Netflix has crowned a new champion for its most-watched movie ever.
The streaming giant has seen plenty of record-breakers over the years, with various titles maintaining their positions on Netflix's most-watched lists since their release.
Currently, viewers are hooked on early Halloween vibes, as Wednesday Season 1 topped series charts when Season 2 was released in recent weeks, pushing British drama Adolescence down the ranks.
Meanwhile, Squid Game Season 2 dominated the latter half of 2024 despite premiering just six days before the year ended, pulling in 87 million views.
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Now, an animated musical that premiered in June has taken the latest spot for the most-watched movie on the streaming platform.
KPop Demon Hunters has racked up a whopping 236 million views, dethroning the action comedy Red Notice from the top spot. The Sony Pictures Animation production follows fictional K-pop girl band Huntr/x as the three members use their musical talents and fighting skills to protect humanity from demons.
The film launched with a relatively low-key premiere at Netflix's Tudum theatre in Los Angeles but gained momentum throughout the summer through word-of-mouth and viral social media memes.
Much of the film's appeal centres on its authentic K-pop soundtrack, created by industry veterans who have worked with major groups like BTS and Twice. The track 'Golden' even hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 this month, while songs from the movie have dominated Spotify's charts.
Co-director Maggie Kang, who is Korean-Canadian, previously explained their goal was to make music that would be 'really incredible and really speak to the K-pop fans and be legitimately fit into the K-pop space.'
Film critics on Rotten Tomatoes have responded overwhelmingly positively to the film's blend of humour, animation and modern Korean culture.
One critic called it: "Probably the year’s funniest animated feature, from the interactions between the three distinct personalities of our heroines to the portrayal of over-the-top fandom."
Another noted: "I don’t even listen to K-Pop and this film had my full attention. It knows it is cheesy, campy, sugary sweet fun and it never tries to be anything more."
And audiences were just as impressed.
"Omg its addictive i listened it like 4 days ago only once yet and yet i know golden and soda pop in full," one viewer described.
"Wow, haven’t seen a film this good in a while. The characters are so flushed out and the music is incredible!" someone else exclaimed.
KPop Demon Hunters is available to stream on Netflix now.