KPop Demon Hunters

KPop Demon Hunters (2025) is a new Netflix animated movie that I didn't know what to think of it when I first heard about it, but I decided to give it a chance and I had a great time with this movie.

Positives for KPop Demon Hunters (2025): First off, the idea for this movie is very interesting where it feels like a combination of Demon Slayer mixed with Sailor Moon and that is exactly what you get with this movie. The animation style for this movie is awesome and it gives the movie a unique feel to it. The voice cast does an excellent job with their performances and I really enjoyed the chemistry between the three main woman as they feel like real friends who like to kick major demon ass and sing together. I also liked the three male characters that our heroes are in competition with when it comes to their music and it creates this competition between the two teams that is fun to watch. The action sequences are dynamic and they have energy and excitement to them that I enjoyed watching. And finally, this is one of those movies that will definitely lend itself to becoming a popular franchise for Netflix with a couple of sequels.

Mixed for KPop Demon Hunters (2025): The music in this movie is quite good for the target audience, I am just not one of them. I don't hate KPop music, it's just that this genre of music isn't my thing and that is okay because it will definitely work for fans of KPop bands like BTS and others.

Negatives for KPop Demon Hunters (2023): The romance between the female and male leads of the two competing bands of this movie is your traditional cliched romance story and it was the weakest aspect of the movie that I disliked.

Overall, KPop Demon Hunters (2023) is damn good time for fans of both fantasy action movies and KPop music. I look forward to seeing if this movie does get a sequel or a franchise because there is a lot of things that can be explored in the future.

When your 13-year-old starts humming the soundtrack before the credits roll and your 11-year-old immediately asks "Can we watch it again?", you know an animated film has struck gold... even if that gold comes with some familiar copper underneath.

*** I have to, have to, have to... UPDATE this review here (rest all is original) I had to sit through this movie a second time! Because my daughter wanted a rewatch! And TBH I didn't hate it either ***

Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans' KPop Demon Hunters is genuinely delightful visual candy that marries supernatural action with infectious pop sensibilities.

The genre-bending animated film borrows from pop music and action cinema, creating something unexpectedly charming. Sony Pictures Animation continues their innovation streak with gorgeous visuals that make every demon-slaying sequence pop like a music video, whilst the soundtrack absolutely slaps... proper earworm material.

The film's greatest strength lies in its sincere embrace of K-pop culture without descending into parody. It's endearing, beautifully animated crowdpleaser, with a dorkily sincere love for the pop culture phenomena it embeds itself in. However, beneath the stunning animation lies a disappointingly predictable story that feels like we've seen this particular "misfit teens save the world" template countless times before.

The fighting is not horrible but is bad, and the action sequences, whilst visually spectacular, lack genuine tension or stakes. It's humorously subversive and a funny but brutal commentary on its own industry, which adds clever meta-commentary that adults will appreciate.

Who'll Love This: K-pop fans, animation enthusiasts, families wanting something fresh, and anyone who enjoyed Spider-Verse's visual innovation.

My kids were absolutely transfixed: the 13-year-old appreciated the meta-commentary whilst the younger one was purely there for the demon-slaying spectacle. Teen girls will worship at its altar.

Rating: 7/10 (Gorgeous spectacle that prioritises style over substance, but what magnificent style it is) Probably 8/10 for my kids.

The movie offers a great explanation and reassurance that your insecurities and your mistakes do not make you who you are. It has some of the best twists I've seen in a long time. It allows a great look into Korean pop culture and the songs not only help with the plot but also aren't a typical Disney song. The animation is stunning and beautiful. My only complaint is the lip sinc for some of the songs don't quite match up but to have a complete original movie that can be enjoyed by all audiences and never lags in plot, storytelling, or animation is what makes this movie so great. Also this movie took 9 years to make. People have put their blood, sweat, and tears into it. I just wish it was more available on other platforms.

I'm more of an animation fan than a kpoper, so KPop Demon Hunters was offering a fresh idea, but I was not prepared.

The colors are gorgeous. The constant pallette choice of cold colors are pleasing in the eyes and well-coordinated, it's breathtaking. Fluid movements during fights, Sony nailed it over and over.

Albeit story-wise is formulaic, the casts are wonderful and easily loveable. Jinu has the most generic looking facial feature for a character but his personality definitely sells his character, I love him. The trio is an icon, they are all different in their own ways and it's what made their interactions very enjoyable!

Last but not least, the tracks. Banger. It gave me chills, especially the last to close up the story. I'm not familiar with KPop songs, so this is all very new to me, but the tracks in this movie definitely hook me up, and I now see the appeal of KPop songs. Brb while I binge the tracks.

It's like... Actually good? Like... Unironically? I did not expect that.

I totally thought this would be some trash trying to milk the KPop culture/fandom, but... I mean, it is that, no mistake about that, but it's not just a cash-grab. The story, if you think about it, is kind of simplistic and predictable, but I do not think it was aiming for something complex. It's a fairy tale. You know, like Snow White? What makes it stand out is the delivery.

The music is good. I am not a fan of KPop, aside maybe a couple of songs, and I can remember only one of them (I'm a Pop), but the songs sounded good to my ears with just a few moments sounding a bit off. Not as in "off-tune", but as in "do not fit" either overall song structure or what's happening on screen. Those are nitpicks, though. Totally not like Snow White.

Animation is great, the style overall. I really like that it's not taking itself or the pop culture too seriously, and expresses it through the goofy animations. But they are not just for giggles: they paint human (and humane) characters. Female characters, Disney, take note! The girls can kick some ass, they like to goof about, when they can, but at the same time, they do have their troubles (especially Rumi), and they overcome them together and go pursue their passions in order to give to the world.

Will this movie change the world as original Snow White did? Probably not. We live in a different world now, after all. But what it does is deliver a light-hearted and full-hearted story, which also delivers proper satisfaction when it ends, and may even inspire some kids. Because the movie shows good traits (and perseverance) and not just talks about them. I would even give it 9/10, docking 1 point only because I would have preferred a more fleshed-out story, if possible.