I’m late to the party on KPop Demon Hunters, but this is one of those movies that just hasn’t stopped growing over the months. I haven’t seen the hype for it die down, so I figured it was finally time to join the conversation.
And as somebody who’s at the theater three to four times a week, covering tons of new releases, and getting early press screenings, things inevitably slip through the cracks. This was one of them. Honestly, I don’t even think Sony or Netflix expected this to become as big as it did. It had little marketing, dropped on Netflix, and then just blew up. Friends kept asking me, “Aren’t you the movie guy? How have you not seen this yet?” Eventually, with the sing-along version hitting select theaters, I ripped the band-aid off and watched it.
Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, this film stars Arden Cho, May Hong, Audrey Nuna, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, and more.
The story follows K-pop girl group HUNTR/X — Rumi, Mira, and Zoey — who secretly use their musical powers to maintain the Honmoon, a barrier that protects humanity from demons. But when Rumi’s dark secret threatens their final seal, the Golden Honmoon, they’re forced to face the demon boyband, the Saja Boys, to save their fans and the world.
And I’ll say this right away: the hype is real. This was such a fun, well-made movie. Honestly, it deserved a traditional theatrical release. Watching it at home, though, I totally get why it connected — it’s vibrant, colorful, stylish, and nonstop entertaining.
I’m not really into K-pop outside of a handful of songs, but this movie pulled me into that world. The outfits, the energy, the overall aesthetic — it nailed it. And the music? Pure bangers. My wife and I finished the movie saying every track hit. They’re catchy, energetic, and the vocal performances match seamlessly with the voice acting. It never felt jarring — it felt like one cohesive character every time.
Visually, it’s stunning. I watched it with my Govee lights syncing up to the TV, and it just added to the immersion — purples, pinks, blues, greens blasting off the screen. Some shots could be wall art. And the action, paired with the music, kept me glued. It’s stylized, it’s fun, and it all clicks.
MAJOR Spoiler ahead!
Narratively, yeah, it has some familiar beats and archetypes. You’ll see twists coming. But the execution makes it work. Rumi’s struggle with her half-demon identity and the bond between her and the rest of HUNTR/X gave it heart. The themes about inner voices, darkness, and loyalty hit well.
If I have gripes, they’re small. Celine, their guardian, could’ve been fleshed out more. The romance between Rumi and Jinu could’ve used a few extra scenes. But those are nitpicks in what’s otherwise a tight 90-minute animated feature that’s packed with color, music, and heart.
I loved this film. It’s fun, it’s stylish, and it knows exactly what it’s doing. It pokes fun at K-pop while celebrating it, and it does it in a way that makes fans feel in on the joke. I really hope we get a sequel — and next time, I’d love to see it hit theaters right away.
Rating: 10/10.