r/movies • u/darth_vader39 • 1d ago
Article Netflix Broke Its Rules to Share ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ on the Big Screen … But Don’t Expect the Streamer to Make a Habit of It
https://variety.com/2025/film/columns/netflix-big-screen-kpop-demon-hunters-sing-along-column-1236496949/145
u/dIoIIoIb 1d ago
Unless something else makes a lot of money, and in that case they will do it again
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u/Eject_The_Warp_Core 19h ago
Frankenstein is getting some theater time, and since Glass Onion did I'm still hoping they'll anounce a theatrical window for Wake Up Dead Man
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u/BrewKazma 21h ago
I would have paid to see this in theatres if it wasn’t a sing along version. I hope I can buy this on 4k blu ray some day.
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u/ModernTenshi04 19h ago
Took my kiddo to an early afternoon showing yesterday that was nearly sold out, and other than a few outbursts from kids who may have also been having their first time in a theater, it was honestly no worse than any other animated movie I've seen in theaters. The Dolby Atmos was loud enough that folks singing along really didn't drown out the songs, and everyone seemed to have a very fun time. Seeing the movie on a giant screen was also fantastic because it's absolutely stunning visually.
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u/Jumpy_Nectarine_6660 17h ago
So I took 3 of my teenage kids to go see it and our theater was packed with kids of all ages but you couldn't hear anyone really singing over the sound of the movie. I hadn't gotten the chance to see it nor had I heard any of the songs yet except for snippets of my kids or sister singing, and I feel like seeing it in the theater was an amazing experience. Im definitely a fan now. My whole neurospicy house is randomly bursting out in these songs since yesterday and it's been fantastic.
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u/tehawesomedragon 19h ago
Luckily the showing I went to was a last minute extension and barely anyone showed up, and my kids were the only ones singing along. It didn't dampen the experience, because they would've been singing even if there weren't subtitles.
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u/gIDDycYNic 16h ago
Just got out of the sing-along version, it was not bad at all. I remember just as much evternal noise when seeing "no way home".
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u/Mantzy81 1d ago
Got to get that Oscar nomination for best soundtrack or animation or something. Easier to do that if it's in the cinema
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u/ModernTenshi04 19h ago
They actually released it in theaters in NYC and LA before it hit their streaming platform. I believe per Academy rules if it goes to streaming first the movie is ineligible for consideration. The movie has blown up, as has the soundtrack, so they put a special sing-along version in theaters this weekend, and apparently some theaters are requesting they add more screenings. Took my kiddo to a screening yesterday and they had a blast. I think the parents next to us may have been seeing it for the first time because they busted out laughing at certain funny parts, so it was a good time all around.
Netflix is keen to make sequels, and I honestly would not be surprised if they actually try to release it in theaters first to make a ton of money. Sony really screwed the pooch by not understanding the movie and selling the IP to Netflix, while also not retaining rights to the soundtrack which holds seven of the top ten spots on Spotify. The fanfare around the movie has been insanely huge.
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u/DietrichDoesDamage 20h ago
Weak competition for them on both ends unless NheZha 2 makes waves for the animation Oscar
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u/hatramroany 18h ago
For Best Original Song it will likely have to go against Wicked and Sinners which will both also likely be nominated for Best Picture, its nomination will be its reward.
But for Best Animated Feature it certainly seems like the current frontrunner.
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u/axw3555 11h ago
And all 3 honestly deserve to win the best song oscar.
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u/hatramroany 9h ago
I think they’ll just default to Cynthia Erivo who co-wrote her Elphaba song. It’s her last award for an EGOT
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u/azk3000 7h ago
Do Wicked songs count as Original since they're from the play
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u/hatramroany 6h ago
They added two new songs for the second movie and they’re eligible. The original stage musical songs aren’t eligible
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u/ModernTenshi04 18h ago
Saw it in a theater that shows how full a screening is via TVs at the entrance to each screen. Nearly every screening of KPDH was at least half or more sold, and the one screen I saw playing NheZha 2 had all seats available.
Not saying this would affect the movie's ability to win awards, but from my brief and admittedly anecdotal observations yesterday, folks did not seem interested in seeing it.
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u/kakusei_zero 18h ago
ne zha 2 had a theatrical run with CN voices + subtitles a while back, so pretty much anyone who was interested in watching it has already seen it
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u/HausuGeist 8h ago
It's a chicken or the egg thing. Would it have been so popular if it hadn't been on Netflix?
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u/knoewayobtuse 7h ago
I definitely think it may been a hard sell if it went straight to theaters. Cause the name is so generic and a lot of ppl don't like kpop. So basically just checking it out on Netflix I'm paying for makes a huge difference
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u/PartyPorpoise 6h ago
How is “K-Pop Demon Hunters” a generic name? I think the name is what got a lot of people watching in the first place cause it’s so absurd.
In theaters, I doubt it would’ve been an instant hit, although I do think it could’ve gotten good word of mouth and done well. What’s really tricky is that there were other big family movies out when it got released so it would’ve risked being ignored.
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u/Prize_Hat289 4h ago
How is “K-Pop Demon Hunters” a generic name?
This is just a sample size of 1, me, but when I first heard of this movie years ago, I thought to myself "no movie should ever be called K-Pop Demon Hunters". haha. It sounded like those low effort straight-to-dvd movies from the mid 2000s. Important note though, I'm not the demographic for this movie. When I found out the makers of Spider-Verse were making, that's when I started taking it a bit more serious.
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u/awyastark 8m ago
Yeah I actively made fun of the concept/name because I thought it sounded stupid and I’m a big fan of anime and musicals. A friend talked me into watching and I’m obsessed now.
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u/f-ingsteveglansberg 2h ago edited 1h ago
A traditional theatre release. The movie was a slow burn on Netflix that got popular through word of mouth. That used to happen to movies all the time. It was how Sinners got popular.
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u/Kiwikumquat 7h ago
It likely wouldn’t have had the reception and virality it’s seen on Netflix, but Sony still took a major L by selling the IP to Netflix and music distribution rights to Republicans/UMG.
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u/fshippos 16h ago
Maybe the only example in modern society of a soulless money-making entity refusing to make more easy money. It's just sitting there for them. It's like walking by a sign that says "free money, take a lot of it", and scoffing at it.
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u/Digital--Fantasies 15h ago
I mean, this is a case where it was a surprise hit on streaming first though. Who the hell thought that Kpop Demon Hunters would be a quality film? Even more so that children would enjoy it as much?
MOST Netflix films would not do shit in theaters. That's just a fact. You put The Gray Mans etc. in there with their insane budgets and they just flop bad.
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u/TrustMeImAGiraffe 12h ago
There were defiantly people (myself included) who were very excited for this movie before it released. I saw a trailer 4 months out and had the release date marked in my calendar. I always thought it would be a hit; Sony have great animation, KPop is one of the biggest genres among Gen Z and the soundtrack had a collaboration with Twice (the top 5th streamed Girl Group of 2024).
It was always going to explode once put on Netflix when everyone could access it. I just think reddit is very blind to these trends, being mostly male, over 30 and american.
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u/PartyPorpoise 6h ago
I was looking forward to it for a long time too, although I didn’t expect it to be a big hit. A lot of great animated movies go onto streaming and don’t get much attention.
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u/fshippos 15h ago
Yeah but they had insane budgets regardless. As long as it makes the cost of distribution, what's the harm? Six Underground, Pinocchio, etc. They still have exclusive rights for their streaming platform afterwards.
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u/Totheendofsin 19h ago
I mean its because they want to put it up for The Oscar's right?
Golden is probably a shoe in for best original song and the movie itself will probably get best animated picture
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u/filthysize 19h ago
No, to qualify for an Oscar you need a 7 day run in NY or LA, followed by another 7 days in 10 additional cities. Netflix already does that every year with their awards bait movies.
This is them doing a special 2 day event screenings in 1,700 screens. That set up has nothing to do with the Oscar eligibility rules, which is why it's being singled out as so unusual for them to do.
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u/ZestycloseRound6843 14h ago
I believe they already took care of the eligibility requirement for this one in June or July.
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u/filthysize 14h ago
Yes, same time it was released on streaming, because I forgot to mention the most important part: the theatrical release has to be first, even if just by a few hours on the same day.
Netflix can't release a movie and then decide weeks later to put it in theaters to qualify because it unexpectedly got popular.
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u/PokePress 10h ago
Is there a list of movies that have gotten this treatment?
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u/filthysize 9h ago
What, Netflix movies that got a wide release? There's never been one before KPop Demon Hunters.
This is going to be the first time a Netflix movie is #1 in the weekend box office.
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u/PokePress 5h ago
I meant which ones they did NY/LA on.
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u/filthysize 5h ago
That's gotta be like over 100 movies at this point. I don't know if anyone has compiled a complete list.
This would only be a fraction of them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accolades_received_by_Netflix#Academy_Awards_for_films_streamed,_distributed_or_produced_by_Netflix
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u/ModernTenshi04 19h ago
Remains to be seen, but Zootopia 2 is also hitting in November and was an absolute monster in these categories the year it came out.
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u/Iyellkhan 11h ago
I know they think streaming exclusivity is the key to their success, but it seems more dogmatic and less analytical how they are about theatrical
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u/Mobile-Waltz-5123 1d ago
I mean they do it for all potential award contenders
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u/Impressive-Potato 16h ago
Nope, a film has to be screened in select theatres in NYC and LA BEFORE being put onto streaming platforms to qualify for the Academy consideration.
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u/VooDooChile1983 9h ago
I want to watch this but I don’t like k pop. Is this like an action musical or are there songs sprinkled throughout?
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u/Vantriss 7h ago
I am not a kpop fan but this movie and it's songs are phenomenal. It's not a musical in any lesser capacity than a Disney movie. You should definitely see it!
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u/Prize_Hat289 4h ago
I am not a kpop fan but this movie and it's songs are phenomenal.
Yo same! I don't care for K-Pop or K-drama, don't have even 1 K-pop song in my library before this, but I've now added the KPDH soundtrack. I still have no interest in exploring other k-pop groups or songs, haha. The visuals attached to the songs is what makes this movie next level, imo.
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u/knoewayobtuse 7h ago
Not a k pop fan but I enjoyed the movie. My favorite song is Idol 🤣🤣🤣 Took my daughter to the movies to see it today. It was actually pretty cool. Not as annoying as I thought it was going to be
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u/Itchy-Pudding-4240 57m ago
its exactly what it sounds like, its Kpop and its demon hunting with the added bonus of being a Sony Animation which are doing well lately. But im already a sucker for animation + musicals so it was an easy choice.
if you arent into kpop and/or musicals then it might be a hard sell, though the animation might persuade you. The story is alright, its safe.
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u/Intelligent-Alps2373 10h ago
Sony execs are gonna jump over this. I’d be screaming it wasn’t a full theater release lol
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u/Whole-Butterfly-1497 6h ago
This film not getting a theatrical release is kinda wild. I would’ve paid to see this in theaters
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u/TenorHorn 4h ago
If this makes them a ton of money they will do more of it. The only rule is money. Silly headline
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u/Drblizzle 3h ago
Two posts above this is Frankenstein, coming to Netflix in November and releasing in theaters in October. Just thought that was funny because of your silly article.
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u/zowietremendously 9m ago
I actually like the idea of a streaming movie earning it's theatrical release. If a movie is popular enough on streaming, it should get a two-week theatrical release. That essentially means a movie is so fucking good, people will pay to see it on the big screen, when they can watch it at home.
I always push for movies to be released theatrically first. But if it must go to streaming, I like the idea that a movie can become such a phenomenon, that it demands to be put in theaters.
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u/geekmansworld 9h ago
Oh don't worry Netflix, we wouldn't DREAM of you putting the needs of actual good culture before your own selfish interests.
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u/tylercuddletail 15h ago
Probably don't expect a legit DVD or Blu-ray release either. Even though that is probably a great idea that would cut down on those Netflix Physical Bootlegs on eBay.
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u/EMAW2008 19h ago
God I’m sick of this damn movie.
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u/Detective-Layton 17h ago
Get out of here you pesky demon
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u/EMAW2008 16h ago
I’ve had to watch it every day since my kids found it. Fuck this movie. Sick of it.
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u/Mandalore108 7h ago
On the bright side, there are far worse movies that they could watch repeatedly.
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u/wecangetbetter 17h ago
from what I understand this movie was in production hell and no studio believed in it. Sony sold it for scraps. Netflix didn't promote it until it became a viral sensation.
Deserves every ounce of success it's enjoying.
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u/Ouxington 17h ago
Honestly, I don't get it either. I watched and it's... fine? Like it isn't offensive or anything but it is pretty paint by numbers and forgettable. I kept hearing how great the music was and it was just genre basic. I get why literal children would be excited by it but all the adults saying "this is my jam!" just reminds me of all the doom articles about the US's plunging adult media literacy rate.
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u/EMAW2008 16h ago
It’s a fine movie. I’ve just had to watch it on repeat because of my kids. I’m burnt out
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u/axw3555 11h ago
Ok, was gonna downvote, but the kid rewatch burnout I get.
I inflicted the first pokemon movie on my parents like that.
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u/EMAW2008 11h ago
It’s fine. I understand that I’m in the minority on this so I’ll take the downvotes.
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u/AMA_requester 1d ago
It would probably take this making like a billion dollars to get Ted Sarandos to even consider it lol