[K-Pop] K-pop dominates Netflix and Billboard with 'Demon Hunters'

A scene from KPop Demon Hunters Courtesy of Netflix — A scene from "KPop Demon Hunters." Courtesy of Netflix

SEOUL, September 3 (AJP) - Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" has become the global streaming giant's most-watched both film and show, while its main soundtrack topped Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart for a third consecutive week.

According to Netflix's ranking website Tudum on Wednesday, the film logged 266 million cumulative views as of this week, overtaking the first season of "Squid Game" (265.2 million) and "Wednesday" (252.1 million).

Released on June 20, the film depicts a fictional K-pop girl group protecting the world from evil spirits with music, blending South Korea's music industry with its shamanistic elements. Since Netflix tallies views within the first 91 days of release, the film still has two weeks remaining in its counting period, giving it room to extend its lead.

At the same time, the film's soundtrack "Golden" retained its No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 for a third week, beating American singer Alex Warren's "Ordinary." It follows K-pop boy band Stray Kids' full-length album "Karma" topping the Billboard 200 this week, marking the first time in five years that K-pop acts have simultaneously led the singles and albums charts, last achieved in December 2020 by K-pop juggernaut BTS with their mini-album "BE" and its title track "Life Goes On."

Released on the same day as the film, "Golden" debuted at No. 81 on the Hot 100 and then climbed steadily, remaining on the chart for 10 consecutive weeks. It also became the third K-pop song to hold the No. 1 spot for three weeks or more, following BTS's "Butter" (10 weeks) and "Dynamite" (3 weeks).

Along with "Golden," three other songs from the film's soundtrack, "Your Idol," "Soda Pop," and "How It's Done," also placed in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week.

Ian Eisendrath, the song's producer, said the success shows "people are connecting with the song in two ways, some fell in love with the film and that drove the song's popularity, while others discovered the song first, which in turn boosted the movie."

Kim Hee-su khs@ajupress.com