The Story Behind Netflix’s Most Popular Film Ever

On with Kara Swisher

New York Magazine

Society & Culture

4.2 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 23 February 2026

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” wasn’t just one of the biggest movies of 2025; it was Netflix’s most popular title — movie or show — ever. Four songs from the film’s soundtrack also simultaneously cracked the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 list, a first for a movie soundtrack. Now, it’s up for two Oscars at this year’s Academy Awards: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. For directors Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang, the megahit is also a celebration of Korean culture. Kara, Chris and Maggie talk about the ways Maggie drew on her Korean heritage to expand the scope of the film, why the hit song “Golden” was so hard to write, and how they were able to make an original film at a time when studios are mostly looking to recycle IP. They also talk about the future of the animation industry amid the threat of A.I. and what’s in store for the much anticipated “KPop Demon Hunters” sequel. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Kara, how do we get Scott to watch it?
0:02.6	I don't know.
0:03.7	Tell him everyone's hot.
0:05.0	That'll work, right?
0:06.1	Because everyone's hot.
0:07.3	So watch it, Galloway.
0:08.4	It's on.
0:10.3	Hi, everyone from New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
0:23.6	This is on with Kara Swisher, and I'm Kara Swisher.
0:27.4	We today are going up, up, up.
0:30.2	It goes without saying that K-pop Demon Hunters is a major win for Hollywood
0:34.0	and otherwise disappointing year.
0:36.1	But I don't think many people fully realize
0:38.2	what a cultural and critical juggernaut the animated film is and continues to be.
0:43.3	K-pop Demon Hunters is Netflix's most popular title ever, meaning movie or show, with
0:49.3	around a half a billion views. Four songs from the film cracked the top 10 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
0:56.1	at the same time the first time that's ever happened for a movie soundtrack. The film's lead
1:01.6	song, which I just referenced, Golden, spent eight weeks at the top of the charts. It was the
1:06.7	first number one hit for any K-pop, girl group group, real or animated. On top of that, the
1:12.0	movie won awards at the Grammys, the Golden Globes, and the Critics' Choice Awards. Now,
1:16.6	it's up for two Academy Awards next month's Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original
1:22.5	Song. If they don't win both, I am going to storm the Oscars. My guest today are the film's two directors, Chris Applehands and Maggie Kang. For Maggie, K-pop Demon Hunters, also happens to be her directorial debut of a movie she conceived. For a few people who still haven't seen the movie, Scott Galloway, the plot centers on a K-pop girl group called Huntrix. The trio are megastars,
	...

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