Netflix, the global streaming giant, has a new champion at the top of its viewership charts. As of early September 2025, the animated film KPop Demon Hunters has officially dethroned the South Korean juggernaut Squid Game to become the most-watched title in the platform’s history, according to figures released by Netflix. The milestone marks a seismic shift in the streamer’s entertainment landscape, blending the infectious energy of K-pop with the supernatural intrigue of Korean shamanism—and captivating hundreds of millions along the way.
Released on June 20, 2025, KPop Demon Hunters is a US-produced animated adventure that centers on a fictional K-pop group, Huntr/x, whose members wield their musical talents to battle evil spirits. The film’s unique premise—mixing the global appeal of K-pop with action, humor, and a dose of mysticism—has resonated with audiences worldwide. According to Netflix (via Inquirer), the film has amassed a staggering 266 million views, outpacing both Squid Game Season 1 (265.2 million views) and the US series Wednesday (252.1 million views).
Just two weeks before this record-breaking announcement, KPop Demon Hunters was sitting comfortably in third place, trailing behind Squid Game and Wednesday. But a surge in viewership—likely fueled by a combination of word-of-mouth buzz, social media virality, and strategic promotional events—catapulted the animated feature to the top spot. Notably, the film still has two weeks remaining in its official 91-day viewership window, the period Netflix uses to calculate its rankings, making its achievement all the more remarkable. There’s every indication that KPop Demon Hunters will continue to extend its lead before the final tally is in.
The film’s success is not limited to overall views. In the movie category, KPop Demon Hunters has also become the most-watched film ever on Netflix, surpassing the 2021 action thriller Red Notice, which starred Hollywood heavyweights Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds. That’s no small feat, considering Red Notice was previously hailed as an unstoppable blockbuster during the pandemic-driven streaming boom.
Netflix’s methodology for determining these rankings is straightforward but rigorous: cumulative viewership is tallied over the first 91 days of a title’s release. This approach allows for apples-to-apples comparisons between films and series, regardless of their genre or country of origin. The numbers are eye-popping, but they reflect a changing media landscape where global tastes are increasingly eclectic and cross-cultural hits are the new normal.
So, what’s behind the meteoric rise of KPop Demon Hunters? For one, the film has tapped into the global K-pop phenomenon, a musical and cultural movement that has exploded far beyond its South Korean roots. The story’s focus on Huntr/x, a fictional girl group, provides a familiar entry point for fans of real-life acts like BTS, BLACKPINK, and NewJeans, while the supernatural twist offers a fresh spin on the genre. The film’s creators have also been praised for weaving elements of Korean shamanism into the narrative, giving the story a distinct cultural flavor that sets it apart from typical animated fare.
The soundtrack, too, has played a pivotal role in the film’s popularity. The song “Golden,” featured prominently in the movie, has not only become a fan favorite but also achieved commercial success in its own right. According to Inquirer, “Golden” topped Billboard’s Hot 100 main singles chart for three weeks—a rare feat for a song from an animated film, let alone one tied to a fictional K-pop group. The infectious track has been credited with drawing even more viewers to the film, as music fans flocked to Netflix to experience the song in its full cinematic context.
Netflix has also leaned into the film’s musical appeal by organizing special sing-along screenings in US theaters on August 23-24, 2025. These events, which encouraged audience participation and celebrated the communal spirit of K-pop fandom, were mirrored by the release of a sing-along version of the film on the streaming platform itself. The move proved to be a masterstroke, generating buzz on social media and giving fans a new way to engage with the story and its soundtrack.
The triumph of KPop Demon Hunters comes at an interesting moment for Netflix, as the platform continues to diversify its content offerings and court audiences around the world. While original productions remain a cornerstone of its strategy, Netflix is also bolstering its lineup with high-profile acquisitions. For example, on September 15, 2025, the service will add Nashville, the country music drama that enjoyed a six-season run on ABC and CMT, to its US library. Meanwhile, the sci-fi series Orphan Black—a former BBC America original—has emerged as one of the top shows on Netflix this September, according to Watch With Us.
These strategic additions reflect Netflix’s ongoing efforts to cater to a wide spectrum of tastes, from the country music enthusiasts drawn to Nashville to the sci-fi aficionados discovering (or rediscovering) Orphan Black. But it’s the runaway success of KPop Demon Hunters that underscores the platform’s ability to create global phenomena by blending cultures, genres, and storytelling traditions in unexpected ways.
Industry observers note that the film’s ascent is especially impressive given the context in which previous records were set. Squid Game and Red Notice both benefited from the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdowns and social distancing drove unprecedented demand for home entertainment. That KPop Demon Hunters could surpass these titles in a post-pandemic environment—when competition for viewers’ attention is arguably fiercer than ever—speaks volumes about its universal appeal.
It’s also a testament to the enduring power of animation as a storytelling medium. While live-action dramas and thrillers have traditionally dominated Netflix’s charts, the success of KPop Demon Hunters suggests that animated films can go toe-to-toe with the biggest blockbusters. By tapping into the zeitgeist and embracing cross-cultural creativity, Netflix has once again demonstrated its knack for capturing the world’s imagination.
With two weeks still left in its official viewership window, KPop Demon Hunters shows no signs of slowing down. Whether you’re a die-hard K-pop fan, an animation enthusiast, or just looking for a fresh cinematic adventure, this film is proof that sometimes, the most unexpected stories become the biggest hits.
