HOLLYWOOD/SEOUL – The animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” which follows the dual life of the K-pop girl group HUNTR/X as pop stars and demon hunters, has cemented its status as a global phenomenon, with its soundtrack becoming a chart-topping success this summer.
Available on Netflix and directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the film has quickly gained massive traction. Netflix reported in August that the soundtrack had already boasted over 3 billion global streams, with the breakout hit “Golden” soaring to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This past Tuesday, the streaming platform confirmed the movie was currently its most popular English-language film worldwide.
Musical Inspirations Rooted in Hip-Hop
The film’s success is propelled by the vocal talents of Korean American singers EJAE, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna, who lend their voices to the main characters Rumi, Zoey, and Mira, respectively. While drawing heavily from K-Pop, the artists revealed that their musical style is also deeply influenced by Black American hip-hop stars like Kendrick Lamar, Missy Elliott, and Doechii.
Rapper and singer Rei Ami told Reuters, “I think I discovered West Coast rap in high school, and I learned a lot about storytelling, lyricism and rhythm.”
All three vocalists highlighted the profound impact of rapper and producer Kendrick Lamar on their musical composition and delivery. “His (Lamar’s) flow is insane, cadence, his way of writing, his way of vocal producing, I learned a lot from that,” said singer and songwriter EJAE, who also co-wrote and performs “Golden.”
Historic Performance and Sequel Hopes
The film’s growing popularity was further demonstrated by a historic first for Netflix when a sing-along version of the movie topped the domestic box office during its opening weekend on August 23 and 24. According to Luminate, the soundtrack is the most-consumed of the year in the U.S. when combining album sales and streaming.
Building on this momentum, the singers will make their first-ever live performance together, performing “Golden” on The Tonight Show on October 7.
“It’s official,” the trio confirmed in unison. Rei Ami remarked that this history-making debut is “overdue,” adding, “These girls, it’s an honor being on stage with them.”
With the movie continuing to trend since its June 20 release, directors Kang and Appelhans are now considering the future of the franchise. Both expressed they are thinking about a potential sequel and are appreciative of the Oscar and Grammy awards buzz the film has generated. “It’s an honor to be even recognized, to be potential nominees,” Kang said.
