Netflix originals can go up and down in terms of their critical reception, but they definitely know how to make a streaming hit in terms of viewership. Such was the case with Tyler Perry’s recent movie Straw, which released on Netflix on June 6. Despite Straw getting mixed reviews among critics, it was an instant hit among audiences, who gave it generally strong approval and kept the film on the charts. A similar thing can be said about Carry-On, which had some detractors, but did well in terms of viewership.

2025 has also allowed a number of key strategic decisions to materialize for the streamer. One of the big initiatives has seen Netflix put a concerted effort into its Korean-language content. Squid Game has been a huge driver of this trend, as it helped to bring K-dramas to more global attention. The series has also made some of the show’s main stars far more recognizable on a global level. One of said stars in a brand-new Netflix fantasy movie, which has now become an instant hit on the charts.

KPop Demon Hunters Has Become A Global Hit

And It Was Just Released A Few Days Ago

KPop Demon Hunters has now become a streaming hit. The movie is an animated fantasy film about a world-famous K-Pop group that balances their life in the spotlight with their secret second idenтιтies as demon hunters. It features Lee Byung-hun (Squid Game‘s Front Man) as the antagonist Gwi-Ma, with additional voice actors including Arden Cho, May Hong, Ahn Hyo-seop, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, and Ken Jeong. KPop Demon Hunters is getting positive reviews, boasting a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score.

As per Netflix, KPop Demon Hunters has officially made it onto the streamer’s global top 10 list. It ranked at no. 2 for the week of June 16 to June 22, getting 9.2 million views. It came in below only Straw, which has remained in the no. 1 spot for three straight weeks. The film made it into the top 10 in 80 countries, including the United States, Argentina, France, Nigeria, South Korea, and Australia. It did not end up making it to no. 1 in any countries during this opening week.

Our Take On KPop Demon Hunters Hit Status

The Subject Matter Is A Big Help

This big win for KPop Demon Hunters is attributable to a number of different factors. For one, K-Pop as a music genre is extremely popular, so the film’s centering around a K-Pop girl group and its use of original songs is a big draw. Those aware of Lee from his performance in Squid Game, especially as season 3 prepares for release this week, might also be particularly interested in the тιтle. Still, it is great for an original animated movie to do so well on Netflix on a global scale, which could hopefully pave the path for other unique films.

Source: Netflix