There's a new film at the top of Netflix's most-watched list, and it seems to have come out of nowhere.
Netflix seems to pump out a new movie every other day, so to race to the top of any of its charts is quite the accomplishment.
But considering how much content is on the platform, being the most-watched movie ever is incredibly impressive.
Well, KPop Demon Hunters, the animated musical about a K-pop girl band that secretly fights demons, has become a runaway global hit, rocketing to the top of Netflix's charts and breaking multiple records, the streaming platform announced.
Since its release in June, the film has amassed more than 236 million views, surpassing Red Notice to claim the title of Netflix's most-watched film ever.
The success of KPop Demon Hunters has shocked many, particularly given the film's low-key launch and the growing perception that animated features were losing their shine.
The movie centers on Huntr/x, a fictional K-pop group consisting of three talented young women - Rumi, Mira, and Zoey - who juggle their massive stardom with their secret role as demon hunters tasked with protecting the world.
Their mission gets even more complicated when they face off against a rival band, Saja Boys, who, as it turns out, are actually demons themselves.
Despite its animated format, KPop Demon Hunters has broken the mold of typical animated films, winning fans not only through its engaging plot but also through its stunning visuals and catchy K-pop soundtrack.
Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, known for its work on the Spider-Verse movies, the film's unique animation style, infused with vibrant pinks and purples, has captured the audience’s attention, while the soundtrack has contributed greatly to its success.
The film’s impact has extended beyond streaming platforms, making a splash at the box office as well.
Netflix took the unusual step of releasing a sing-along version of KPop Demon Hunters in cinemas across multiple countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia, per BBC News.
The limited theatrical release proved a massive success, raking in $18 million over one weekend and making KPop Demon Hunters Netflix's first No. 1 film in the US box office.
This success further solidified the movie’s cultural relevance, showing that animated films could still draw massive audiences despite the dominance of live-action remakes by studios like Disney and Universal.
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The movie’s soundtrack has also become a cultural phenomenon in its own right.
The track 'Golden', which became a chart-topping hit, recently made history by topping the Billboard Hot 100, and is currently still holding onto the No. 1 spot.
In fact, the soundtrack has set a new benchmark by having four songs in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time, making it the first soundtrack to achieve such a feat.
This accomplishment has solidified Huntr/x and their rivals, Saja Boys, as the highest-charting fictional K-pop groups in US Spotify history, surpassing real-life megastars BTS and Blackpink.
Netflix's most-viewed films of all time:
- KPop Demon Hunters
- Red Notice
- Carry-On
- Don't Look Up
- The Adam Project
- Bird Box
- Back in Action
- Leave the World Behind
- The Gray Man
- Damsel