Netflix and Sony In Talks For ‘Kpop Demon Hunters’ Sequel

When a movie becomes Netflix’s all-time viewing record breaker, it’s only natural that Netflix would consider making a sequel to capitalize on its success.

When “Kpop Demon Hunters” broke records as the streaming service’s most-watched movie ever, with over 236 million views, and simultaneously claimed the top spot at the box office last weekend (a first for any Netflix film), news of a potential sequel seemed unavoidable. As reported by Variety, discussions between Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation regarding a follow-up to “Kpop Demon Hunters” are said to be in their initial stages.

The report mentions that Netflix is still finding ways to leverage the popularity of the feature, produced by Sony under their licensing agreement with Netflix. Interestingly, as Netflix readies its physical shopping locations in Philadelphia and Dallas for the upcoming holiday season, they are also building immersive “KPop Demon Hunters” experiences within these stores – a significant acceleration since layouts for these stores have been planned for years.

It appears that Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, who jointly directed the movie, are said to be in discussions about coming back to direct the sequel too.

If you’re Sony, you might find it beneficial to produce a follow-up for “Kpop Demon Hunters.” Regardless of its plot or cast, releasing a second installment in cinemas could potentially lead to a massive box office success. The karaoke version of “Kpop Demon Hunters” was the top grossing film in theaters last weekend, even while the original non-sing-along edition was still streaming on Netflix everywhere.

It seems quite evident that Netflix is aiming to acquire this film. However, from a casual standpoint, it might appear questionable to give the sequel to a streaming platform like Netflix, allowing viewers to access it without purchasing a ticket, which could potentially lead to a significant amount of missed revenue.

Due to the considerable time it takes to create an animated movie, it’s safe to say that a sequel featuring the Kpop Demon Hunters is likely still several years off. It’s possible that the film’s passionate audience might have shifted their interests by that point.

The Most Influential Movies of the 21st Century

25. Children of Men (2006)

Reason for Inclusion: Fifteen years following the release of “Children of Men,” its visual descendants continue to captivate us. The film’s unique cinematography, characterized by extended takes meticulously choreographed and devoid of visible edits, gained prominence in Hollywood action movies thereafter. Emmanuel Lubezki, the cinematographer, employed this style extensively, as seen in films like “Gravity” and “Birdman.” His work has significantly influenced numerous lengthy, uninterrupted shots in subsequent productions such as “Atomic Blonde,” “Victoria,” and “1917.

24. Bridesmaids (2011)

Reason for its Inclusion: Over the past 25 years, there have been numerous raunchy comedies, but none have made as significant an impact as “Bridesmaids.” This groundbreaking film added a refreshing feminine perspective to a genre traditionally dominated by men. The movie catapulted the careers of stars Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy, and established Paul Feig as a prominent comedy director. In the years following “Bridesmaids,” studios began regularly producing female-led R-rated comedies such as “Girls Trip,” “Bad Moms,” and “Rough Night.

23. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)

Reason for Its Inclusion: Although Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow didn’t succeed financially, having earned approximately $60 million in theaters compared to its production budget of $70 million, its groundbreaking technological advancements have since become standard practice in Hollywood. The entire movie was filmed using a green screen with minimal physical sets, and this innovative approach has been widely adopted by numerous films within a few years. Additionally, the film’s use of CGI to resurrect the deceased Laurence Olivier as the villainous Dr. Totenkopf foreshadowed the trend of digital doubles for deceased or older actors in movies like Rogue One. Furthermore, it also predicted the rise of holographic performances by late musical artists as popular acts.

22. Get Out (2017)

This film, “Get Out,” catapulted Jordan Peele from a well-known comedian into a highly admired director in Hollywood. Comparing him to Rod Serling of “The Twilight Zone” fame, he also spearheaded a new series of the latter. Peele paved the way for a surge of horror films and thrillers that carry social messages. Notably, “Get Out” boosted the career of British actor Daniel Kaluuya, who soon appeared in “Black Panther,” “Widows,” and “Judas and the Black Messiah,” winning his first Oscar for the latter. Released in 2017, “Get Out” is the most recent movie on this list, so its impact is still growing strongly.

21. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Reason for its Inclusion: Before “The Force Awakens,” Hollywood was already reviving old film franchises, but the massive box office success of the new “Star Wars” sequels – amassing over $2 billion in ticket sales, not including home video, licensing, and merchandising profits – prompted studios to revive any series with popular aging stars who were willing to reprise their iconic roles. Although it may not have spawned as many imitators as the original “Star Wars,” “The Force Awakens” ignited the contemporary era of legacyquels.

20. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

Reason for Its Inclusion: Loosely speaking, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” served as the catalyst for what we now call the “Apatowverse.” It was Judd Apatow’s directorial debut that propelled him into prominence. The film’s success opened new opportunities behind the camera for Apatow, and it introduced several actors who went on to be staples in his work, such as Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, and Seth Rogen. Over time, Apatow established himself as a significant figure in Hollywood comedy, directing and producing movies. If “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” had flopped, the last 15 years of movie comedies might have turned out quite differently.

19. Ray (2004)

The Reason Behind Its Inclusion:

The reason for its inclusion lies in the fact that although biographies of renowned musicians have been around, it was the modern musical biopic – a blockbuster hit that appeals to millions, vies for major awards, and narrates the life story of a popular yet complex pop artist – that was masterfully crafted by the film “Ray”. The movie garnered over $125 million worldwide and earned an Academy Award for Best Actor for its leading star, Jamie Foxx. Numerous other examples followed suit, such as “Walk the Line”, “La Vie en Rose”, “Jersey Boys”, “Love & Mercy”, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Rocketman” and “Judy”.

18. Spider-Man (2002)

Reason for Inclusion: The release of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man in theaters marked a significant turning point in Hollywood’s perception towards Marvel characters, which were once considered risky or disastrous. Despite some successful Marvel films in the late 90s and early 2000s, it was Spider-Man that truly revolutionized the movie industry’s relationship with superheroes. This transformation was largely due to the film’s striking fidelity to the original comic book source material. Tobey Maguire’s portrayal of Peter Parker in a costume reminiscent of the one from Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s comics set a new standard for industry approach towards Spider-Man’s history, which has since been widely emulated.

17. The Social Network (2010)

Reason for Inclusion: While The Social Network may not be the most groundbreaking film on this list, its trailer stands out as one of the most impactful movie advertisements in recent history. The haunting cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” used in the trailer has been echoed in numerous trailers since, making it a trendsetting piece of work by Mark Woollen & Associates, who created the original commercial more than a decade ago.

16. Frozen (2013)

Reason for Its Inclusion: Parents of young children will surely attest to the immense influence of “Frozen.” They’ll also acknowledge the weariness that comes from the constant playback of its songs and stories. Yet, this repetition is a testament to the franchise’s enduring strength. Beyond spawning sequels, a Broadway musical, numerous animated spin-offs, theme park attractions, toys, dolls, and an abundance of clothing, “Frozen” has significantly revamped Disney’s traditional formula for contemporary audiences. Almost every princess movie released since then carries the lessons learned in crafting this remarkably popular tale about two princess sisters.

15. Iron Man (2008)

Reason for Inclusion: Marvel’s characters had left a significant impact even before the release of Iron Man in the summer of 2008. However, the earlier films were produced by other studios. Iron Man, distributed by Paramount, marked the first time Marvel took control of their filmmaking process. The way they transformed a relatively unknown comic character into a blockbuster franchise opened doors for lesser-known heroes to find their place on the big screen. Moreover, the post-credit scene in Iron Man, featuring Samuel L. Jackson’s uncredited cameo as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury, laid the groundwork for modern post-credit scenes almost single-handedly.

14. Saw (2004)

Reason for Inclusion: The ‘Saw’ franchise is on the list because it revolutionized the modern horror genre with its ‘torture porn’ style, starting from a basic horror thriller about two men in a bathroom and expanding into an intricate narrative of cruel traps and extreme violence. For most of the 2000s, ‘Saw’ was as integral to Halloween traditions as pumpkin carvings or miniature candy bars. Despite its popularity waning around 2010, the series has shown remarkable resilience, akin to its central villain, John Kramer. In 2021, a spinoff titled ‘Spiral: From the Book of Saw’ was released.

13. The Bourne Identity (2002)

Reason for Its Inclusion: Not all films on this list brought positive change to cinema. The Bourne Identity, along with its first two sequels, gained unexpected success due to the thrilling action sequences starring Matt Damon. The frenetic camera movements and rapid cuts in Bourne’s scenes later influenced numerous other action movies, even influencing James Bond to fight like Jason Bourne. Regrettably, many filmmakers lacked the technical skill to make the disjointed Bourne style clear, resulting in years of confusing, choppy action films.

12. The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Reason for Inclusion: Mel Gibson was unable to persuade old Hollywood studios to back a movie about Jesus Christ shot entirely in Latin and Hebrew. Consequently, he self-financed “The Passion of the Christ.” When this Biblical film broke records as the highest-grossing independent film ever made, major studios started releasing faith-based productions themselves. Moreover, numerous independent filmmakers and distributors were encouraged to explore the vast market for Christian films due to Gibson’s success.

11. The Dark Knight (2008)

Reason for Its Inclusion: Absolutely, The Dark Knight was a financial powerhouse, and the portrayal of the Joker by Heath Ledger significantly influenced the franchise. However, its most significant impact on cinema lies in an aspect that is often underrated: It was the first mainstream studio film partially captured using IMAX cameras. IMAX presentations of the enlarged Dark Knight print contributed to the movie becoming one of the century’s biggest earners, demonstrating that IMAX wasn’t just a venue for expansive nature documentaries. Since then, studios have continued shooting and distributing major productions in IMAX, and the success of IMAX screens has led some theaters to convert smaller screens into lucrative mini IMAX auditoriums.

10. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Reason for Inclusion: Although it would have been fantastic if “The Lord of the Rings” film series had an even greater impact, inspiring other blockbuster directors to focus as much on storytelling and character development as Peter Jackson did on special effects. Regardless, the “Lord of the Rings” series significantly marked the movie industry, sparking a trend for large-scale fantasy films and putting Weta Digital’s visual effects prowess on the global map. Notably, the second film, “The Two Towers,” was instrumental in introducing motion-captured Gollum, a crucial milestone in the development of CGI characters in live-action cinema.

9. Twilight (2008)

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Reason for Its Inclusion: The impact of Twilight can be seen in countless Young Adult (YA) adaptations, as it transformed from a popular book series into a significant film franchise in 2008. This change catapulted its two main actors, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, to lasting fame, sparked four additional sequels despite only three books to draw from, and inspired studio executives to comb through bookstore YA shelves for any series featuring romantic melodramas in fantasy or science-fiction settings. Essentially, they were mining these shelves for profitable material.

8. Shrek (2001)

The reason for its inclusion: DreamWorks Animation’s early years were characterized by creative and financial disappointments, such as “The Prince of Egypt” and “The Road to El Dorado.” However, it was “Shrek” that transformed skepticism into belief among the audience. This groundbreaking animated film established a pattern for subsequent DWA productions: renowned voice actors, an abundance of pop music and dance sequences, humorous content for adults, and the occasional slapstick humor like fart jokes. The formula was irresistible! Moreover, “Shrek” had not one but three sequels, short films, a spinoff, a spinoff TV series, a Universal Studios attraction, and even a Broadway musical.

7. 300 (2007)

Reason for Its Inclusion: The film “300” significantly influenced the style and tone of action movies; within a few years, it seemed as if every director was replicating its fast-paced fight scenes. However, what truly set this movie apart was the muscular physiques of its cast, which had an immense impact on today’s perception of the male body. According to “Time” magazine, searches for the term “six-pack abs” increased by 300% in the year following the release of “300”. So, Gerard Butler, I must blame you personally for the disapproving look my wife gives me when I take off my shirt!

6. Avatar (2009)

Reason for Inclusion: Although Hollywood didn’t develop a massive fondness for large blue beings with braided hair riding dragons since the release of Avatar, it’s essential to acknowledge that this film, along with its unprecedented success, triggered an explosion in 3D movies larger than the format’s initial popularity in the 1950s. If more filmmakers had mastered 3D movie-making as skillfully as James Cameron, that boom might still be ongoing. By the way, four sequels to Avatar are scheduled for release in the upcoming years.

5. Paranormal Activity (2007)

Reason for its Inclusion: Initially budgeted at approximately $15,000, the movie “Paranormal Activity” raked in nearly $200 million globally. This massive success explains why it sparked a new wave of found-footage horror films, a trend that has only recently begun to wane. Although similar techniques had been employed earlier, particularly in “The Blair Witch Project” about eight years prior, “Paranormal Activity” leveraged advancements in digital filmmaking technology to create a truly terrifying experience.

4. Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Reason for its Inclusion: Regardless of whether we find ‘Alice in Wonderland’ artistically impressive or not, there’s no denying that it was a massive box office success, raking in an astounding $1.025 billion. This monumental success steered Disney towards its current trend of remaking all its classic animated films into live-action movies (they’ve produced 12 since ‘Alice’, with at least another 10 in the pipeline). Furthermore, it solidified the validity of the 3D craze initiated by ‘Avatar’, demonstrating that audiences are willing to pay for 3D experiences even when the films were originally shot in traditional format and later converted to 3D post-production.

3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

Reason for Inclusion: We can’t get rid of these enchanting wizards and their magical creatures, not even the subpar imitations.

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2. Batman Begins (2005)

Reason for its Inclusion: Batman Begins made the list not just because it was a box-office success, but also because it might have been more groundbreaking than its follow-up, The Dark Knight. Prior to this film, the popular image of Batman was shaped by the campy portrayal in Batman & Robin. With Batman Begins, the character was reimagined as a darker, more serious crimefighter, a role he has since assumed both on screen and in popular culture.

The film also marked the debut of Christopher Nolan as a director, launching him into a successful career in movie-making. If Batman Begins had failed, it’s doubtful that we would have seen other notable films such as Inception, The Prestige, or Tenet.

Another significant impact of the film was its adoption of a back-to-basics prequel/origin story format to replace some of the unpopular and silly sequels. This approach became popular in the film industry over the following years, as seen in films like James Bond, X-Men, and Planet of the Apes.

1. The Avengers (2012)

Reason for Inclusion: For better or worse, The Avengers has significantly influenced filmmaking over the past decade. When Marvel successfully blended all their emerging franchises into a blockbuster money-making juggernaut (a la Voltron), it set off a trend among Hollywood studios to shift from focusing on individual series to developing interconnected universes. Despite many unsuccessful attempts since then, the imitation wave continues. Marvel continued expanding and broke their own records financially with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The only uncertainty now is whether Marvel will continue to lead the way or if someone else will eventually surpass them in creating a new trend for blockbuster movies to follow, diverging from Marvel’s established path.

2025-08-27 18:03