You’ll’ve wanted to spend 2025 beneath a pretty big rock to keep away from listening to about KPop Demon Hunters. Launched in June however having fun with protracted success all through the second half of the 12 months, the supernatural musical grew to become Netflix’s most-watched unique film of all time by overtaking the largely horrible Purple Discover.
To say KPop Demon Hunters‘ immense success got here as a shock could be an understatement. The film could also be stuffed with relatable characters, catchy songs, and an irresistible emotional hook, however few may’ve predicted HUNTR/X would take over the world fairly like they’ve.
KPop Demon Hunters changing into a popular culture phenomenon is a lesson not only for Netflix, however for a wider Hollywood panorama nonetheless scrambling to adapt in a streaming world. Sadly, it appears like the suitable classes aren’t essentially being realized.
KPop Demon Hunters Was A Large Success For Netflix – & A Missed Alternative
The dialog round streaming originals and theatrical releases has quickly grow to be extra intense of late. Franchises like Knives Out and Greta Gerwig’s upcoming The Chronicles of Narnia adaptation have compelled the problem concerning Netflix’s prerogative to maintain its greatest hitters as streaming points of interest, whereas additionally giving audiences the chance to see cinematic spectacles like The Magician’s Nephew in a theatrical setting.
The extra Netflix turns into a dominant drive in Hollywood – particularly with the upcoming Warner Bros merger – the extra incessantly the streaming/theatrical debate will come up.
KPop Demon Hunters‘ success sparks an analogous dialog. It is too simplistic to say HUNTR/X would have attained an equivalent degree of renown if KPop Demon Hunters had a conventional launch. Arguably, the movie being available on streaming performed a significant component in its social media affect and word-of-mouth reputation.
Having mentioned that, Netflix did reply to the preliminary wave of KPop Demon Hunters fever with a singalong theatrical run that, predictably, surpassed all expectations. A record-breaking opening weekend noticed KPop Demon Hunters gross an estimated $18 million and high the field workplace, regardless of releasing in beneath 2000 U.S. theaters. KPop Demon Hunters gave Netflix its first field workplace #1 with a film most individuals had in all probability streamed two or 3 times already.
If nothing else, KPop Demon Hunters‘ restricted field workplace stint highlighted the film’s potential as a theatrical occasion. Granted, the huge streaming debut supplied a robust foothold prematurely, but when we settle for the concept that KPop Demon Hunters‘ characters and story resonate powerfully with audiences no matter the way it’s watched, Netflix may have been sitting on considered one of 2025’s top-grossing motion pictures. We’ll by no means know for certain, however HUNTR/X has definitely added some spice to an already heated subject.
Animated Motion pictures Have Struggled At The Field Workplace In Current Years
Nobody will be too harsh on Netflix for denying KPop Demon Hunters a wider theatrical launch. Not solely was the film’s social affect just about inconceivable to see coming, however animation has a considerably tempestuous relationship with the field workplace at current.
Sequels and variations of present manufacturers are safer bets, however unique animation represents a far greater danger. The Tremendous Mario Bros Film, Moana 2, Inside Out 2, and Zootopia 2 all cleaned up, passing the $1 billion mark worldwide. Pixar’s final two unique initiatives, nonetheless, 2023’s Elemental managed to get better after a poor begin, whereas 2025’s Elio carried out effectively beneath expectations. DreamWorks’ Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken flopped, however The Wild Robotic bucked the development and grossed over $330 million.
Disney’s Unusual World and Want each proved to be business disappointments, and even Encanto solely took off correctly after hitting Disney+, which considerably helps the argument that KPop Demon Hunters could have discovered much less success as a theatrical launch.
Within the present panorama, an unique animated film thriving on the field workplace is the exception reasonably than the rule. That is undoubtedly a tragic place for the business to be, particularly when sequels and variations of massive IPs are faring significantly higher. On the identical time, the development proves the components for an animated hit is not so simple as taking one thing like KPop Demon Hunters and shoving it in as many theaters as humanly potential.
Legend Of Aang: The Final Airbender Skipping Theaters Is A Large Mistake
If the lesson from KPop Demon Hunters‘ success is to at the least look at the theatrical potential of animated motion pictures earlier than consigning them to streaming, Paramount could have missed a trick with Legend of Aang: The Final Airbender.
The formation of Avatar Studios in 2021 successfully represented the revival of Avatar: The Final Airbender as an animated franchise. Dwell-action efforts however, Avatar: The Final Airbender and The Legend of Korra have held a spot in followers’ hearts for 20 years, so the animated comeback was fairly the large deal.
Avatar Studios’ first manufacturing was introduced as an animated film sequel to Avatar: The Final Airbender, set for a theatrical launch. Alas, the information got here in December 2025 that Legend of Aang: The Final Airbender would as an alternative debut on Paramount+ as a streaming unique.
After witnessing a fantasy-based animated film dominate in 2025, it is laborious to not really feel like Legend of Aang: The Final Airbender has extra to supply. Not like KPop Demon Hunters, the Avatar sequel was conceived as a theatrical launch. Extra importantly, it is a part of a beloved present franchise with a fanbase hungry to witness the subsequent chapter, eradicating the problem described above with animated originals.
There’s each cause to imagine Legend of Aang: The Final Airbender stands a sensible probability of changing into a field workplace success, particularly with Paramount on board – a much more theatrically-minded firm in comparison with Netflix.
And Paramount+ needn’t lose out both. Avatar: The Final Airbender followers will already be flocking to the platform for Avatar: Seven Havens, the third primary sequence within the franchise, set after The Legend of Korra and releasing in 2027. Placing Legend of Aang: The Final Airbender in theaters and Avatar: Seven Havens on Paramount+ absolutely gives the very best of each worlds.
Regardless of the mammoth success KPop Demon Hunters has attained, it appears like Hollywood nonetheless takes a skeptical view of animated theatrical releases. Again in 2022, the then-CEO of Disney, Bob Chapek, boldly recommended that animated motion pictures did not curiosity an grownup viewers. Chapek’s assertion was roundly criticized, but it surely however looks like Hollywood shares his reluctance to completely embrace the theatrical potential of animated storytelling, regardless of the numerous, many grown-ups nonetheless belting out “Golden” at high quantity at any time when the chance arises.
- Launch Date
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June 20, 2025
- Runtime
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96 minutes
- Director
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Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang
- Writers
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Hannah McMechan, Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang, Danya Jimenez
