A Flower Bloomed After 7 Years... The New Path Proven by Kedeheon [The Kedeheon Phenomenon]

184 Million Views and Counting: Poised to Become Netflix's Most-Watched Title
Original Story Without a Sequel Challenges Disney's Dominance

The animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters" (Kedeheon) is rewriting Netflix history. According to Netflix's official site Tudum, as of August 13, the film has accumulated 184.6 million views, making it the second most-watched title after "Red Notice" (230.9 million, 2021). With a gap of 46.3 million, it is highly likely to take the top spot by the end of this month. Over the past four weeks, Kedeheon has averaged 26 million weekly views. The number of views is calculated by dividing the cumulative viewing hours by the film's runtime, and Kedeheon has reached a total of 307.6 million viewing hours.

Netflix did not initially anticipate this level of success. The company had never previously found significant success with animated films or series. Titles produced by Hollywood's major animation studios, such as "The Sea Beast" (2022), "Over the Moon" (2020), and "Spellbound" (2022), failed to attract much attention. As a result, Netflix had to rely on older animated works from renowned studios like DreamWorks or Illumination.

The production company, Sony Pictures Animation, was no different. The Kedeheon project dates back seven years. Maggie Kang, a director at Sony, and director Chris Appelhans conceived a story about K-pop idols who are also demon hunters. However, their proposal was rejected by higher-ups, who considered making a film with strong Korean cultural elements and an all-Asian cast too risky. In a recent interview with foreign media, Director Kang said, "There was skepticism because there were no similar precedents. Some viewed the global popularity of K-pop as uncertain, questioning when it might decline."

They did not give up. They approached Netflix, presenting a draft script, demo songs, artwork, and edited storyboard scenes, and requested collaboration. Netflix was captivated by the animation samples and decided to proceed with production. Since both directors were affiliated with Sony, Netflix entrusted production to Sony while handling distribution and investment. As a result, Sony was able to avoid financial risk and create a film worthy of being called at the Academy Awards, while Netflix secured a new hit title.

They also presented a new vision for Hollywood's future: moving away from the tendency to rely on sequels or proven formulas. Disney, the animation giant, recently suffered losses by producing a series of works filled with symbolism and self-consciousness. "Wish" (2023), created to mark Disney's 100th anniversary, is a prime example. With predictable settings referencing past classics and lackluster direction, it recorded a net loss of over $100 million. Live-action adaptations like "The Little Mermaid" (2023) and "Snow White" (2025) offered little difference from the originals aside from the protagonists' skin color, and were criticized for forcing politically correct messages. Sequels fared somewhat better: "Moana 2" surpassed $1 billion in revenue, and "Zootopia 2," set for release in November, is also expected to perform well.

Kedeheon is not a sequel and does not rely on existing intellectual property (IP). Its main characters are a K-pop group, breaking away from the traditional princesses or talking animals. Instead of Disney-style songs or Pixar's secret worlds, the film captivates viewers with realistic music and settings. Rather than being constrained by established narratives or formulas, it freely incorporates cultural trends into its creative process.

This film also reinterpreted the nature of K-pop. By combining the influence of fandoms with the artistic vision of its characters, it created original songs that successfully appealed to a broad audience. Director Kang stated, "At every stage, we proved to the studio that we had the ability to direct and pushed forward assertively. Because the entire production team believed in the project, we were able to quickly identify the film's core."

Dan Lin, head of Netflix's film division, said, "While we expected interest from young female viewers and fans of K-pop and animation, it is not surprising that the film has been loved by a much wider age group. Adults are watching Kedeheon with friends or family, and children are watching it with their siblings." In fact, its popularity has grown beyond viewership to become a cultural phenomenon. K-pop groups are competing to sing the OST or replicate the choreography, and related merchandise is selling out online. The OST "Golden" is also topping both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles Chart.

Amid this explosive interest, viewers are eagerly anticipating a sequel. Netflix has not yet made any plans. Lin commented, "I'm delighted that we may be able to prepare the next adventure for Huntrix (the main group), but if we do make a sequel, I want to take the time to preserve the individuality and originality of the first film," expressing a cautious approach.