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New Delhi: The global frenzy around KPop Demon Hunters is about to reach a whole new pitch. After dominating Netflix for more than seven weeks, the smash-hit animated feature is being given a special theatrical push in the United States. And this time, fans won’t just watch, they’ll sing along.
It’s been confirmed that the Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans co-directed film will be screened in select theatres on August 23 and 24. These limited two-day “sing-along” events are being planned for die-hard fans to belt out chart-topping tracks from the film’s now-iconic soundtrack. Tickets aren’t yet available, but anticipation is already sky-high.
The move comes as no surprise. Backed by Netflix and produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the film has been unstoppable since its June 20 premiere. It’s been glued to Netflix’s global Top 10 list, and just last week, it officially joined the streamer’s list of most-watched English-language films of all time with a staggering 158 million views. Its soundtrack is loaded with hits like Golden and Your Idol and has soared to the Top 10 of Billboard’s charts, outpacing even established K-pop giants like Blackpink and BTS on Spotify streams.
Industry insiders believe this theatrical re-release is a strategic play for awards season. In a move that only fuels Oscar chatter, KPop Demon Hunters will be among the first batch of digital screeners sent to Academy members on August 16. It will share the prestigious platform with titles such as The Ugly Stepsister, The Luckiest Man in America, and Becoming Led Zeppelin. Variety reports that studios pay $20,000 to secure a spot on the Academy’s screening portal.
The film, based on a story by Kang, features an all-star voice cast including Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Squid Game’s Lee Byung-hun. Its fictional boy bands, HUNTR/X and Saja Boys, have ignited real-world fan devotion, with streaming numbers rivaling the biggest names in K-pop.
