KPop Demon Hunters is the smash hit of the yr, and it took nearly everybody abruptly. Produced by Sony Footage Animation and launched on Netflix in June as a part of their ongoing partnership for animated movies, it is now the most-watched film within the streamer’s historical past, with over 325 million views and counting. (This previous week, KPop‘s twentieth in Netflix’s international High 10, it completed second.)
That is broadly considered as a chance for Netflix to construct a real franchise, and the corporate is trying to capitalize as a lot as they’ll. However they had been caught on their again foot. A latest report from Bloomberg revealed simply how surprising this runaway success was – the streamer approached retailers years in the past however, for a wide range of causes, had few takers. Early check screenings weren’t even all that constructive.
Now, although Mattel and Hasbro are each concerned in making official toys, this yr’s vacation season will come and go earlier than they’re prepared. Halloween glided by with official costumes in brief provide, and never practically sufficient to satisfy demand (WSJ). KPop Demon Hunters 2 is within the works, however is not anticipated till 2029.
The chance right here is apparent: lose an excessive amount of momentum, and there will not be a lot curiosity anymore when the sequel rolls round. However might this lack of preparedness find yourself being Netflix’s secret weapon?
KPop Demon Hunters Is Turning into A Franchise The Previous Normal Approach
Franchises are the holy grail for studios for a cause. If audiences wish to have a sustained relationship with a chunk of popular culture, that curiosity will not simply assist a sequel, however all kinds of different types of engagement. Spinoffs, merchandise, theme park rides, (in KPop Demon Hunters‘ case) live shows. The potential monetary return, and the safety of that return, is like nothing else within the movie enterprise.
However franchises cannot actually be compelled – the viewers’s ardour needs to be real for them to take a position for the long run, and the way far that keenness stretches is in the end as much as them. Star Wars followers is likely to be open to a prequel a few facet character, whereas others won’t. Star Trek followers is likely to be up for brand new TV exhibits about completely totally different starship crews, whereas others would possibly require some character continuity.
Hollywood would not appear prepared to just accept this, although, and should you’re something like me, you’ve got developed an allergy to the present IP period by now. I am so bored with blockbusters and streaming exhibits that attempt to make fetch occur with clunky fan service and unearned self-mythologizing.
Possibly that is why Netflix’s lack of a ready franchising blitz strikes me as a constructive, not a adverse. KPop Demon Hunters did not arrive pre-packaged as the subsequent massive factor, however grew to become one thing that folks found and championed, and now strategy with a way of possession.
The soundtrack was one thing they powered to unprecedented success, and now two fictional bands are the highest-charting Ok-Pop teams in Spotify historical past. They’re changing into karaoke staples. No Halloween costumes? Folks made their very own. No toys? Okay, that one’s harder, however you may guess there will likely be every kind of DIY Demon Hunters creations splashed throughout social media through the holidays.
For now, Netflix has the Oscars push to maintain their movie current within the tradition, and so they’ve properly centered on getting public appearances for the three singers behind Huntr/x (who, you will discover, are adopting personas just like their characters). Placing a singalong model of KPop Demon Hunters in theaters, and thereby giving folks a spot for communal expression of their fandom, was good. However not with the ability to overplay their hand proper now is likely to be for one of the best.
Animated motion pictures take time to do correctly, and retaining the momentum going till the sequel arrives will nonetheless be difficult. But when it is proper – and KPop Demon Hunters definitely appears to be – folks will maintain it on their very own. Given we have been oversaturated with franchise wannabees these previous few years, they could even respect the chance.
- Launch Date
-
June 20, 2025
- Runtime
-
96 minutes
- Director
-
Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang
- Writers
-
Hannah McMechan, Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang, Danya Jimenez
