KPop Demon Hunters Takes Over the TIME Cover and the World
HUNTR/X girls, to the world indeed! KPop Demon Hunters keeps soaring.
Published on Dec 10, 2025
Parents may not always keep up with the trends their kids love, but it’s impossible to miss the wave KPop Demon Hunters has created everywhere. The Rumi braid has turned morning prep into its own event; screens at home are constantly replaying the movie; Spotify Wrapped exposes just how many hours kids spent with the soundtrack; and HUNTR/X’s “Golden” became a global smash, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Now the franchise’s stars Rumi, Mira, and Zoey are front and center on the cover of TIME Magazine as 2025’s Breakthrough of the Year. It’s a moment that captures just how big this animated universe has become, and how deeply it has threaded itself into families’ daily lives.
KPop Demon Hunters Is TIME’s 2025 Breakthrough of the Year
In the ten years since Netflix started releasing original films, nothing has come close to the impact of KPop Demon Hunters. The movie reached more than 325 million views in its first three months and entered the top ten in 93 countries. The soundtrack debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has amassed 8.3 billion streams. The breakout single “Golden” spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart, turning HUNTR/X into a household name.
As chairman of Netflix Film, Dan Lin explained to TIME, “I care about: Has it cut through to the culture? Are people talking about it? Do they want to see a live experience? Do they want to see a sequel? Do they want to buy a costume?” For KPop Demon Hunters, the answer is a very loud yes, with fans of all ages embracing every part of the experience.
When Netflix gave the film a limited theatrical release in August, more than 1,300 screenings across three continents sold out. It was the streamer’s first time leading the box office, earning around $18 million. The excitement only grew from there. In November, news of a sequel surfaced, the same week the film received three Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year. On December 8, it added three Golden Globe nominations to its growing list of accolades.
With more than ten years in animation behind her, director Maggie Kang approached KPop Demon Hunters as a deeply personal project. Her daughter is named after one of the film’s main characters, Rumi, and was even cast to voice young Rumi. Today, she proudly shares that her name came from the movie, not the other way around.
A sequel is reportedly set for 2029, but fans won’t have to wait that long to see the universe grow. Lin says the team hopes to explore the story in new ways while work continues on the next film. Netflix is also expected to submit at least one original song to the Oscars, along with a nomination for Animated Feature.
KPop Demon Hunters shows how a story full of heart and culture can capture the imagination of a whole generation. Its recognition as TIME’s Breakthrough of the Year reflects just how far it has reached and hints at the lasting impact it will continue to have.
Hanna is a News Desk Writer at Smart Parenting, covering parenting, health, culture, and more. Off the clock, she’s likely people-watching at a café or park, matcha latte in hand.