At first glance, Rumi, Mira, and Zoey are global idols, dazzling audiences on world tours and dominating the charts. But offstage, the K-pop girl group leads a very different life. By night, they swap microphones for mystical weapons, battling supernatural forces that threaten their fans. Netflix’s number-one film KPop Demon Hunters has captivated audiences worldwide. The film perfectly balances glittering pop spectacle with shadowy fantasy, turning choreography into combat and stadiums into battlegrounds.
Its mix of high-energy performances, slick visuals, and monster-hunting action has turned it into Netflix’s most-watched title. Here is everything you need to know about KPop Demon Hunters — from the plot and cast to reviews and release date. The trailer is at the bottom of the article.
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KPop Demon Hunters — all the key details
- Title: KPop Demon Hunters
- Format: Film
- Length / Runtime: 100 minutes
- Genre: Animation, musical, fantasy, action
- Release date: June 20, 2025
- Director / Creator: Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans
- Lead cast: Arden Cho, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Ahn Hyo-seop (among others)
- Produced by: Sony Pictures Animation (distributed by Netflix)
What KPop Demon Hunters is about
At its core, KPop Demon Hunters tracks the girl group Huntr/x—Rumi, Mira, and Zoey — who lead double lives as pop idols and secret demon hunters. By day, they dazzle stadiums with choreography and harmonies. But behind the spotlight, they wield magical powers tied to a mystical force called the Honmoon, fighting supernatural threats that spill into the human world.
This balance between star power and secret duty becomes fraught when the rival boy band known as the Saja Boys emerges. Their mission is more than just musical competition — they threaten to disrupt the balance between the human and demon realms, tapping into dark forces and challenging Huntr/x’s resolve. The film leans into themes of identity, fame, sacrifice, and sisterhood, never glossing over the emotional toll of carrying dual destinies. The tone shuttles between high-energy musical set pieces and tense supernatural confrontations.
KPop Demon Hunters cast: the main characters
The film’s vocal cast anchors much of its emotional weight. Arden Cho voices Rumi, the central figure whose internal struggle with her demonic pattern is a narrative focal point. May Hong lends her voice to Mira, who brings both heart and grounding strength to the trio. Ji-young Yoo voices Zoey, completing the trio’s chemistry and providing balance in their dynamics. Opposing them is Jinu (voiced by Ahn Hyo-seop), leader of the Saja Boys, whose motivations shift from antagonism to deeper complexity as the film progresses. The supporting cast includes heavyweights like Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Byung Hun Lee, and Ken Jeong.
Is KPop Demon Hunters based on a true story?
No. KPop Demon Hunters is an original concept, born from director Maggie Kang’s idea to meld korean mythology and K-pop culture into a fresh animated fantasy. While it draws from mythic elements and musical tropes, it is not adapted from a preexisting book or biographical source.
What reviews say about KPop Demon Hunters
Critics have been overwhelmingly positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 95 % Tomatometer score based on 84 critics, underlining its wide acclaim. The consensus praises its kinetic animation, bold visual palette, and infectious soundtrack. Many describe it as “jaunty family entertainment with a terrific soundtrack.”
Reviewers frequently highlight the film’s tonal balance — one moment dazzling you with stage lights, the next confronting you with spiritual stakes. Some have remarked it avoids cliché by rooting its conflicts in emotional nuance. The consensus is that the film accomplishes quite a lot in 100 minutes, especially in combining spectacle and heart.
Where was KPop Demon Hunters filmed?
As an animated production, KPop Demon Hunters was not shot on location. Its studio work was handled under Sony Pictures Animation, with design influences rooted in Seoul’s urban landscapes, K-pop stage aesthetics, and mythological visual motifs. The film’s art direction draws heavily from korean architecture, neon-lit cityscapes, and concert stage design, giving it both a fantastical and grounded visual identity.
KPop Demon Hunters: behind the scenes
The project took nearly a decade to develop, transforming from a traditional fantasy idea into a full-blown K-pop musical. The creators aimed to bring korean culture authentically into the animation: from the way characters’ eyes and mouths move to subtle gestures in performances, the team paid close attention to cultural detail. The story itself draws inspiration from korean mythology and shamanistic traditions, particularly the mudang, who used song and ritual to ward off evil. This influence is woven into both the plot and the musical sequences, giving the fantasy world a distinctive rhythm rooted in real folklore.
When to watch KPop Demon Hunters
Available now! KPop Demon Hunters is streaming on Netflix. The film was released on June 20, 2025. Fans can watch it directly on Netflix here.
Watch the trailer
Here’s the trailer to get a first taste:
