The Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters (K-D-Hun), themed around K-pop, has conquered not only Netflix but also the U.S. Billboard charts and Hollywood. On August 26, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) evaluated K-D-Hun as content that captures the zeitgeist of pop culture and analyzed its success factors.

K-D-Hun, which tells the story of the three-member female idol group Huntrix battling evil spirits, reached a cumulative viewership of 236 million on this day, ascending to the No. 1 spot in Netflix's all-time movie viewership rankings. Additionally, the original soundtrack song "Golden" topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart on the same day. Despite not having a formal theatrical release, the "sing-along" special event screenings from August 23–24 also claimed the No. 1 spot at the North American box office.

Considering that K-D-Hun premiered on June 20—over two months ago—this sustained popularity is a remarkable phenomenon. While most Netflix hits experience a sharp drop in viewership after the first week, K-D-Hun has maintained approximately 25 million weekly views for nine consecutive weeks.

The WSJ noted, “Previous No. 1 viewership titles like Red Notice fade away after just a few weeks of release,” adding, “One of Hollywood's hot topics this summer has been the story of K-D-Hun's success.” It praised the film, stating, “While long-running series like Fast & Furious lose popularity and studios become obsessed with game adaptations like Minecraft, K-D-Hun emerges as Hollywood's first completely original franchise film.”
The WSJ attributed K-D-Hun's enduring appeal to its originality, as well as its family-friendly nature that broadens the audience and encourages repeat viewings. Even Sony Pictures Animation President Kristen Belson, who produced the film, admitted, “I really don’t know when (K-D-Hun's popularity) will stop.”

Netflix and Sony Pictures are moving swiftly to sustain the K-D-Hun craze. The two companies are currently discussing a sequel. Netflix is also considering a live-action adaptation, and ahead of Halloween, they are receiving nonstop inquiries from businesses wanting to sell K-D-Hun-related merchandise. The WSJ added that retailers are scrambling to stock K-D-Hun products in stores, describing it as a phenomenon on the level of the Frozen craze.