Netflix has a new reigning champion: KPop Demon Hunters. In a massively impressive performance, the animated musical has become the streaming platform’s most-watched movie ever, with over 236 million views since it premiered on June 20, 2025.
The film overtook long-time favourite Red Notice to claim Netflix’s all-time streaming crown. Red Notice previously held the record with around 230.9 million views in its first 91 days according to Tom’s guide. Netflix confirms the 91-day window ends on September 19, 2025, so those numbers could still climb.
Featuring a fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X, composed of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, the film combines supernatural action with high-energy musical performances. Its sing-along version made box-office history by topping North American ticket sales, earning an estimated $19.2 million over one weekend.
The film’s music has taken the world by storm. The song “Golden” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and other notable tracks like “Your Idol,” “Soda Pop,” and “How It’s Done” concurrently occupy Top 10 positions, an achievement not seen since Saturday Night Fever. “Golden” also topped the soundtrack albums chart.
It now seems that the chart topper will be getting a sequel, but with a catch. Sony Pictures Animation, which developed the film, and Netflix, which financed and distributed it, are in preliminary talks to produce a sequel. Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, who helmed the original are reportedly in early negotiations to return, though no deal is yet finalised. Netflix is exploring a broader franchise, potentially including two animated sequels, a live-action remake, a stage musical, and a short film bridge between installments. Director Kang hinted that future stories could shift focus to Zoey or Mira, characters whose rich backstories remain largely unexplored.
And here’s the catch. The film’s continuation hinges on Sony and Netflix reaching an agreement. Because Sony developed the film under a 2021 licensing deal, where Netflix funded the $100 million budget and paid Sony a $25 million upfront fee. And so a sequel would require both parties to find mutually agreeable terms.
If the sequel moves forward, future installments could delve deeper into the origins and motivations of the central characters, perhaps exploring Zoey’s or Mira’s past, the haunting legacy of Rumi’s demon heritage, or unresolved plot threads like Jinu’s fate. In addition to the sequel(s), adaptations like a musical or live-action version suggest Netflix is positioning KPop Demon Hunters as its own “Frozen”-style juggernaut. Given the film’s viral soundtrack and massive audience appeal, it continues to fuel fan speculation, spin-offs, and even interactive experiences.
