?
The reports confirm that Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix have reached agreements for the continuation of the show. The trailer for KPop Demon Hunters, season 2, has not been listed in any official source but it is expected to be announced in the near future. The show will be available on Netflix in conjunction with Sony.
On the creative side At the level of creativity, each of Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans who are the producers for KPop’s KPop Demon Hunters film, are set to return. Kang has indicated in numerous conversations that the sequel would expand the narrative scope.
It’s true that the KPop Demon Hunters 1 was primarily Rumi’s (Arden Cho) personal story, however she and her fellow bandmates Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) and Mira (May Hong) will finally get their own personal stories explored. Kang admitted that the early versions of these plotlines were tried in the first season, but they were cut due to pace. A sequel is expected to bring these plotlines back to the top of the list.
In addition to the speculation, Arden Cho, the voice of Rumi is hopeful that the next season will explore Rumi’s attempts to bring back Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop) who was killed in the final season. In this enchanting world of demon-slaying the idea of death may be an option. The question is whether the sly Saja Boys make a return remains to be confirmed.
A Business Story Beneath the Fantasy
Behind the fanfare, there is an interesting tale of business strategies. This KPop Demon Hunters movie was entirely financed by Netflix which financed the film’s $100 million budget, and later paid Sony its share. Sony has a share of the profits from publishing royalty, but it turned the entire rights to merchandise to Netflix.
Netflix is planning to open its first in-person store located in Philadelphia and Dallas called Netflix House, which will include the KPop Demon Hunter theme for customers’ experience.
Certain industry analysts believe Sony did a wrong thing by when it let Netflix acquire all rights. Others think Sony was trying to stay clear of any risk since the difficulty of creating original animated films in fights in post-pandemic theaters. In any case, both firms emerged winners: Sony enjoyed a huge profit, with no the risk of financial loss, while Netflix was able to secure its most successful animated show to date.
The Future Beyond Demon Slaying
Season 1 is just the start. There are rumors that suggest additional seasons are expected to begin. This isn’t evident from an official report.
It’s obvious the fact that KPop Demon Hunters has become a series that is brimming with story and live events, music and merchandising possibilities in a way that Netflix has not yet achieved.
Closing Thoughts
The development of KPop Demon Hunters is unlikely and unavoidable. It’s a bit unbelievable, considering who could think that an animated 85 minutes of K-pop tale of slaying monsters to rival blockbusters with a celebrity-driven theme? It was inevitable, as in the end it was a perfect blend of the perfect elements: enthralling music beautiful animation, stunningly beautiful visuals the global fandom and the huge potential of Netflix’s distribution network.
Stay tuned for additional news that relate to this KPop Demon Hunter.