🌍 Global Domination, Again
K-pop Demon Hunters just won’t slow down. The Netflix original anime, starring the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTREXX and the edgy boy group Lion Boys, has reclaimed the No.1 spot on the Netflix global chart for English-language films in its fifth week—outperforming even Squid Game Season 3. With 25.8 million views and over 43 million watch hours, the film continues to break its own records.
The most stunning part? These numbers are rising each week, defying the usual drop-off in viewership that most streaming content sees. This K-pop fantasy thriller is proving that music, magic, and a strong fandom can rewrite the rules.
📈 Billboard Breakthrough: OSTs Go Mainstream
It’s not just the streaming numbers making noise. The movie’s original soundtrack is conquering the Billboard Hot 100. The hit track Golden by HUNTREXX, which started at No.81, has climbed to No.4, surpassing even Let It Go from Frozen.
Other songs also made their mark:
- Your Idol by Lion Boys – No.14
- How It’s Done by HUNTREXX – No.23
- Soda Pop by Lion Boys – No.25
- Takedown (multiple versions, including TWICE’s Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung) – All charted
A fictional K-pop group achieving this in real-world charts? This is genre-defining history in motion.
👑 The Faces Behind the Voices
Korean-American actress Yoo Ji-young, who voices the beloved character Joy in HUNTREXX, and global star Eric Nam are gaining new global fans through this project. Their performances helped blur the line between animation and reality, adding emotional weight and authenticity to each scene.
🔮 Sequel Hints and a New Wave
As K-pop Demon Hunters dominates pop culture, fans are wondering: Will there be a sequel?
The answer looks promising. Netflix is known for quickly greenlighting follow-ups to global hits. And with massive fan demand and chart-topping OSTs, K-pop Demon Hunters 2 seems all but confirmed.
But that’s not all…
🎬 “The Next K-pop Demon Hunters”? Hype Builds
K-pop giant HYBE has teamed up with Paramount Pictures to produce a new K-pop film, aiming for a 2027 release. The upcoming movie will star Yoo Ji-young again and is rumored to feature another fictional K-pop group.
Filming begins in Korea this fall, making it the first Hollywood-backed movie entirely filmed in Korea. According to HYBE America, the story follows a Korean-American girl chasing her dream of debuting in a global girl group—set against the high-stakes world of K-pop survival shows.
💬 WSJ, Netflix CEO Praise the Phenomenon
Even The Wall Street Journal called this trend “surreal,” noting how these virtual idols like HUNTREXX and Lion Boys are outperforming real-life stars in charts and fan engagement.
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos praised the impact, saying,
“Original animation can now move pop culture. Golden and Soda Pop have built real fanbases.”
🧠 Why It Matters
This isn’t just hype. K-pop Demon Hunters marks a new era of hybrid entertainment:
- Virtual idols who chart in real life
- Crossovers between animation and fandom culture
- A new lane for K-pop to expand globally without traditional artist constraints
With Spotify’s Daily Top Songs ranking HUNTREXX’s songs No.1 in the U.S., they’ve achieved what even BTS and BLACKPINK haven’t.
🎁 What’s Next?
A sequel is likely. A live-action adaptation? Possibly. One thing is certain—this IP is becoming a franchise juggernaut. And HYBE’s new project may be the start of a whole cinematic universe of K-pop-fueled stories.
So, will Golden hit No.1 next week? Will we see K-pop Demon Hunters 2 confirmed by year-end?
We’re watching—just like millions around the world.
Article Source: Cho Hyun-joo, “글로벌 1위 굳건, ‘케이팝 데몬 헌터스’ 후속편 나올까,” MaxMovie, July 23, 2025.
Alt Text: Animated scene from K-Pop Demon Hunters showing the idol trio in stylized action poses
Caption: Huntr/x strikes a dynamic pose in K-Pop Demon Hunters, Image embedded from @techradar
Image Source: Embedded directly from: https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nsxV5oeNisZgQxhh8MABWf.jpg
