Unless you were sleeping under a rock, we’re almost certain you’ve heard of Sony Animation and Netflix’s animated masterpiece, KPop Demon Hunters. Released one year ago on June 20, 2025, the film quickly became an overnight sensation, spawning endless fanfic, TikTok dance videos, a place in the Criterion Collection, and even a McDonald's collaboration. But KPop Demon Hunters' achievements don’t stop there: along with becoming the most-watched Netflix Original movie ever, its hit song “Golden” has been performed across multiple talk shows and on Saturday Night Live (as part of a sketch featuring Bad Bunny, but still). There’s even a KPop Demon Hunters world tour planned. But the success of KPDH goes far deeper than accolades and merch — even if that Derpy Tiger Lego set looks amazing.

KPop Demon Hunters follows girlband Huntr/x, made up of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. The trio are K-pop superstars by day and demon slayers by night, tasked with sealing the gateway between humanity and demons by creating a magical shield known as the Honmoon. On the surface, it may be hard to imagine what a movie that seems targeted at tween girls has to offer other audiences. Look a little deeper, and the answer becomes obvious. The power of KPop Demon Hunters lies not in its many successes but in an overarching message everyone........

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