In a remarkable twist of fate, KPop Demon Hunters surged from a modest animated film into a cultural phenomenon, dominating Netflix’s ranking as its most popular movie ever. Just imagine the executives at Sony pondering whether they should have taken a different route to release it. Now, with the talk of sequels and spinoffs swirling, one thing is clear: an Oscar could very well be on the horizon.
In a revealing discussion with the Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures Animation presidents Kristine Belson and Damien de Froberville assessed the film’s runaway success. Their conclusion was unambiguous: “One million percent” its popularity was born from its Netflix debut.
Belson elaborated that the synergy between the film and Netflix created an ideal situation. “When you have a film on Netflix, the first check-in is after three days, then ten days, and finally at twenty-eight days,” she said. De Froberville recalled, “Initially, the three-day report was, ‘Yeah, it’s OK.’ But by day ten? It was ‘Yeah, it’s OK. It’s starting to look interesting, especially on the rewatch.’”
Such insights unveil the stark difference in how films are disseminated through different platforms. Typically, there’s a deafening silence between releases, lacking the luxury of time for a film to bloom like a flower in spring. However, a notable call from Netflix’s Head of Feature Animation and Family Film, Hannah Minghella, came after just two weeks, signaling that something extraordinary was unfolding.
Everyone linked to this project is invested in its continuity, but don’t get too excited about that sequel supposedly set for 2029. Belson’s playful gesture—placing her pointer finger to her nose—hinted at the ambitious timeline for animation. So perhaps don’t hold your breath just yet.
This fascinating interview also touches upon upcoming projects like GOAT and the highly anticipated Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. To read more, check out the full article here.
Want more insights on the evolving landscape of animation? Discover what’s ahead for your favorite franchises in Marvel, Star Wars, and beyond.