K-pop Demon Hunters has quickly topped the charts as Netflix’s most-watched animated movie. The movie has rapidly gained popularity within the first few weeks of its worldwide release on Netflix on June 20, 2025. Its soundtrack has some of the highest-charting songs from an animated movie, even surpassing Disney’s “Encanto”.
“it really targets the young audiences and fans of K-pop, which is starting to gain a lot of popularity on social media,” Junior Han Nhan said.
Many fans love the movie because of its similar animation style to “Spider-Man: Across The Spider Verse”, gaining it a lot of attention from various audiences.
“It’s popular because it has great animation and funny expressions,” Junior Poppy Estes said.
The movie’s two most popular songs are “Golden” and “Soda Pop”. Many fans have made videos of them dancing to the song “Soda Pop”, with its addictive sound and upbeat vibe.
“Soda Pop” is my favorite song because it’s really catchy,” Nahn said.
The hit song “Golden” reached number one on The Billboard Hot 100. Many fans have made videos of them dancing to this song.
“My favorite song is “Golden” because of its positive message”, Estes said.
All of the main characters have a wide fan base. Many fans have claimed Rumi as their favorite because of her personal struggles with accepting herself and dealing with immense pressure to be perfect all her life. People have also grown fond of Zoey due to her bubbly and positive attitude. Others loved Jinu because of his character development.
“I really like Jinu because of his complicated backstory and role in the movie,” said Nhan, “I think after watching this, it became one of my favorite movies”.
Other fans really like Bobby for his constant support and high energy towards the girls. Viewers are also fond of Mira because of her tough exterior and willingness to listen and solve things with her friends.
“I really love Mira because she is a little intimidating but also really caring”, Estes said.
Many people, after watching the movie, have become enthralled with it. Viewers have watched and rewatched it countless times for the songs and spectacular storyline. Fans of the movie have been raving about it to their friends and all over social media,
“I think it was super good, super family-friendly, and I would recommend it to everybody,” Nahn said.
The movie is also insanely popular because it explores themes of self-acceptance, exploitation, the loss of privacy, and friendship. The theme of exploitation is prominent within the film by expressing how fame can take a heavy toll on your emotional and mental health because of the crushing weight being “perfect” creates.
“A lot of people in that industry have so much stress put on them to look good all the time,” Nhan said.
The movie uses Rumi’s identity as an idol and half-demon as a metaphor for public vs. private life. Her public life is meant to look perfect and flawless in every way because that side of her is always present with the public, never allowing her any sort of privacy.
Her half-demon life represents the flaws and ugly truth that is kept hidden from the fans and the people she cares about because she is ashamed of it.
As the plot progresses, the protagonist, Rumi, realizes that she should not be ashamed of this part of her and that everybody is struggling with something. She becomes more comfortable with herself and inspires the fans and her friends to be proud of who they are.
