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When my 14-year-old started raving about Netflix sleeper hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” an animated film about a Korean girl band battling demons trying to steal human souls, I didn’t give it a lot of thought.
But after she’d watched it for the fifth time, she insisted that the whole family sit down and watch together. “Ignore the name,” she said. “The movie is really, really good!”
So we did, and I have to admit — it was good. The movie is clever, the music is super catchy, and the themes of resilience and identity are heartfelt and relatable.
Clearly my teen and I are in good company. “KPop Demon Hunters” is now Netflix’s most viewed movie of all time. The movie’s soundtrack landed four of its songs in the top 10 spots of the Billboard Hot 100. And TikTok is packed with videos of people lip syncing to the movie’s top hit, “Golden,” or performing the choreography from demon boy band song “Soda Pop.”
In short, “it’s breaking the world,” my 14-year-old says.
Why 'KPop Demon Hunters' resonates
“KPop Demon Hunters” has a lot going for it. The movie was produced in partnership with the same studio that created “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” and fans appreciate the animation quality and character designs.
At the same time, the accompanying high-energy soundtrack was inspired by real-life K-pop groups, and the songs stick with people long after the movie ends. (Can you say “earworm”?)
But people’s feelings go beyond animation and the snappy soundtrack.
“Like ‘Frozen,’ it's a shining example of radical acceptance and moving forward from a place of shame to being able to focus on the things in one's control,” says NerdWallet head of content Karen Gaudette Brewer, who watched the movie with her 13-year-old and 9-year-old.
“To be your best self,” she says, “you must first embrace your full self.”
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The money side of fandom
Not surprisingly, Netflix is capitalizing on the fan furor. Although “KPop” premiered on Netflix, the company released a two-day theatrical sing-along version in August that crushed box office ticket sales. Netflix then added the sing-along version to its online catalog. (More views!)
You can purchase movie-themed merch including T-shirts, hats, phone cases, water bottles, blankets and replicas of character clothing, such as Rumi’s train pajama pants.
There’s also a newly created line of Funko POP! figures, including Derpy, a blue tiger-like fan favorite.
Want to buy the soundtrack on vinyl? You can. Want to dress up as Rumi for Halloween? You can do that, too. Is there a sequel in the works? Talks are under way.
Even though his family bought merchandise after watching the movie together, NerdWallet lead writer Alex Rosenberg’s 8-year-old spent her own allowance to buy a second shirt with “zero hesitation.”
“My daughter plans to wear her favorite ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ shirt to her first day of third grade to find out which of her classmates love it, too,” Rosenberg says.
Pop culture as a family bridge
Beyond being a merchandising juggernaut, “KPop Demon Hunters” also gives families something to enjoy together. Johanna Arnone, a NerdWallet managing editor, attended Netflix’s theater sing-along version with her 10-year-old son.
“I embarrassed him by singing along in the theater, which means I’m doing my job as a mom,” Arnone says.
Julie Myhre-Nunes, another NerdWallet managing editor, also watched the movie with her 6-year-old. “I love that it introduced my son to a new type of music (K-Pop) and culture,” she says.
As for me, my 14-year-old was thrilled that we all sat down and watched the thing she was obsessed with — and it was a nice way to bond with her. In total, she’s watched “KPop” nine times.
Will she watch it again? “Yes,” she says. “I love it.”
(Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
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