[K-Pop] K-pop anime becomes Netflix's most-watched movie

SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - Netflix's South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" has become the global streaming giant's most-watched movie.

According to Netflix's ranking website Tudum, the animation has accumulated 236 million views since its release on June 20, taking the top spot in the platform's all-time movie rankings, which are calculated "based on total views in the first 91 days of release."

American action thriller "Red Notice" came in second, falling just 900,000 views short.

When combined with all Netflix shows and movies, "KPop Demon Hunters" ranks third in overall rankings. It trails the first season of mega-hit series "Squid Game," which has amassed 265 million views since its release in September 2021, and American mystery "Wednesday," which has racked up 252 million views.

But the 100-minute animation still has about three weeks to catch up to the South Korean dystopian thriller, which is ahead by roughly 29 million views.

Although it remains to be seen whether it can close the gap and claim the top spot, the explosive popularity of the anime, 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, seems unstoppable, continuing to captivate fans and viewers across the world.

Its K-pop-infused soundtrack has also been a hit, with the main theme song "Golden" ranking No. 1 and three other tracks such as "How It's Done," "Soda Pop," and "Your Idol" included in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week.

Cheon Soram cheons@ajupress.com