At first, I was very skeptical about watching an animated film about a K-pop group who live a double life as demon-killing vigilantes. Don’t get me wrong, I like K-pop. I don’t think I’d ever pay to see an artist live, but I genuinely think that individual artists like JENNI, ROSÉ, LISA, as well as groups like KATSEYE and BLACKPINK have the talent and make killer music. A fictional group from a Netflix film was not only dominating the K-pop charts, but the top charts, I thought it must have been just the latest fad. I was very wrong.

“KPop Demon Hunters” (KPDH) has broken the record for most-watched original animated movie ever, as well as Netflix’s most-watched original title ever, beating out Korean drama “Squid Game.” The soundtrack has placed four songs in the top 10 of Billboard Hot 100 at the same time, the first soundtrack to do so. Saja Boys, the fictional demon boy band, has become the top K-pop boy band, beating out BTS. The Saja Boys’ song, “Your Idol,” hit number one, and shortly after, “Golden’” by HUNTER/X, the fictional demon hunters, claimed first place on the charts. HUNTER/X has become the first K-pop group to hit number one, as well as the first all-female group to do so since 2001. 

One of the defining characteristics of the soundtrack’s success could be the individuality of each song. Unlike a lot of music-based children’s movies, the music in KPDH could have been released as singles, without much context to the plot. It’s not like other musicals such as “Hamilton” or “Wicked” where the story is progressed by the music. The music is made for fans, rather than moviegoers. 

With both parents having immigrated to the United States from Korea, Lauren Shin, junior, has a lot of Korean cultural influence within her life. She enjoys listening to K-pop in her own time, specifically girl group TWICE, as well as ROSE. She’s a fan of the KPDH film. 

“I really like it because it’s so different from other shows and movies. My cousins love the movie because it’s just so fun and different. It uses parts of Korean culture, which they love, with American culture to create this hybrid,” Shin said. “There are definitely Korean shows that are popular, like ‘Squid Game’ obviously. But not to this level.” 

Shin identifies certain defining characteristics of the film, as expressed by fans. 

“There are a few reasons KPDH has been dominating the charts. The animation definitely plays a big role in it, [and] also the music,” Shin said. “The producers, songwriters, and singers are all Korean. Adding different aspects of Korean culture into [the film], for example, saying different Korean slang or putting it in, that kind of makes it special and unique.”

With all original charters based of the culture of Korean music, the development took much thought from the writers. 

“My favorite part [is] the characters. Each one of them is so different. I think that’s why everyone can relate to someone,” Shin said.

The only thing Shin would change about the movie is its length, which is an hour and 30 minutes. 

“I’d want it to be longer to explain more of the background story,” Shin said.

One thing that sets KPDH apart from all the other award-winning Korean movies and shows is that the film couldn’t have been made without the Korean influence. “Squid Games,” while still being culturally significant, could have been a hit from the perspective of any other culture. The concept of a Korean girl group fighting demons couldn’t have been made without Korean culture influencing every aspect of the film. Mix in some poetic material about the inner demons in all of us, and you get a record-breaking film.