K-pop anime's sing-along screenings draw large crowds in US

A scene from Netflixs animated film KPop Demon Hunters Courtesy of Netflix — A scene from Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." Courtesy of Netflix

SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - Special two-day screenings of Netflix's South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" attracted a horde of K-pop fans and other moviegoers in the U.S. over the weekend.

To capitalize on the seemingly unstoppable popularity of the animation, the American streaming giant offered sing-along screenings at more than 1,700 theaters across North America, many of which sold out as soon as tickets became available.

The limited-time screenings allowed audiences to sing along with on-screen lyrics while watching the film, turning it into an interactive event for fans.

According to the U.S. magazine Variety on Sunday, the popular anime was "estimated to have earned $18 million to $20 million" in ticket sales, based on "projections from rival studios and exhibitors."

Since its release on June 20, the 100-minute animation, which tells the story of K-pop superstars who are not just "selling out stadiums" but also "using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats," has remained at the top of Netflix's weekly streaming chart since last week, after several weeks at No. 2.

Its K-pop–infused soundtrack has also been a hit, with the main theme song "Golden" ranking No. 2 and two other tracks included in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 last week.

Cheon Soram cheons@ajunews.com