History of KPop Demon Hunters in Timeline

KPop Demon Hunters is a 2025 animated musical fantasy film from Sony Pictures Animation, distributed by Netflix. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, it features the voices of Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, and others. The film centers on Huntrix, a K-pop girl group who secretly battles demons. Their main adversaries are the Saja Boys, a rival boy band whose members are demons in disguise.

1995: First Soundtrack Since Waiting to Exhale to Feature Three Songs in Top 10

In 1995, Waiting to Exhale was the first film soundtrack to feature at least three of its songs in the top 10 since KPop Demon Hunters.

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2006: Inspiration from 'The Host'

In 2006, Bong Joon Ho's monster movie The Host, was mentioned as an inspiration for blending genres and moods in KPop Demon Hunters.

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2016: Character Creation of Rumi

In 2016, the character of Rumi was created by Maggie Kang and her husband, Radford Sechrist, for Sechrist's comic Plastic Walrus; Kang repurposed it for KPop Demon Hunters.

2017: Inspiration from 'The Villainess'

In 2017, South Korean film 'The Villainess' inspired the glitter effects used in action scenes of KPop Demon Hunters, to give the scenes a feeling of dance-fighting.

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2018: Initial Pitch of KPop Demon Hunters

In 2018, Director Maggie Kang first pitched the idea for KPop Demon Hunters to film producer Aron Warner, who was working on Wish Dragon (2021) for Sony Pictures Animation.

March 8, 2021: Sony Announces KPop Demon Hunters

On March 8, 2021, Sony announced that work was underway on the film, under the working title K-Pop: Demon Hunters. Kang and Chris Appelhans would direct from a script by Hannah McMechan and Danya Jimenez, and Warner and Michelle L. M. Wong would serve as producers. Mingjue Helen Chen and Ami Thompson were announced as production designer and art director, respectively.

March 2021: KPop Demon Hunters Enters Production

In March 2021, KPop Demon Hunters entered production with the full creative team attached. The film was inspired by Korean heritage, mythology, demonology, and K-pop, with visuals influenced by concert lighting, editorial photography, music videos, anime, and Korean dramas. The soundtrack features original songs and a score by Marcelo Zarvos.

March 2021: Announcement of KPop Demon Hunters

In March 2021, Sony Pictures Animation announced KPop Demon Hunters without a release timetable.

April 2022: Netflix Filing for KPop Demon Hunters

In April 2022, Netflix registered a filing for the film KPop Demon Hunters.

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2022: First Netflix Soundtrack to Reach Number One

In 2022, Stranger Things: Soundtrack from the Netflix Series, Season 4 reached number one on the Top Soundtracks, making it the first Netflix soundtrack to achieve this since KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack.

February 2023: Confirmation of Netflix Release

In February 2023, the release of KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix was confirmed in a Business Insider interview with Sony Pictures film CEO Tom Rothman.

2023: Highest-Charting Animated Film Soundtrack Since Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

In 2023, Metro Boomin's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse reached number seven, making it the highest-charting animated film's soundtrack album before KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack's success.

June 2024: Netflix Announces KPop Demon Hunters Release

In June 2024, Netflix announced that KPop Demon Hunters, a film produced by Sony Pictures Animation, would be released in 2025.

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April 2025: Cast Announcement

In April 2025, Ji-young Yoo was announced as Zoey in KPop Demon Hunters. The rest of the cast was announced later that month.

April 2025: Release Date Confirmed

In April 2025, the film KPop Demon Hunters was confirmed for a June 20, 2025 release.

June 2025: Theatrical release qualifies for Oscars

In June 2025, KPop Demon Hunters' theatrical release in the United States met the requirements for consideration in the Best Animated Film and Best Original Song categories at the Oscars.

June 20, 2025: KPop Demon Hunters Streams on Netflix

On June 20, 2025, KPop Demon Hunters began streaming on Netflix and became the most-watched original title in Netflix history with over 500 million views.

July 2025: Netflix considers follow-up projects

In July 2025, Netflix began considering several potential follow-up projects to KPop Demon Hunters, including two sequels, a television series, a short film, and a stage musical.

July 2025: Tourism surge in Seoul due to film's popularity

In July 2025, the popularity of KPop Demon Hunters led to a surge in tourism in Seoul, with over 1.36 million international tourists visiting, an increase of 23.1% from the same month in 2024, and of 18% from July 2019. This was said to be the "largest monthly tally ever recorded".

July 29, 2025: Netflix announces "most watched animated film"

On July 29, 2025, Netflix announced that KPop Demon Hunters had become their "most watched original animated film of all time".

August 2025: Sony begins negotiations with directors for follow-up project

In August 2025, it was reported that Sony had begun negotiations with Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans to return for a follow-up project to KPop Demon Hunters.

August 23, 2025: Sing-along version theatrical release

On August 23, 2025, the sing-along version of KPop Demon Hunters was released in 1,700 theaters, becoming Netflix's best-performing theatrical release and the first of their films to finish in first place over the weekend, making $19.2 million in the United States and Canada.

September 2025: Debut: A KPop Demon Hunters Story rated PG

In September 2025, the short film, Debut: A KPop Demon Hunters Story, was rated PG by the MPA.

October 2, 2025: KPop Demon Hunters added to Fortnite

On October 2, 2025, Rumi, Mira, and Zoey were added to the video game Fortnite as purchasable outfits, alongside a KPop Demon Hunters-themed limited time mode and items.

October 8, 2025: Soundtrack Certified Platinum

On October 8, 2025, the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack was certified Platinum by the RIAA, with sales exceeding 1 million units.

October 2025: Toy Licenses Granted to Hasbro and Mattel

In October 2025, it was announced that Netflix had granted KPop Demon Hunters toy licenses to both Hasbro and Mattel, with toys scheduled to be sold at retail beginning in 2026.

October 2025: Soundtrack Certified Double Platinum

In October 2025, the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack was certified double platinum in the US, marking its commercial success.

November 2, 2025: Second Theatrical Sing-Along Release

On November 2, 2025, KPop Demon Hunters had a second theatrical sing-along release.

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November 5, 2025: Sequel Planned for Release in 2029

On November 5, 2025, it was announced that a sequel to KPop Demon Hunters was planned for release in 2029.

2025: Halloween Costumes and Ramen Challenge

During the 2025 Halloween season, KPop Demon Hunters-related costumes gained significant popularity. Also, there was an internet challenge involving ramen noodles, based on ramyun eaten by Rumi, Zoey, and Mira, while singing the song "How It's Done".

2025: KPop Demon Hunters described as a widespread phenomenon

In 2025, KPop Demon Hunters was described as a widespread phenomenon, with a popular soundtrack album and Netflix's official shop adding a KPop Demon Hunters section, with T-shirts and plushies being among the top five best-selling items.

2025: Awards and Accolades

In 2025, KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature at the 31st Critics' Choice Awards, the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, and the 98th Academy Awards, and was named Time's Breakthrough of the Year. The film also won ten awards at the 53rd Annie Awards, including for Best Feature. The song "Golden" from the soundtrack won Best OST at the 2025 Melon Music Awards and 2025 MAMA Awards.

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2025: Release of KPop Demon Hunters

In 2025, KPop Demon Hunters, an American animated musical urban fantasy film co-written and directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, was released. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix, it features the voices of Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, and others. The story revolves around the K-pop girl group Huntrix, who lead double lives as demon hunters, and their battle against the Saja Boys, a rival boy band who are secretly demons.

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2025: Soundtrack Chart Successes

In 2025, the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack earned the highest debut on the Billboard 200 for a soundtrack released that year, entering at number eight. It also became the first soundtrack of the year to reach the top ten. "Golden", the album's second single, eventually reached number one on the Billboard Global 200, became the longest-lasting number one song by a fictional act on the US Billboard Hot 100, and in South Korea became the third song that year to achieve a perfect all-kill on the charts, as well as breaking the record for most number of hourly perfect all-kills of all time.

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February 2026: Digital and Physical Releases

In February 2026, a digital artbook was released online, and it was announced that a graphic novel adaptation of the film was scheduled for release in March 2026.

February 23, 2026: Physical Home Media Release Announcement

On February 23, 2026, Variety announced that KPop Demon Hunters would be released as physical home media as part of The Criterion Collection.

March 2026: Cookie Run Collaboration

In March 2026, Devsisters announced a collaboration update for Cookie Run: Kingdom based on KPop Demon Hunters that ran between April 2026 and May 2026, with Rumi, Mira and Zoey added as limited-time obtainable Cookies, along with the Saja Boys and Derpy.