'Kedeheon' Draws International Attention... Now Eyeing the Oscars After Billboard Success

CNN Anticipates Netflix's Most-Watched Original Film
AP Highlights "Original Story as Key to Success"
Number One on Netflix in 98 Countries...
Theatrical Release in North America on the 23rd, Followed by the UK and Australia

The vibrant lights of cheering sticks illuminate the night sky of Seoul. At any moment, the idols on stage transform into warriors vanquishing demons, and the audience erupts in enthusiastic cheers for their songs. While this is a scene from the film "K-pop Demon Hunters" (Kedeheon), recently, the movie's depiction of global idol fever is becoming a reality worldwide.

International Media Spotlight the 'Kedeheon Craze' Sweeping the Summer... 'How Did It Conquer the World?'

On August 21 (local time), leading U.S. media outlet CNN published an article titled "Kedeheon Swept the Summer," predicting that the film, released in June, is on track to become Netflix's most-watched original movie ever. CNN described Kedeheon as "another opportunity to explain how K-pop has conquered popular culture," praising its successful fusion of two powerful genres: K-pop and supernatural exorcism.

The film unfolds its story with a unique premise-a girl group that doubles as a heroic team hunting demons targeting human souls. One of their most formidable foes appears to be a boy band on the surface but is actually a group of disguised demons. By mixing supernatural themes with familiar K-pop content, the film is crafting a new global box office legend.

The Associated Press noted that the film's success stems from its original story, rather than relying on existing intellectual property (IP). Recently, most global content industries have based their works on proven IPs such as popular webtoons, bestselling novels, hit games, or remakes of existing films. While this increases the likelihood of commercial success, it inevitably reduces originality. In contrast, Kedeheon chose to compete with an entirely new universe and characters, rather than following this trend.

The Washington Post (WP) attributed Kedeheon's success to its faithful representation of K-pop culture-and, more broadly, Korean culture. WP analyzed that the film resonated widely with global audiences while amplifying the appeal of K-pop. It achieved differentiation by aiming for a "middle ground"-distinctly Korean, yet not overly exclusive, and not entirely Westernized.

Director Maggie Kang, who helmed the project, reportedly chose to present Korean elements as they are, rather than forcing explanations when building Kedeheon's universe. Scenes such as the traditional medicine clinic and cheering stick culture were shown without special commentary for Western audiences. She emphasized, "I just wanted everyone to accept that they're in Korea," pursuing cultural immersion instead of forced exposition.

OST Dominates Billboard... Netflix Submits Song for Academy Award Consideration

The film's music further fueled the Kedeheon craze. In the movie, the characters' most powerful weapon is none other than music. Songs within the narrative unite people and protect them from evil. The music that fended off evil in the story has now become another force captivating fans worldwide in reality.

The original soundtrack (OST) sparked a wave of dance challenges and cover videos on social networking services (SNS). The fictional groups Huntr/x and Saja Boys surpassed real K-pop groups to reach the top ranks of the global music platform Spotify. The main tracks-"Golden," "Your Idol," and "Soda Pop"-all entered the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 main singles chart. It is the first time since "Saturday Night Fever" in 1977 and "Waiting to Exhale" in 1995 that more than three songs from a movie soundtrack have entered the Billboard Top 10. Netflix announced that it will submit "Golden," a track from the OST, for consideration in the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Thanks to its broad appeal across nationalities and age groups, Kedeheon currently holds the number one spot on Netflix charts in 93 countries. Its cumulative views have surpassed 33 million, making it the most-watched original animated film in Netflix history. Riding this wave of success, Kedeheon will be screened in theaters in North America starting August 23-24, followed by releases in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Now, Kedeheon is aiming for an Oscar (Academy Award). So far, no Netflix original Korean content has ever won an Oscar. Gold Derby reported in an article titled "Yes, Kedeheon Is a Legitimate Oscar Contender" that the film is being discussed as a strong candidate for the most prestigious Academy Award.