Kpop Demon Hunters was created as a Netflix original movie, released on the streaming platform only for subscribers. But no one expected the movie’s popularity to grow so far as to top the box office during its one-weekend singalong release.
Kpop Demon Hunters follows the story of Rumi, Mira, and Zoe as they balance being international Kpop idols and protecting their world from demons trying to steal everyone’s souls. They write, record, and release songs as band Huntrix (stylized Huntr/x) while slaying demons, using their songs to create their weapons and strengthen the Honmoon, the layer of protection keeping the demons at bay. They use the power of their fans to reinforce the Honmoon, but their main objective is to create the Golden Honmoon, an impenetrable shield to rid the world of demons forever. Their jobs change when the demons come up with a new plan to infiltrate, creating a Kpop boy band called the Saja Boys to steal the Hunter’s fans and souls.
In essence, Kpop Demon Hunters is basic. The plot has been done, and the tropes are predictable. But still, fans can’t get enough. Many people have reported watching it anywhere from three to ten times, and still wanting to see more. The art style, characters, and music captivate the audience and leave them wanting more. The movie is nothing remarkable, but it’s topping the charts. The enemies to lovers trope is bland, and the main villain isn’t all that scary, but something about the magic the three girls share keeps people watching. Rumi, Mira, and Zoey are all unique, well developed personas with their own desires and conflicts, and they stay true throughout the movie. Their designs all include incredible detail and work, and represent their personalities in the designs. As the main character, Rumi especially has an extensive backstory, as her mother was a former Hunter and her father was a demon. Her internal conflict drives the movie, eventually leading to her running away and abandoning the rest of the band before returning to save the day.
The main demon, Jinu, has an in-depth backstory that explains his character choices and motivations throughout the movie, and the Demon King, Gwi-ma, seems impossible to defeat. The final battle takes place after Huntr/x has entirely given up hope and broken up, heading their separate ways. Gwi-ma is preparing to feast on thousands of souls as the Saja Boys perform one final concert, when Rumi shows up to save the rest of Huntr/x and the fans. When a win seems unattainable, Jinu makes the ultimate choice and gives his soul to Rumi, powering her enough to defeat Gwi-ma and create the Rainbow Honmoon. This resolution is somewhat expected, but watching Jinu and Rumi’s emotional arcs connect is many fan’s favorite part of the film.
Maybe the most iconic part of the franchise is the music, with songs like Golden and Your Idol still topping the charts. As of Sept. 6, the movie had four songs in the Billboard Hot 100 top ten, and eight of the nine songs featured in the film in the Top 100. Considering that the songs are still charting three months after its release (with Golden at number one), it’s safe to say that the music is what makes the movie.
In fact, the music is so popular that Netflix held an in-theatres singalong for one weekend only. Tickets sold out incredibly quickly, and the energy was energetic. Fans dressed up in costume, did their hair in the style of the Hunters, and sang, danced, and quoted along with the movie. The grand reaction launched the film to the top of the box office for its one weekend debut, and it could easily happen for the next three weeks. Netflix and Sony have declined from keeping the film in theatres, which may have been a devastating decision. While they may have lost potential money by keeping the movie on streaming, they widened the potential audience and access, allowing Kpop Demon Hunters to become the phenomenon it is.
The movie is still popular, which is maybe the most shocking thing about it. The movie has a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviews raving about the movie. The songs are still on the charts, and the movie’s overall watch levels are rising steadily. The appeal of the movie ranges from the catchy songs to the alluring art style to the scariness of the fight scenes, which young children aren’t usually allowed to watch. The movie has been compared to other animated films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, following similar themes of self discovery and growth, while incorporating incredible art styles and music choices. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse and Kpop Demon Hunters have similar animation both following the choppy, comic-book feel inspired by the Spider-Verse franchise. Before this era, movies featured smoother, 3D animation in the style of Pixar movies like Wall-E. This comic book style takes the audience further into the world of the film, allowing the viewer to immerse themselves in the universe.
Overall, Kpop Demon Hunters isn’t an incredibly original movie. The concept of three girls with unique yet matching personalities and styles forming a magical group to fight monsters is nowhere near new. But something about the movie, be it the animation style, the songs, the depth of the characters, or the overall atmosphere, is incredibly enticing to today’s world. The film represents a return to a classic style and a classic story, taking us back to simpler times, where the only thing we had to worry about was whether our favorite band would make it to their concert on time, all while thwarting the demons that hunted them.
