KPop Demon Hunters 케이팝 데몬 헌터스(이하 케데헌 / Kedehun)

[정승남세기영어교육연구회장]

KPop Demon Hunters 케이팝 데몬 헌터스

(이하 케데헌 / Kedehun)

https://youtu.be/sQWvs-cVB1A?si=XZqDF5XwaIzqqnl4

https://youtu.be/p9mNe-rIl78?si=LH8NHRdhrV6VeXEA

https://youtu.be/yebNIHKAC4A?si=tY7FuozgagRBjyoI

https://youtu.be/-42sxaNEBhg?si=7UOoyOlJyYfLFFeQ

KPop Demon Hunters is a 2025 American animated musical urban fantasy film[8][9][10] produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released by Netflix. It was directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans from a screenplay they co-wrote with the writing team of Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan, based on a story conceived by Kang. The film stars the voices of Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun. It follows a K-pop girl group, Huntr/x,[a] who lead double lives as demon hunters; they face off against a rival boy band, the Saja Boys, whose members are secretly demons.

KPop Demon Hunters originated from Kang's desire to create a story inspired by her Korean heritage, drawing on elements of mythology, demonology, and K-pop to craft a visually distinct and culturally rooted film. The film was reported to be in production at Sony Pictures Animation by March 2021, with the full creative team attached. The film was animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks and was stylistically influenced by concert lighting, editorial photography, and music videos as well as anime and Korean dramas. The soundtrack features original songs by several talents, and a score composed by Marcelo Zarvos.

KPop Demon Hunters began streaming on Netflix on June 20, 2025, while a sing-along version of the film received a two-day limited theatrical release from August 23 to 24, 2025. The film drew acclaim for its animation, visual style, voice acting, writing, and music, and was named a cultural phenomenon by several publications. It surpassed Red Notice (2021) to become the most-watched film in Netflix history with 236 million views, and its sing-along theatrical release was both the widest for a Netflix film and the first to top the box office in the United States, surpassing Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022). The film's soundtrack also saw significant success, reaching number one and top-ten positions on multiple music and streaming charts, as well as becoming the first film soundtrack on the Billboard Hot 100 to have four of its songs in the top ten. A sequel is in development.

Plot

Long ago, demons preyed on humans, feeding their souls to their ruler Gwi-Ma. Eventually, three women became demon hunters and sealed the demons away with a magical barrier called the Honmoon. Their legacy continued across the generations, with each new trio using their singing voices to maintain the Honmoon, working to eventually strengthen it into the Golden Honmoon – a final seal that would banish demons from the human world permanently.

In the present, the K-pop girl group Huntr/x – comprised of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey – is the latest demon-hunting trio under the guidance of Celine, a previous hunter who raised Rumi. After completing their world tour, Huntr/x release and prepare for the first live performance of a new single, "Golden", until Rumi begins losing her voice due to her secret demon heritage, which only Celine knows about. As a child, Rumi was told by Celine that turning the Honmoon gold would erase her demon marks.

In the demon world, Gwi-Ma grows enraged at his minions' failures. Five demons, led by former human Jinu, form a K-pop boy band called the Saja Boys to steal Huntr/x's fans and weaken the Honmoon, in exchange for Gwi-Ma erasing Jinu's human memories. Huntr/x quickly discovers the Saja Boys' demonic nature while encountering them during their debut. Jinu discovers Rumi's demon marks as they fight, but helps hide it from her bandmates.

Meeting her privately, Jinu tells Rumi that feelings of shame enslave demons through voices from Gwi-Ma. He reveals that around 400 years earlier, Gwi-Ma granted him a beautiful voice that helped him and his family emerge from poverty, but then condemned him to the demon world. Jinu now lives with guilt over his family's subsequent downfall.

As the Idol Awards approach, Huntr/x rush to produce a new song, "Takedown", to expose the Saja Boys while their popularity skyrockets. Mira grows suspicious when Rumi questions if "Takedown" is too hateful toward demons. Torn between her identities, Rumi proposes a plan to Jinu: if he helps Huntr/x win the Idol Awards and strengthen the Honmoon, he could freely stay in the human world. Later, Rumi confides in Jinu that her shame over her heritage weakened her voice, but talking with him healed it. Jinu states that he no longer hears voices thanks to Rumi, and agrees to sabotage the Saja Boys. Gwi-Ma summons Jinu, reminding him of their deal and the truth that he abandoned his family for a life of wealth and comfort, before threatening to return the tormenting voices unless he obeys him.

At the Idol Awards, the Saja Boys fail to appear, and Huntr/x perform "Golden", having chosen to shelve "Takedown" due to the contention it caused within the group. However, impostor demons sent by Jinu split Mira and Zoey from Rumi, then pose as them to trick Rumi into performing "Takedown", during which they publicly reveal her demon marks. She flees the stage and runs into the real Mira and Zoey, who feel betrayed upon learning of her heritage and collusion with Jinu. Rumi confronts Jinu for tricking her, and he admits to lying about his past. Gwi-Ma casts a trance over Mira, Zoey, and the public, drawing them to the Saja Boys' final performance designed to shatter the weakened Honmoon and unleash him. Rumi meets with Celine and desperately asks her to end her life. Celine refuses and offers to conceal the events, but Rumi lashes out at Celine for never fully loving her before leaving.

Rumi interrupts the Saja Boys' performance with a new song addressing shame and self-acceptance, breaking Gwi-Ma's trance. Reunited, Huntr/x fight back and free the crowd. A repentant Jinu sacrifices himself to save Rumi from Gwi-Ma, giving his restored soul to her; the empowered Huntr/x defeat Gwi-Ma and the Saja Boys, re-sealing the demons and creating a new Honmoon.

Afterward, Rumi, no longer ashamed of her marks, reconciles with Mira and Zoey, and they later meet with their fans in public.

Voice cast

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Production

Development

In March 2021, a film with the working title K-Pop: Demon Hunters was announced to be underway at Sony Pictures Animation. Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans would direct with writing duo Hannah McMechan and Danya Jimenez writing the script and Aron Warner and Michelle L. M. Wong serving as producers.[4][24][2] Mingjue Helen Chen and Ami Thompson were also announced as production designer and art director, respectively.[4]

It was conceived by Kang who wanted to make a film "set in Korean culture"; she "delved into mythology and demonology for something that could be visually unique" compared to "mainstream media".[25] She also called the film her "love letter to K-pop" and her "Korean roots".[4] On character design, Kang highlighted wanting to differentiate from "Marvel female superheroes that were just sexy and cool and badass" and instead have "girls who had potbellies and burped and were crass and silly and fun" leading to the creation of "something that encompassed all of those elements".[26] She was also influenced by "how Bong Joon Ho juggles so many different tones in his films to where they feel very animated".[25] Appelhans came on board later on after Kang told him her initial ideas for the film; he planned to take a long break after having directed Wish Dragon (2021).[25] He stated that he "always wanted to do a film about the power of music – to unite, bring joy, build community."[4] Kang explained that when developing the history of the demon hunters they decided to play into "the shaman women from Korean culture" as historically these women would "sing and dance to protect their village and their communities".[27]

The three members of Huntr/x were modeled after K-pop girl groups like Itzy, Blackpink, and Twice. Kang commented that 2NE1 and Blackpink provided an early reference.[28] The character of Mira was inspired by Korean model Ahn So-yeon.[29] The Saja Boys were inspired by Korean boy bands such as Tomorrow X Together, BTS, Stray Kids, Ateez, BigBang, and Monsta X.[30] Korean actor and singer Cha Eun-woo was a key influence for Jinu, the group's leader.[31] Jinu is the only Saja Boy who "has a real name" while "the rest of the band members have names that are more descriptive of K-pop archetypes".[32] Baek Byung-yeul of The Korea Times stated the styling of both groups connects to "the past and the present of Korea" – the members of Huntr/x "wear 'norigae' pendants integrated into modern K-pop fashion, while Saja Boys perform in black hanbok and traditional horsehair hats for their song 'Your Idol,' evoking the image of the jeoseung saja, the Korean equivalent of the grim reaper".[14] Additionally, the weapons Huntr/x wields are rooted in "traditional Korean objects".[14] Max Kim of the Los Angeles Times noted the historical nods to Korean artists "who are seen today as the progenitors of contemporary K-pop" such as the Jeogori Sisters, The Kim Sisters and S.E.S..[33] Kang highlighted the visual journey in the character design such as the Saja Boys starting in a "bubble gum pop, very saccharine, super sweet look" and shifting darker until they "look like the iconic Grim Reaper with the hat".[34] Appelhans commented that one of the design challenges were the costumes since they also acted as "plot points", noting that the gold outfits worn during the "Golden" song symbolize "their kind of MacGuffin of a dream" where Huntr/x aspire for perfection and being "beyond reproach".[34] However, at the second act's end, the ideal is visually represented as broken as "Rumi is standing there" with the dream "literally and physically in tatters".[34]

A Korean folk painting of the Tiger and the Magpie

Hanh Nguyen, for Salon, highlighted that Jinu's pet tiger and magpie – which the creative team call Derpy and Sussy respectively – are based on minhwa, "a style of Korean folk art popular during the [Joseon period], with the Hojak-do genre specializing in images of tigers, magpies, and pine trees"; the depiction of these animals together changed over time "to become more satirical by the 17th century".[18] Park Han-sol of The Korea Times wrote that minhwa was often "whimsical" with "mischievous details" and depictions of tiger and magpie delivered "a playful jab at those in power".[35] She commented that the film's gag of the magpie stealing the tiger's hat "feels like an affectionate nod to the long-running visual joke".[35] Story artist Radford Sechrist explained that "Derpy's bright blue hue" possibly originated with production designer Helen Mingjue Chen wanting to give "the tiger a more magical feel" and confirmed that Sussy has "six eyes total, three on each side".[18] Kang commented that Derpy was initially conceived as a "fun character" without a clear role, however, they did not want him to be just "a sidekick".[18] The team was inspired by a painting by Chen of "a statue of a tiger turning into a real tiger" next to an open shirt Jinu which led to the idea of Derpy being Jinu's pet, eventually becoming "a mailbox basically" to help the characters communicate "and then the bird tagged along".[18] Kang also stated that while the animals "live between these two worlds", they are not demons and it is left mysterious.[36]

Casting

Arden Cho and Ahn Hyo-seop voice Rumi and Jinu respectively.

The castings for the characters' voice actors and singing voices were done at separate times, with the singers being cast earlier.[8] Ejae was originally brought onto the production as a songwriter, before later being offered the role of Rumi's singing voice; in an interview with Genius Korea, Ejae attributed her casting to "the directors [getting] used to hearing [her] voice in the demos".[8][37] Arden Cho, the voice actress for Rumi, initially auditioned for the role of Celine, only subsequently trying out for the role of Rumi due to the encouragement of co-director Maggie Kang.[38] Park Jin-young was initially envisioned for the role of Gwi-Ma, due to the character originally being conceptualized with a more flamboyant and comedic personality. However, this was dropped as the character was developed into a more menacing and traditionally antagonistic figure, leading instead to the casting of Lee Byung-hun.[39][40] In April 2025, Ji-young Yoo was revealed to star in the

film as Zoey.[41][42] The rest of the cast was announced later that month.[1]

Animation

The film was animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks in both its Vancouver and Montreal facilities with Josh Beveridge as the head of character animation.[25] Appelhans highlighted inspiration was drawn from "music videos, editorial photography, K-dramas, concert lighting, a touch of anime".[25] Kang explained that after watching Sony's Spider-Verse films, which are animated in a "hybrid 2D-3D style", it was decided to "pull away from every 2D element in our movie" and "[take] a lot of inspiration from faces and the look and feel of anime" with the aim of doing "a CG version of it".[25] Beveridge similarly noted the inspiration of "2D aesthetics but with three-dimensional language" and that the film should have a "very bold graphic look".[25] Beveridge also highlighted shifting the characters' faces to reflect the film's tone, from "high-glamour moments" where "they need to feel like pop stars in an animated world", to "animated aggro" which has "faces with a lot more line work, a lot more angularity", to "hyper-ridiculous" moments referred to as "Chibi, or demi-Chibi", with characters having "super-cute and exaggerated features".[25] Kang emphasized the crew's effort to authentically represent Korean identity through character animation, such as "mouth shapes and eye shapes that were very Korean".[34] Although the characters speak English, Kang explained that the animators designed "mouth shapes that you would only make as a Korean person, with our Korean language".[34]

Music

Main article: KPop Demon Hunters (soundtrack)

When comparing the songs of Huntr/x and the Saja Boys, Appelhans explained they "wanted the Saja Boys' songs to be super catchy, but slightly hollow, like there's no real soul underneath" which contrasts with the "emotionally vulnerable and honest" Huntr/x songs – "the idea was that the surface-level part of your heart might be obsessed with the boys, but the deeper part is moved by the girls".[28] The film's original songs were written by Danny Chung, Ido, Vince, Kush, Ejae, Jenna Andrews, Stephen Kirk, Lindgren, Mark Sonnenblick, and Daniel Rojas; and produced by Teddy Park, 24, Ido, Dominsuk, Andrews, Kirk, Lindgren, and Ian Eisendrath. Marcelo Zarvos composed the score. The soundtrack also features the voices of Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, Andrew Choi, Kevin Woo, samUIL Lee, Neckwav, and Lea Salonga. The soundtrack was released on June 20, 2025; the lead single "Takedown" is performed by Jeongyeon, Jihyo and Chaeyoung of Twice.[42][43][44]

In the United States, the soundtrack album holds the highest debut on the Billboard 200 chart for soundtracks released in 2025, debuting at number eight, and is the first soundtrack of 2025 to reach the top ten.[45] The album is also the highest-charting animated film's soundtrack album on the chart since Metro Boomin's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) at number seven, as well as the first Netflix soundtrack to reach number one on the Top Soundtracks since Stranger Things: Soundtrack from the Netflix Series, Season 4 (2022).[46] The BBC highlighted that Huntr/x and the Saja Boys – with "Golden" and "Your Idol" respectively – topped the US Spotify chart with Huntr/x hitting "number two on the chart, surpassing Blackpink as the highest-charting female K-pop group", and the Saja Boys becoming "the highest charting male K-pop group in US Spotify history", surpassing BTS.[47] "Golden", the album's second single, eventually reached number one on the Billboard Global 200,[48] number one on the US Billboard Hot 100,[49] and in South Korea became the third song in 2025 to achieve a perfect all-kill on the charts,[50] as well as breaking the record for most number of hourly perfect all-kills of all time.[51][52] Additionally, the film's soundtrack became the first in the history of the Billboard Top 100 to feature four of its songs in the top 10, which include "Golden", "Your Idol", "Soda Pop", and "How It's Done".[53] It is the first film soundtrack since Waiting to Exhale (1995) to feature at least three of its songs in the top 10.[54]

Release

When the film was first announced in March 2021, a release timetable was not set.[4] Later on that same month, the film was listed to have a release type of theatrical.[24] In April 2022, it was reported that Netflix registered a filing for the film.[55][56] The film was confirmed to be coming to the streamer in February 2023, in a Business Insider interview with Sony Pictures film CEO Tom Rothman.[57] In 2021, Sony entered into concurrent agreements with Netflix.[58][59][6] According to Matthew Belloni of Puck, this included both "an output deal with Netflix for its theatrical films" and "a separate 'direct-to-platform' arrangement".[6] Under the latter, Sony agreed to give Netflix "a first look at certain live-action and animated film projects", with Netflix guaranteeing to "greenlight a minimum number" for joint development which "Netflix would release and control".[6] KPop Demon Hunters is among the titles produced under this direct-to-platform deal. Belloni reported that, under the terms of the arrangement, "Sony would be paid a prenegotiated premium on top of the budgets for the films", with sources indicating that the premium "was 25 percent of the budgets, capped at $20 million per film", and that "Netflix would keep all the rights and pay no profit participation".[6] Pamela McClintock of The Hollywood Reporter highlighted that Netflix covered the "entire $100 million budget in addition to paying Sony a fee of $25 million"; "Sony also receives a piece of soundtrack sales", "music publishing fees for certain songs" and "a portion of the money Netflix is paying Sony's animation company".[60]

In June 2024, the film was announced to be released in 2025.[61] In April 2025, it was revealed by an animator that the film would be released in June, while later that month, it was announced for a release date of June 20, 2025.[1] In addition to streaming on Netflix, KPop Demon Hunters had a limited theatrical release at select cinemas in California and New York. Billboard noted this release was "just enough to satisfy the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' highly specific eligibility requirements".[62] A sing-along version of the film was released theatrically in select theaters in North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand from August 23–24, 2025.[63][64][65][66] This version was subsequently released on Netflix.[67]

Reception

Audience viewership

On July 29, 2025, Netflix announced that KPop Demon Hunters had become the platform's "most watched original animated film of all time".[68][69] It was then reported on August 26 that KPop Demon Hunters had surpassed Red Notice (2021) as the platform's most-watched film, being viewed 236 million times in the ten weeks following its premiere.[70][71]

Box office

The sing-along version of KPop Demon Hunters debuted in theaters on August 23, 2025[72][73] and was initially projected to gross between $18–20 million from 1,700 theatres during its opening weekend.[74] It was the widest ever theatrical release for a Netflix release, beating out the 698 theatres that Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) opened in, and became the first Netflix film to finish in first place over the weekend.[75] It also became the best-performing theatrical release for the platform, beating out Glass Onion ($13.1 million in 2022).[76] However, Netflix opted out of reporting grosses.[73]

In the United States and Canada, KPop Demon Hunters made $19.2 million at the box office during its two days from 1,700 theaters,[7][76] ahead of Weapons, which was expected to remain in first during its third weekend.[76] Jeremy Fuster of TheWrap highlighted that despite KPop Demon Hunters being released on streaming in June 2025, its short theatrical release was set to open higher than the three-day opening weekends of The Bad Guys 2 ($22 million) and Elio ($20.8 million). With the 2025 summer season seeing no animated films gross over $100 million domestically,[c] Fuster opined that KPop Demon Hunters would have crossed that mark despite its rapid popularity being attributed to its release on Netflix.[77]

Matt Schimkowitz of The A.V. Club commented that while Netflix generally avoided general theatrical releases, the limited release window showed high demand from audiences who most likely have already seen the film on Netflix.[74] Ben Fritz of The Wall Street Journal similarly noted such, stating that Netflix generally avoided theatrical releases for their films outside of limited releases for awards eligibility "and to satisfy A-list filmmakers".[75] The decision to release KPop Demon Hunters theatrically was brought on due to the acclaim it has attained.[75]

Critical response

KPop Demon Hunters received widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences,[78][79][80] who praised its animation, music, voice acting, and story.[81] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 71 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Animated with infectious energy and vibrant colors, KPop Demon Hunters is jaunty family entertainment with a terrific soundtrack to boot."[82] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 77 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[83] The film has been widely noted as a cultural phenomenon by a variety of media outlets, many highlighting the film's soundtrack, characters, and story, as well as homages to anime and representation of "fandom" and Asian cultures being considered significant to its success.[84][85][86] The film's popularity was described as "unexpected" and "break-out", with several pointing out its streaming success similar to that of Disney's Encanto (2021).[87]

Brandon Yu, for The New York Times, stated KPop Demon Hunters "is an original universe that is charming, funny and artfully punchy", commenting that it "is funniest when it pokes at pop culture that is highly manufactured, from K-pop to K-dramas to mass-produced singing competitions".[88] Matt Goldberg of TheWrap commented that the plot would "be painfully overwrought if not for the terrific thread of comedy" throughout the film, noting it "knows when to poke fun at K-pop and K-drama tropes".[89] David Tizzard of The Korea Times called the film "outrageously good" and praised its representation of Korean culture, saying that it "quietly captures the texture of everyday life with an intimacy rarely seen in global content".[90] Tizzard also commented that it is not only "a love letter to K-pop" but it is "also a sharply observed, sometimes unflinching look at the culture that surrounds it".[90] Yu noted that it "shares a kind of lineage" with Sony Pictures Animation's Spider-Verse and while it shares a "similar visual style", what the film "borrows mostly is a more holistic and technical sense of the cinematic" with "fluid" action, "striking" art, and music that serves as a "dynamic storytelling tool".[88] Isaiah Colbert of Io9 similarly commented that "the animation team at Sony Pictures Animation didn't skimp, delivering yet another visual treat with decadent and vibrant animation" after their success with Spider-Verse; he highlighted the "bold and expressive" character designs which allows Huntr/x to shift from idol protagonists to "the kind of approachable girls with gremlin-like tendencies".[91] Toussaint Egan of IGN opined that the film "knows how to tackle serious subject matter without taking itself too seriously which, along with its stunning production value and exciting action sequences, makes for a wholly entertaining experience".[92] Goldberg praised Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans "for understanding that even though their setting may be outlandish, they still have to treat the stakes as real".[89] Jeff Ewing, for Collider, stated that the film lands "a beautifully bonkers fantasy premise" and has "interesting lore around demons, music, and hunters, which is novel yet feels rich".[93] Peter Debruge, for Variety, called the film "fast and efficient", and while the "human-demon rom-com plot might be predictable", he thought KPop Demon Hunters was "more entertaining" than Pixar's Elio (2025).[94]

On the voice cast, Ewing commented that the actresses for the members of Huntr/x "have clearly distinct personalities and a strong collective dynamic", noting that "May Hong and Ji-young Yoo land Mira and Zoey" respectively and "Arden Cho gives a complex and emotional vocal performance as lead Rumi"; additionally, "Ahn Hyo-seop is great as the clever, charismatic demon/boy band lead Jinu".[93] Colbert also praised "the phenomenal voice work of its main cast" along with film's authentic "musicality" which "ensures that the songs are so catchy that even the most reluctant K-pop critic would find themselves bobbing their head and humming along to the chorus".[91] He also commented that the film "explores music as both a haven and a form of emotional expression‎", which is similar to both "Turning Red and, surprisingly, Sinners", but noted it stands out by embracing "the magical girl anime aesthetic".[91] Wilson Chapman of IndieWire thought the most "impressive" aspect of the film's music was how the directors Kang and Appelhans found "smart, varied ways to stage the songs" such as a demon fight for "How It's Done", a music video "emulating the high-budget endeavors of real-world groups" for "Golden", a creation montage for "Takedown", and a "spirited dance number" for "Soda Pop".[95] Chapman stated that "versatility with how it flexes its musical muscles makes the K-pop trappings more than just a goofy gimmick but a central and vital component of its storytelling".[95] Debruge noted that "because the nimble, genre-hopping movie is set in the world of K-pop" the audience might not be aware they are "watching a musical".[94] He also highlighted the "adorable animal sidekicks, which come in the form of a grinning tiger demon and a black bird in a tiny gat (hat), both designed to look like they've stepped straight out of Korean folklore".[94] Tizzard stated that including the magpie and tiger is not an "arbitrary flourish", but are instead "direct citations from Korea's folk art tradition" which the film "reinterprets ... with affection".[90] Egan highlighted that "the fight sequences, with their flashy choreography and anime-inflected verve, lean heavily on musical numbers featuring originals songs penned by a who's who list of popular Western artists and Kpop mainstays" and that it is a "visually sumptuous action fantasy with the kind of heartfelt chest belters that are sure to make ardent converts of fans of animated musicals".[92] Tizzard highlighted that the music is "produced by real industry heavyweights", stating that "the music slaps", it "is laced with lyrical nuance, and integrates seamlessly with the narrative".[90] Similarly, Goldberg noted that the "catchy" songs have plot stakes which "helps keep the tension going throughout the film".[89]

Angela Garcia of SLUG Magazine opined that due to the short runtime, KPop Demon Hunters "leaves you feeling like it's only scratched the surface of both the world and characters".[96] Garcia explained that "in some ways this is a testament to the enticing world building and likable characters, because the audience wants to know more and spend more time with this story and characters", however, "it also shows just how many ideas were here that were ultimately left underdeveloped".[96] Chapman also highlighted the short runtime, which he felt was both a "boon at points" and the film's "fatal flaw" – by moving quickly, the film lacks depth at points, such as Mira and Zoey receiving the "short shrift storyline wise", "not digging nearly enough into the resentment Rumi feels towards ... Celine", and a "rushed climax" which is "slightly underwhelming" and is "an overly easy resolution that doesn't give these lovable girls the ending they deserve".[95] Similarly, Colbert's main criticism was an "overly convenient" resolution as the ending was "so neatly tied up that it loses some of the depth that its setup promised".[91] Ewing felt the film could have spent more time building "up the other characters' emotional lives" and highlighted that the audience is "a bit shortchanged on Rumi's actually-very-important background".[93] Goldberg also noted an occasional tonal "whiplash" and explained it is "not so much that the movie needs to discard the emotional elements, but if they were going to head in that direction, then they needed to provide stronger arcs for Zoey and Mira, who largely play as comic relief until the film's climax".[89] Matthew Belloni of Puck noted that while "Sony Pictures did make one of the biggest movie sensations of the summer – a project from its animation division that cost more than $100 million to produce and will likely become a billion-dollar franchise" – the majority of the film's "value has and will accrue to Netflix" since "Sony offloaded it rather than develop it solo and release it in theaters".[6] Belloni opined that "this is arguably Netflix's first animated megahit after many, many attempts" and for "film chief Dan Lin, this is a studio chairman's dream: a relatively cheap superhit with a clear runway for exploitation across many businesses", while Sony's film chief Tom Rothman "gotta be kicking himself over this one".[6]

Themes

The film's plot explores the power of community and friendship in overcoming cultural pressures. Arden Cho, who voices Rumi, said that "without Mira and Zoey, she wouldn't have made it".[97] According to the filmmakers, Rumi's arc parallels the experience of coming out, especially in terms of parental and societal expectations. Co-director Maggie Kang noted that the character's journey was deliberately written to mirror the process of revealing one's true self: "Rumi's story [is] like she's coming out of the closet and coming clean to her parents who [want] her to be something that she's not".[97] The final song, "What It Sounds Like", serves as a conclusion to the battle between the two fictional bands; while being an "inspirational pop song", it also dwells on Rumi's journey on battling her inner demons.[43] Kang commented that when developing the song and Rumi's story they "talked a lot about mixed heritage" as well as "queer identity, and addiction and falling back into addiction. We kind of described the demon part of you" where someone is hiding part of themselves "from the world".[32] Sulman Aziz Mirza, in Psychiatric News, highlighted the focus on "shame, identity, and healing" in the film – in particular, Rumi hiding her demonic heritage and patterns "isolates Rumi in shame, forcing her to skip bonding rituals like bathhouse visits and ultimately silencing her voice".[98] However, "Rumi and Jinu, both burdened by shame, begin to heal through music".[98] Mirza called shame a "universal" experience so "Rumi's patterns could symbolize anything:

depression, queerness, trauma, neurodivergence, or being biracial".[98]

Sequel

In an interview with Screen Rant, director Maggie Kang expressed interest in a potential sequel and side stories to flesh out the universe of the film. She said that many questions that were raised remain unanswered fully and that "there are a lot of pockets that we can explore",[27] such as potential backstories for Mira and Zoey.[99] Director Chris Appelhans told People that "there are so many unanswered questions, in a good way, and so many avenues that could be their own story."[100] Matthew Belloni of Puck noted that, under the 2021 agreement between Sony and Netflix, Sony holds "the contractual right to produce" future installments of KPop Demon Hunters; however, "the follow-up movies will go directly to Netflix, barring the unlikely event of [Netflix] co-C.E.O. Ted Sarandos suddenly coming around on theaters."[6]

In July 2025, TheWrap reported that, following the success of the film, Netflix has begun considering several potential follow-up projects, including two sequels, a television series, a short film, and a stage musical.[101] In a statement to Newsweek, Netflix Films chairman Dan Lin commented that the company was "excited to explore what could be the next adventure for Huntrix. KPDH's success comes from its original, fresh story so if we do embark on a sequel, we would want to take our time to make sure that any future stories we tell with our favorite demon hunters retains the flair and uniqueness of the first film".[102] In August 2025, Belloni reported that Sony had "just started" negotiations with Kang and Appelhans "to return for a follow-up".[6] On August 26, Pamela McClintock of The Hollywood Reporter stated that "Sony Pictures is in talks with Netflix to make an animated sequel".[60]

Notes

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《케이팝 데몬 헌터스》(영어: KPop Demon Hunters)

《케이팝 데몬 헌터스》(영어: KPop Demon Hunters)는 2025년 공개된 미국의 뮤지컬, 판타지, 코미디 애니메이션 영화이다. 소니 픽처스 애니메이션이 제작하고 넷플릭스가 배급한다. ​매기 강과 크리스 아펠한스가 감독을 맡았으며, 매기 강이 구상한 이야기를 바탕으로 강, 아펠한스, 해나 맥메찬, 다냐 히메네스가 각본을 썼으며, 성우진은 아든 조, 안효섭, 메이 홍, 유지영, 김윤진, 대니얼 대 킴, 켄 정, 이병헌으로 구성되어 있다. K-pop 걸 그룹 헌트릭스(HUNTR/X)가 악마 사냥꾼으로서 이중생활을 하며, 비밀리에 악령 라이벌 보이 밴드 사자 보이즈(Saja Boys)의 멤버들과 대결하는 이야기를 그린다.

케이팝 데몬 헌터스는 한국 문화에 영감을 받은 이야기를 만들고자 했던 강 감독의 바람에서 비롯되었으며, 신화, 악마학, K-pop 요소를 활용하여 시각적으로 독특하고 한국의 전통문화 요소가 담긴 영화를 제작했다. 2021년 3월 소니 픽처스 애니메이션에서 제작 중인 것으로 보도되었으며, 모든 크리에이티브 팀이 참여했다. 소니 픽처스 이미지워크스에서 애니메이션화되었으며, 콘서트 조명, 사진, 뮤직 비디오와 일본 애니메이션과 한국 드라마의 영향을 받았다. 사운드트랙에는 마르셀루 자르부스가 작곡했으며, 여러 아티스트가 주제곡에 참여했다.

케이팝 데몬 헌터스는 2025년 6월 20일 넷플릭스에서 공개되었으며, 매우 긍정적인 평가를 받았다.

같은 해 4월 30일에 개봉되었던 거룩한 밤 데몬 헌터스와는 비교가 되는 요소가 많이 있다. 거룩한 밤 데몬 헌터스는 헌터가 등장하고 악당을 물리치는 슈퍼히어로급 한국영화지만 해당 작품은 헌터가 등장하고 악당을 물리치는 것은 동일하지만 뮤지컬 영화이자 작중 한국어가 많이 나오는 미국 영화이다.

줄거리(Plot)

오랫동안 악마들은 인간을 공격하고 그들의 영혼을 먹어치워 악마왕 귀마를 먹여 살렸다. 세 명의 여성이 악마 사냥꾼으로 나타나 악마들을 물리치고, 그들을 인간 세계에서 봉인하기 위한 혼문이라는 장벽을 만들었다. 이 유산은 노래를 통해 혼문을 유지하는 다음 세대로 전해졌다. 현재의 사냥꾼 세대는 K-pop 걸그룹 헌트릭스로, 루미, 미라, 조이로 구성되어 있으며, 루미를 키운 전직 악마 사냥꾼 셀린의 멘토링을 받고 있다. 악마들을 물리치고 월드 투어를 마친 헌트릭스는 새 싱글을 발표할 준비를 하지만, 루미는 목소리를 잃기 시작한다. 그녀가 부분적으로 악마라는 것이 밝혀진다. 과거에 셀린은 그녀에게 모든 악마를 물리치면 악마들을 영원히 봉인할 황금 혼문이 만들어지고, 그녀의 악마 표식도 제거될 수 있다고 말한다.

한편, 악마 세계에서는 귀마가 부하들의 실패에 분노한다. 진우라는 악마는 새로운 계획을 제안한다. 팬들로부터 비밀리에 에너지를 흡수하여 혼문을 약화시키는 K-pop 보이 그룹을 결성하는 것이다. 헌트릭스는 새로운 보이 밴드인 사자 보이즈를 만나게 된다. 거의 속을 뻔했지만, 그들은 뭔가 이상하다는 것을 감지한다. 그들은 사자 보이즈가 악마임을 확인하지만 싸움에서 그들을 막지 못한다. 진우는 루미의 혈통을 알게 되고 미라와 조이에게 비밀로 한다.

그는 루미와 개인적으로 만나, 악마들은 귀마가 속삭이는 목소리를 통해 수치심과 비참함에 의해 지배된다는 것을 밝힌다. 진우는 400년 전 귀마가 자신에게 가난한 가족을 돕는 아름다운 목소리를 주었던 이야기를 들려준다. 진우는 궁정 연예인이 되었지만 결국 악마 세계로 추방당하고, 가족이 모든 것을 잃은 것에 대한 죄책감에 시달린다.

아이돌 시상식이 다가오자, 헌트릭스는 사자 보이즈를 폭로하기 위한 새로운 노래를 만들려 서두르지만, 그들의 인기는 높아지고 팬들은 두 그룹을 엮기 시작한다. 미라는 루미가 자신들의 노래가 악마들에게 너무 증오심을 담고 있는지 의문을 제기하면서 점점 의심을 품는다. 두 세계 사이에서 갈등하는 루미는 악마들에게 공감하며, 진우에게 사자 보이즈가 자신들이 시상식에서 우승하고 혼문을 재편하는 데 도움을 주면 자유로워질 수 있다고 제안한다.

악마 무리가 지하철 차량의 모든 사람을 죽인 후, 미라는 노래를 다시 쓰는 대신 사람들을 구하는 데 집중해야 한다고 주장한다. 루미는 진우에게 자신의 출신에 대한 수치심 때문에 목소리가 손상되었지만, 그와 이야기하면서 치유되었다고 고백한다. 함께 노래한 후, 진우는 더 이상 귀마의 목소리를 듣지 못하고 아이돌 시상식에서 사자 보이즈를 방해하겠다고 맹세한다. 귀마는 그와 대면하여, 진우가 숨기고 있는 진실, 즉 명성을 얻자마자 가족을 버렸다는 사실과 그들의 계약을 상기시킨다. 귀마는 고통스러운 목소리를 되돌려주겠다고 위협한다.

아이돌 시상식에서 사자 보이즈는 불참하고, 헌트릭스는 악마 증오 대신 단결에 초점을 맞춘 "골든"을 공연한다. 그러나 미라와 조이로 위장한 가짜 악마들이 루미를 속여 "테이크다운"을 부르게 하여, 루미의 악마 표식이 모두에게 드러난다. 무대에서 도망쳐 진짜 미라와 조이를 만나고, 루미가 자신의 혈통과 진우와의 공모를 인정하자 배신감을 느낀다. 루미는 진우와 대면하고, 진우는 잔인하게 모든 것이 거짓이었다고 말한다. 루미는 여전히 부정하지만, 결국 그는 폭발하여 명성을 얻었을 때 가족을 버렸다고 인정하며 귀마가 말한 것을 확인시킨다.

귀마는 미라, 조이, 그리고 대중에게 최면을 걸어 사자 보이즈의 마지막 공연으로 유인한다. 이 공연은 혼문을 부수고 귀마를 해방시키기 위해 계획되었다. 셀린은 상황을 은폐하겠다고 제안하지만, 루미는 거절하고 자신의 악마적인 면모를 받아들인다. 셀린에게 왜 자신을 온전히 사랑하지 않았냐고 쏘아붙인 후 떠난다.

마지막 공연 중에 루미는 수치심, 두려움, 불안에 맞서는 새로운 노래로 끼어들고, 이는 미라와 조이에게 걸린 최면을 깨뜨린다. 두 사람은 루미와 합류하여 악마들을 물리치기 시작하고, 관객들을 해방시킨다. 귀마는 루미를 거의 죽일 뻔하지만, 진우가 자신을 희생하여 그녀를 구하고 복구된 영혼을 그녀에게 주어, 루미, 미라, 조이가 귀마와 나머지 사자 보이즈를 물리치고 악마들을 봉인하며 혼문을 복원할 힘을 얻는다.

루미는 마침내 소녀들과 함께 편안히 지내며, 더 이상 자신의 혈통을 부끄러워하지 않는다. 나중에 헌트릭스는 대중 속에서 팬들과 만난다.

등장인물/성우

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제작

기획

2021년 3월, 소니 픽처스 애니메이션에서 《K-Pop: Demon Hunter》 라는 제목의 영화가 제작 중이며, 매기 강과 크리스 아펠한스가 연출하고, 작가 듀오 해나 맥메찬과 다냐 히메네스가 각본을 쓰며, 애런 워너와 미셸 L.M. 웡이 프로듀서로 참여한다는 소식이 발표되었다.[3][5] 밍주 헬렌 첸과 아미 톰슨도 각각 프로덕션 디자이너와 아트 디렉터로 발표되었다.[3]

매기 강 감독은 한국 문화에 기반한 영화를 만들고 싶다고 밝혔으며, 주류 미디어와 다른 독특한 시각적 연출을 위해 신화와 악마학을 조사했다.[6] 또한 자신의 "K-Pop에 대한 러브레터"이자 "한국적 뿌리"라고 불렀다.[3] 캐릭터 디자인에 대해 강 감독은 "섹시하고 멋지고 터프하기만 한 마블 여성 슈퍼히어로"와 차별화하여 "배가 나오고 트림을 하며 무례하고 어리석고 재미있는 소녀들"을 만들고 싶었다고 강조하며 "이러한 모든 요소를 아우르는 것"을 만들었다고 밝혔다.[7] 또한 봉준호 감독이 자신의 영화에서 다양한 분위기를 혼합하는 방식에 영향을 받았다고 밝혔다.[6] 2021년 위시 드래곤을 연출한 아펠한스 감독은 매기 강 감독으로부터 영화에 대한 초기 아이디어를 듣고 나중에 합류했으며,[6] "음악의 힘, 즉 단결하고, 즐거움을 주고, 공동체를 건설하는 힘에 대한 영화를 항상 만들고 싶었다"고 말했다.[3]

캐스팅

2025년 4월 유지영이 캐스팅되었다고 보도되었다.[8] 나머지 출연진은 같은 달 말에 발표되었다.[1]

애니메이션

소니 픽처스 이미지워크스에서 조시 베버리지를 캐릭터 애니메이션 책임자로 하여 애니메이션화되었다.[6] 아펠한스 감독은 "한국의 뮤직 비디오와 사진, 한국 드라마, 콘서트 조명, 약간의 애니메"에서 영감을 받았다고 밝혔다.[6] 강 감독은 2D와 3D 스타일이 섞인 소니의 스파이더버스 영화를 본 후 영화의 모든 2D 요소를 제거하기로 결정하고 대신 일본 애니메이션 스타일의 영향을 받은 CG 애니메이션을 만들 목표를 세웠다고 말했다.[6] 베버리지 또한 "2D 미학이지만 3차원적 화풍"에서 영감을 받았으며, 영화가 "매우 대담하고 그래픽적인 모습"을 갖기를 원했다고 언급했다.[6]

음악

이 부분의 본문은 KPop Demon Hunters (사운드트랙)입니다.

사운드트랙은 대니 정, IDO, 빈스, KUSH, EJAE, 제나 앤드류스, 스티븐 커크, 린드그렌, 마크 존엔블릭, 다니엘 로하스가 작곡했으며, 테디 박, 24, IDO, DOMINSUK, 앤드류스, 커크, 린드그렌, 이안 아이젠드라스가 프로듀싱했다. 마르셀루 자르부스가 악보를 작곡했다. 사운드트랙에는 오드리 누나, 레이 아미, 앤드류 최, 케빈 우, 샘유일 리, 넥웨이브, 레아 살롱가의 목소리도 포함되어 있다. 사운드트랙은 2025년 6월 20일에 발매되었으며, 리드 싱글 "Takedown"은 트와이스의 정연, 지효, 채영이 불렀다.[9][10][11]

개봉

처음 발표된 2021년 3월에는 개봉 일정이 정해지지 않았다.[3] 같은 달 말, 극장 개봉으로 등록되었다.[5] 2022년 4월, 넷플릭스가 이 영화에 대한 등록을 마쳤다는 보도가 있었다.[12][13] 2023년 2월 비즈니스 인사이더와 소니 픽처스 CEO 토머스 로스먼의 인터뷰에서 스트리밍 서비스에 출시될 것이 확정되었다.[14] 2024년 6월, 2025년에 개봉될 것이 발표되었다.[15] 2025년 4월, 한 애니메이터가 이 영화가 6월에 개봉될 것이라고 밝혔고, 같은 달 말에는 2025년 6월 20일로 개봉일이 확정되었다.[1]

평가

리뷰 애그리게이터 웹사이트 로튼 토마토에서 94% 17명의 평론가의 리뷰는 긍정적이다.[16][17] 가중 평균을 사용하는 메타크리틱은 이 영화에 100점 중 75점을 부여했으며 이는 4명의 평론가를 기반으로 "대체로 호의적인" 평가를 받았다.[18]

뉴욕 타임스의 브랜든 유는 "케이팝 데몬 헌터스"가 "매력적이고, 재미있고, 예술적으로 강력한 독창적인 세계"라고 평가하며, "K-pop부터 K-드라마, 대량 생산되는 노래 경연 대회까지 고도로 조작된 대중문화를 풍자할 때 가장 재미있다"고 평했다.[19] TheWrap의 맷 골드버그는 "이 영화 전체를 관통하는 훌륭한 코미디적 요소가 K-pop과 K-드라마의 전형적인 요소를 비웃을 줄 알기 때문에 플롯이 지나치게 복잡하게 느껴지지 않는다"고 평했다.[20] 유는 이 영화가 소니 픽처스 애니메이션의 "최근 히트작인 스파이더버스 프랜차이즈"와 "일종의 계보"를 공유하며, "유사한 시각적 스타일"을 공유하지만, "대부분은 영화적 측면에서 더 총체적이고 기술적인 감각을 빌려온다"고 언급하며, "유려한" 액션, "인상적인" 미술, 그리고 "역동적인 스토리텔링 도구" 역할을 하는 음악을 강조했다.[19] Io9의 이사야 콜베르트도 유사하게 "소니 픽처스 애니메이션의 애니메이션 팀이 아낌없이 또 다른 시각적 즐거움을 제공하며 화려하고 생동감 있는 애니메이션을 선보였다"고 평하며, 스파이더버스 성공 이후의 성과를 언급했다. 그는 "대담하고 표현력 있는" 캐릭터 디자인을 강조하며, 헌트릭스가 아이돌 주인공에서 "도깨비 같은 경향을 가진 친근한 소녀들"로 변모하는 것을 가능하게 한다고 했다.[21] IGN의 투상 에간은 이 영화가 "자신을 너무 진지하게 받아들이지 않고 심각한 주제를 다룰 줄 안다"며, "놀라운 제작 가치와 흥미진진한 액션 시퀀스와 함께 완전히 즐거운 경험을 선사한다"고 평했다.[22] 골드버그는 매기 강과 크리스 아펠한스 감독이 "설정이 기이할 수 있음에도 불구하고, 판돈을 실제처럼 다루어야 한다는 것을 이해하고 있다"는 점을 칭찬했다.[20] 콜라이더의 제프 이윙은 이 영화가 "아름답게 미친 판타지 전제"를 성공적으로 구현했으며, "악마, 음악, 사냥꾼을 둘러싼 흥미로운 전설을 가지고 있는데, 이는 새롭지만 풍부하게 느껴진다"고 평했다.[23]

성우진에 대해 이윙은 헌트릭스 "공연자들은 분명히 다른 개성과 강력한 집단적 역동성을 가지고 있다"고 평하며, "메이 홍과 유지영이 각각 미라와 조이를 잘 표현했다"고 언급했다. 또한 "아든 조는 리드 루미 역으로 복잡하고 감성적인 목소리 연기를 선보였다"고 덧붙였다. 게다가 "안효섭은 영리하고 카리스마 있는 악마/보이 밴드 리더 진우 역으로 훌륭하다"고 평했다.[23] 콜베르트 또한 "주연 배우들의 경이로운 목소리 연기"와 영화의 진정한 "음악성"을 칭찬하며, "노래들이 너무나 중독성이 강해 가장 내성적인 K-pop 비평가조차도 머리를 흔들고 후렴구를 흥얼거리게 될 것"이라고 언급했다.[21] 그는 또한 이 영화가 "메이의 새빨간 비밀과, 놀랍게도 씨너스"와 유사하게 "음악을 안식처이자 감정 표현의 한 형태로 탐구한다"고 언급했지만, "마법소녀 애니메이션 미학"을 포용함으로써 돋보인다고 지적했다.[21] 에간은 "화려한 안무와 애니메이션 스타일의 활력이 돋보이는 액션 시퀀스들은 인기 서양 아티스트와 K-pop 주역들이 작곡한 오리지널 곡들을 특징으로 하는 뮤지컬 넘버에 크게 의존한다"며, "시각적으로 화려한 액션 판타지로, 애니메이션 뮤지컬 팬들을 열렬한 신도로 만들 만한 진심 어린 흉성 발성 노래들이 특징이다"고 강조했다.[22] 골드버그는 "중독성 있는" 노래들이 플롯의 긴장감을 "영화 내내 유지하는 데 도움이 된다"고 지적했다.[20]

콜베르트의 주요 비판은 결말이 "너무 깔끔하게 마무리되어 설정이 약속했던 깊이의 일부를 잃는다"는 "지나치게 편리한" 해결책이었다.[21] 이윙은 영화가 "다른 캐릭터들의 감정선을 구축하는 데 더 많은 시간을 할애했어야 했다"고 생각하며, "루미의 실제로 매우 중요한 배경에 대해서는 관객들이 다소 불이익을 받았다"고 강조했다.[23] 유사하게, 골드버그는 간헐적인 분위기 "채찍질"을 지적하며, "영화가 감성적인 요소들을 버려야 하는 것은 아니지만, 그 방향으로 나아갈 것이었다면, 영화의 절정까지 주로 코믹 릴리프로 작용하는 조이와 미라에게 더 강력한 아크를 제공했어야 했다"고 설명했다.[20]

속편

매기 강 감독은 스크린랜트와의 인터뷰에서 속편이나 스핀오프 작품을 만들 의향이 있으나 아직까지 확정된 것은 없다고 밝혔다.[24]

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