Netflix and Sony’s KPop Demon Hunters has exploded in popularity, absolutely shredding many big budget Disney animation projects in recent years.
Have you heard of the phenomenon that is KPop Demon Hunters, the animated musical movie now streaming on Netflix? Since its debut on June 20, 2025, it has exploded into a global sensation—breaking records and taking the internet by storm.
A screenshot from the trailer to KPop Demon Hunters – YouTube, Sony Pictures Animation
The most jaw-dropping stat? It’s gained viewership every single week since its release! Now ranked as the most-watched animated feature across all streaming platforms, KPop Demon Hunters has claimed the No. 1 spot on Netflix in the U.S., clearly outperforming anything Disney Animation has offered in recent years—by a landslide.
KPop Demon Hunters: Why the Phenomenon?
So what’s behind the meteoric rise of KPop Demon Hunters? What even is it, and why has it taken off like wildfire?
A screenshot from the trailer to KPop Demon Hunters – YouTube, Sony Pictures Animation
The story follows a group of young female KPop (Korean Pop) stars known as Huntr/X, who dazzle audiences by day with their infectious music—and secretly slay demons by night. The trio—Mira, Rumi, and Zoey—are the latest generation of an ancient line of demon-fighting idols.
Their sworn enemies? The Saja Boys, a rival demon boy band masquerading as pop stars. It sounds wild—and it is—but it works so well.
A screenshot from the trailer to KPop Demon Hunters – YouTube, Sony Pictures Animation
The film’s music is fun, catchy, and totally in sync with what today’s younger audiences crave. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, KPop Demon Hunters proves what’s possible when a studio understands its audience and delivers a fresh, original concept with style and heart.
Meanwhile… Over at Disney and Pixar
While KPop Demon Hunters dominates the streaming world, the latest animated feature from Disney/Pixar, Elio, has landed with a disappointing thud.
Elio in the trailer for the Pixar movie Elio – YouTube, Pixar
Despite earning a strong 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an ‘A’ CinemaScore, the film struggled at the box office—pulling in just $144 million globally on a reported $200 million production budget (plus $100 million in marketing).
That’s well below its estimated break-even point of $500–$600 million.
MAKING SPACE – Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” introduces Alisha Hawthorne (voice of Uzo Aduba), Buzz’s long-time commander, fellow Space Ranger and trusted friend. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”), the sci-fi action-adventure opens in U.S. theaters on June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
This follows a string of recent animated underperformers from the House of Mouse, including Lightyear, Strange World, and Wish. For a company once considered the undisputed king of animation, the throne seems increasingly vacant.
More KPop Creativity on the Way
KPop Demon Hunters has officially become the most-watched animated movie ever on Netflix, with over 130 million views worldwide and counting. The soundtrack is smashing records too—with 1.5 billion global streams—making it the highest-charting soundtrack of 2025 on the Billboard 200.
A screenshot from the trailer to KPop Demon Hunters – YouTube, Sony Pictures Animation
To compare, the Disney 100 year anniversary movie Wish, led by powerhouse Ariana DeBose, paled in comparison to KPop Demon Hunters, peaking at only No. 4 on the Billboard 200—despite being promoted as the crowning jewel of Disney’s celebration.
And fans want more.
Rumors are swirling about two potential sequels to round out a trilogy, a spinoff TV series, a Broadway musical, and even a possible live-action adaptation.
In short: the future of the Huntr/X universe looks unstoppable.
Can Disney Animation Compete With KPop Demon Hunters?
That’s a hard question to answer right now. Disney and Pixar have had some recent success—with sequels like Frozen II, Inside Out 2, and Moana 2 performing well. Zootopia 2 is due later this year, but where are Disney’s bold, exciting, original animated films to compete with the innovation we’re seeing from Netflix and Sony?
At the moment, they’re nowhere in sight.
The future of animation is here—and it’s not coming from Disney. But for fans of animation, music, and strong female heroes, there’s a new trio of icons in town. Mira, Zoey, and Rumi—the KPop Demon Hunters—are here to save the world… and steal the show from Disney in the process.
Have you seen KPop Demon Hunters? What did you think? Do you think Disney can still catch up? Let us know in the comments below!
$100 says this is absolutely trash in every way.
When people are starving they will say Moldy Bread is delicious………..