“Netflix started with DVDs coming to our door, and now we in a whole theatre hearing ‘tudum’.”

This weekend, I had the pleasure of watching K-pop Demon Hunters for the 5th time, but this time in theatres. The theatrical release made around $18k+ for the weekend showing, selling out over 1000 screenings, and despite the resounding success of the film…

I still don’t think it has gotten the attention it deserves.

No rolling trailers for the initial release, the huge cuts to the film, the side chatter of not thinking it would sell — and it did.

But this post isn’t about the many shortcomings Sony & Netflix had for this film. Like the core part of the film, it’s about the fans.

I attended a 4 pm showing, Ateez and NCT light sticks in hand, with my plus one, only to be surrounded by children and their guardians. Some parents had 3D printed Huntr/x light sticks, bought Saja Boys and Huntr/x merchandise, and their own light sticks to commemorate the moment.

Once the lights dimmed, you could feel the excitement that only children can bring. Before “How It’s Done” started, the voices of children doing the opening dialogue (by heart!) filled the theatre before the bright yellow text for the sing-along happened. A three-part harmony of little voices singing their favorite parts, standing in the aisles, waving their light sticks, and doing the choreography. For a brief moment, hearing their voices hit Rumi’s high note during “Free”, I really felt the kids would be alright.

After the film, the lobby was packed with older children, teens, and adults with their merch in tow. It was only then that I saw in the light just how ecstatic the children were. Similar to seeing the fit checks for a Beyoncé or any other K-pop concert, the kids were in amazing outfits that incorporated their merch, or closet cosplays that resembled the Huntr/x trio. One mom in particular added purple color to her own hair and made a comment about how you have to “commit to the fit”. While I’m no mother, seeing parents show so much support with their kids was beautiful to see.

It wasn’t just the kids singing in the theatre, it was the parents too, who knew all the words because their kid was obsessed, but who also secretly loved the film.

Running into a couple with a toddler outside the theatre, a sentiment that has already been widely discussed online, was happening in real time. “Why didn’t Sony/Netflix make this a special screening with merchandise?” When I called my theatre in advance, they stated they had sold out, but the only thing they had was the movie poster. When I interacted with fans and parents, they said all their merch came from third parties. Some stated that they wish they had light sticks for purchase or t-shirts at the very least. Again, all huge missed opportunities from the companies that dropped the film.

According to Netflix, the film has been seen a total of 210.5 million times since its release. As of August 24th, “Golden”, “Your Idol”, and “Soda Pop” are in Billboard’s top 5 songs, with the soundtrack being no. 2 on Billboard’s 200 chart.

I can only hope Netflix learns to never underestimate the success of a film, and more importantly, not make this a series! It was a wonderful standalone film, and while I would have loved follow-ups or more in-depth backstories, this was enough!

I feel the same way for Sinners. For a more comprehensive review of why Sinners & Kpop Demon Hunters click, check out In Asian Spaces‘ review of how both films use spirituality and music to banish demons!