According to Mary Roeloffs at Forbes, KPop Demon Hunters is now the most-watched Netflix movie of all time with a staggering 236 million views as of August 26th. The movie has rocketed to the top of the charts alongside several songs making their own respective climb. To say KPop Demon Hunters is a meteoric hit is a bit of an understatement.
I, similarly I am sure to many, had it suggested to them by a friend or friends adamantly swearing its the greatest thing out there since sliced bread. Maybe not so similarly is I refused to watch. Not because I discounted my friends’ opinions. Instead because I “knew” – turns out I was wrong – that I would not at all be interested in this movie. It wasn’t “my speed”. Fast forward to watching it one Saturday and becoming completely obsessed, I then purchased tickets to a sing-a-long at a local theatre.
Art-style and music are two things that can hook me pretty quickly across any media type: shows, movies, games, etc. This film dug its claws in and didn’t relent as I enjoyed the animation style as well as upbeat songs infused with something that rendered me unable to listen to anything else….and when I say that I mean I did a two hour drive with “Golden” on repeat and then proceeded to go for a run while listening, again, exclusively to “Golden”. Derpy Tiger and his fun feathered friend donning a stolen tiny hat really sealed the deal. Of course, the story is beautiful and while not exactly unique in origin still has many messages one can glean. Belonging, being comfortable in your own skin, accepting yourself as who you are – who can’t identify with at least one of these things? I even found myself in a complex conversation about the potential metaphor of what the demons versus Huntrix could mean.
Instead of showing off just how many in-depth literature courses I took in undergrad, let’s get back to the sing-a-long. I am a second alto which means nearly every song, with the exception of my personal favorite “What It Sounds Like” is a little bit out of my range, vocally as well as comfort. I don’t sing in public. I do not do karaoke. This is not up for discussion. I simply wanted to see this film on the big screen.
Maybe it was the showtime, a matinee. Maybe it was the theatre’s location, a new-to-me cinema on the North side of Chicago. Or maybe its because I am a 34-year-old surrounded by other adults in this fandom. Whatever it was or a combination of all three I was not prepared for my boyfriend and I to be the only adults without a child or two or several in tow. I’d seen tiktok video after tiktok video of theatres full of adults signing to their hearts content. Instead, I was surrounded by children and their reluctant parents – nearly all who had an alcoholic beverage in one hand.
No, I have no issue with children. Yes, my seat was relentlessly kicked for the duration of the film. And yes, my boyfriend side-eyed me and made a comment about the children-to-adult ration in attendance. I simply had no idea that there would be that many children. In fact, I did not see Kpop Demon Hunters as a kid’s film. Why? Well, see aforementioned where I state I am 34 with all adults friends in the fandom. I don’t have kids. Most of my friends don’t have kids. I don’t interact with children on a daily basis because I AM AN ADULT who has no usual reason to. So no, my brain did not equate animation with “kid’s film”.
So, I asked some friends (adult friends) what drew them to this movie. Some said things such as the animation and the music, including a good friend who also went to a sing-a-long and loved it. My few friends with children cited their children and/or young family members. Those with good taste made sure to mention Derpy Tiger, the best boy. Others went deeper into it and stated that they loved the message, that the story drew them in. One friend went into depth saying this film’s story felt like a trans allegory, which I can personally see. Rumi’s fight to accept herself can be echoed across many different identities we may have. Another good friend stated she resonated with the messaging of self-doubt and finding purpose as well as personal flaws and struggles that must be faced. She said that each character had a struggle she could relate to in some capacity coupled with the fear of being alone and being unable to be loved. And what is love if not to be seen wholly as who we are and accepted despite of or in spite of that fact?
It would seem that KPop Demon Hunters really has something for everyone. Maybe you just want to sing your heart out. Maybe you find solace in seeing characters overcome their own doubts and fears to become their best selves. And maybe you are the parent gripping the glass of beer and preparing yourself for 90 or so minutes of enthusiastic but off-pitch singing by a gaggle of precious kids. Whatever the case, this film offers a vast array of experiences and is, in my opinion, a must watch.
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