I was completely blown away by one of the best films of 2025, and it almost slipped under the radar! It came out on Netflix at a time when all the streaming services are battling to be the biggest, and honestly, it really stood out. Like a lot of Netflix originals, it only played in a few theaters for a short time – just a week in June. I know they do that to qualify for awards, but it feels… different, like a peek at how we’ll be watching movies in the future.
The animated movie KPop Demon Hunters became a huge hit after being released on Netflix on June 20, 2025. It quickly broke records, becoming Netflix’s most-watched animated film by July 29th, and the most-watched movie overall by August 26th. By September 3rd, KPop Demon Hunters had even surpassed Squid Game to become the most-watched title on Netflix of all time, despite only playing in theaters for 10 days.
What KPop Demon Hunters’ Success Really Means
Not only was KPop Demon Hunters a hit with audiences, but critics loved it too. Many consider it one of the best films of 2025, and it currently has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. What sets it apart from other Netflix originals is its significant cultural impact. The film has built a large and dedicated fanbase, and several songs by Huntrix and the Saja Boys have become popular hits. Because of this success, Netflix is already developing future KPop Demon Hunters projects.
Netflix brought the film back to theaters with a sing-along version, letting fans enjoy KPop Demon Hunters on the big screen and sing along to the music from October 31st to November 2nd. This event greatly excited fans and the sing-along version earned $19.2 million in 1,700 theaters, making it Netflix’s most successful theatrical release to date.
The strong performance of KPop Demon Hunters in theaters might signal a shift in how Netflix releases content. It’s shown that releasing a film both in theaters and on streaming can be very profitable, as fans still wanted to experience it on the big screen even after months of being available at home. Netflix is likely hoping to repeat this success with the final episodes of Stranger Things, which will also have a theatrical release.
The recent tests suggest Netflix is considering releasing more of its original movies in cinemas, moving beyond just streaming. This is particularly likely if Netflix acquires Warner Bros., a major movie theater company. It wouldn’t make sense for Netflix to stop releasing movies in theaters right away if they were to own Warner Bros.
It’s unclear why Sony chose not to release KPop Demon Hunters on its own, as they might have profited more without Netflix’s involvement. However, releasing it on a streaming service likely attracted a wider audience, which helped the film succeed in theaters. The release of KPop Demon Hunters is a particularly noteworthy story in 2025, and industry experts are watching to see what Netflix’s next move will be.
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2025-12-23 21:43