It’s the Netflix sensation that’s sweeping the world.
The animated film KPop Demon Hunters has become a bona fide international hit in the weeks since it’s been out, with songs climbing to the top of the US charts and breaking streaming records. One of those songs, Golden, is even being entered for the 2026 Oscars race – not bad.
As the title of the film implies, it’s about a female KPop group called Huntr/x, who also moonlight as demon hunters. Only, some of those demons are fighting back by creating a boyband of their own.
It sounds bonkers – but the storyline is backed up by some top-tier K-pop songwriting and vocal performances from the cast.
Ten weeks since it launched, it’s Netflix’s fourth most-watched movie of all time… which begs the question, will it be getting a sequel?
Given its runaway success, it’s sounding likely. Director Maggie Kang told ScreenRant that she even had plans for what it could look like, especially since a lot of the main characters’ backstories were cut from the original film due to running time.
“There are always side stories, and there are things we’ve thought of while making this one,” she said. “There are a lot of questions that are answered, but not fully. I think there are a lot of pockets that we can explore.”
That was followed in July with a piece by online publication The Wrap, which claimed that Netflix was “mulling two sequels, a short film and a stage musical as part of a massive push for the franchise.”
In Netflix’s second quarter earnings call, which took place in July, co-CEO Ted Sarandos called KPop Demon Hunters “a phenomenal success out of the gate… and the fact that people are in love with this film and in love with the music from this film, that will keep it going for a long time. So we’re really thrilled. And now the next beat is, where does it go from here?”
According to The Wrap, Netflix has been calling the film its “Frozen” or “Disney Princesses Franchise” – one which has tapped into the zeitgeist and could be the jumping-off point for building a major cultural juggernaut.
The platform is already ramping up the merch it has on sale: there are plans to partner with outside companies to bring out more products, including (fittingly) the Korean electronics brand Samsung.
The snag? None of the above has yet been officially approved, or announced. KPop Demon Hunters’ directors, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, haven’t yet signed on for any new projects. Watch this space.
KPop Demon Hunters is streaming now on Netflix
