KPop Demon Hunters is a new film streaming on Netflix that initially premiered on June 20. Directed by Maggie Kang & Chris Appelhans, the film stars the voice of Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Jim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun. When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren’t selling out stadiums, they’re using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats.

I remember first hearing about this film a few months ago when Netflix emailed me details about the film. I brushed it off as it seemed like nothing I’d be interested in. Low and behold, it has been a huge hit for the streamer! Just a few weeks after its release, it is still the number two movie streaming on Netflix. With so many people still talking about it, I had to check it out for myself. You know what? It’s actually great!

It’s easy to get Spider-verse vibes after seeing the Sony Animation logo appear in the beginning. With those being such a big success for Sony, it is even more surprising to see this being dumped on Netflix. To be fair, the title itself didn’t intrigue me in the slightest. Maybe a better title would show more confidence in other people checking it out. Much like how word of mouth has helped the film on Netflix, I think word of mouth could have even helped its box office success. Just because some movies are still being dumped on streaming doesn’t mean they are not always bad. This is a great example of what I am talking about.

As someone who isn’t particularly into K-Pop music, I was really into what they did here. It would have been great to hear the music in theaters, especially in Dolby. Between that and the action, this would have been a treat in theaters. It’s just more proof that Netflix needs to have movies like this in theaters. Unfortunately, I don’t think that will ever be the case, but at least the film is finding success.

When I think about the older animated movies that I grew up on, this one seems to fit into that mold based on the animation style and the writing. The film is a marvel to look at between its vibrant colors and unique anime style. The humor itself feels like a rare thing to see nowadays as it benefits both young kids and adults alike. The film is consistently funny from start to finish.

The characters are also incredibly likable. While it may be safe to assume this is for kids, I can easily see adults relating to the characters as well. There’s a lot of valuable lessons here to learn through the relationships and friendships that the film establishes. The voice talent puts in a lot of work with bringing these characters to life. I loved how Lee Byung-hun got the chance to prove why he’s one of the best working antagonists two weeks in a row on Netflix between this and the third season of Squid Game.

As for any issues I have with the film, there are some familiar story beats throughout that can make the film more predictable. It didn’t always blow me out of the water, but they are still entertaining nonetheless. I just think there were moments where the film could have done more to pull off more surprises. When you take the credits into consideration, the runtime runs under 90 minutes, but the slower moments can make the pacing drag at times, which may hinder any momentum felt throughout the movie.

Based on how good the movie is, it does feel a bit silly to complain about the title itself. Again, I am not into K-Pop music, but I think if the film was marketed better, it could get more viewership through fans of the animation style like I am. Since it is easy to watch at home, this is still one of the better offerings from Netflix in quite some time that I think will have mass appeal.

Overall, KPop Demon Hunters is one of the best Netflix movies of the year, and demands your attention. The visuals are stunning. The story is captivating, even if it can be predictable at times. It is consistently funny. It has a banger soundtrack. Most importantly, there are important thematic messages throughout.

VERDICT: 4/5 (Great)