Netflix’s new animated film KPop Demon Hunters is gaining massive global popularity. The film shot to No. 1 globally in the series category within just three days after being released on June 20th.
KPop Demon Hunters scored 282 points and topped Netflix’s global Top 10 series chart, according to data from streaming analytics site FlixPatrol on June 22nd.
The film ranked No. 1 in 22 countries, including South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan and Mexico.
KPop Demon Hunters is an action-fantasy animation that follows K-pop superstars who are hidden heroes protecting the world behind their glamorous stage personas. When not performing, these idols transform into brave demon hunters who fight off supernatural threats lurking in the shadows.
The film was co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the same studio behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Korean actors Ahn Hyo Seop and Lee Byung Hun lent their voices to the film, while TWICE members Jeongyeon, Jihyo and Chaeyoung contributed to the OST.
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Meanwhile, over 600 reviews of the film had been posted on Douban, China’s largest review platform, as of June 23th. Some Chinese users claim that elements such as traditional knots, herbal medicine, tigers and architectural styles seen in the film are part of Chinese cultural heritage.
Chinese netizens have criticized the film with comments like: “Well-made, but too much of Chinese culture is being borrowed,” “Korea no longer bothers to hide its cultural appropriation and plagiarism,” “It’s a den of thieves. Sony is helping Korea steal our culture,” and “Why are there Chinese elements in a supposedly Korean setting? This is ridiculous.”
However, Netflix is not officially available in mainland China. Since the platform hasn’t entered the Chinese market, it’s assumed that most of these reviews are based on pirated downloads or illegal streams.
In response, Korean netizens have fired back: “They’re watching Netflix illegally and still feel entitled to complain?” “What exactly did we ‘steal’?” “Illegal viewing isn’t new. Aren’t they ashamed?”
Many Chinese users posting reviews on Douban are known to have watched other Korean content illegally, such as the hit dramas The Glory, Squid Game, and When Life Gives You Tangerines. This has reignited concerns about ongoing copyright infringement.
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