KPop Demon Hunters Was So Good It Made Hideo Kojima Cry
After a brief intermission, the sharpest pen in film is back—expect fearless reviews, blistering takedowns, and a few surprise ovations.
Hideo Kojima fired up his movie-watching tweets again, and this time he went all in on Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters. Yes, the guy who makes video games that feel like films just gave a full-throated, tear-stained endorsement to a pop-idol-vs-demons animated romp. Honestly, not the crossover I had on my 2025 bingo card.
Kojima watched it on a whim, ended up crying
On December 21, 2025, Kojima posted about KPop Demon Hunters and did more than his usual 'I watched...' drive-by. He got specific, and emotional:
"I started watching 'KPop Demon Hunters' on a whim, got totally hooked, and ended up bawling my eyes out by the end. It was just so good."
If you track his movie takes, you know the pattern: when he is lukewarm, he’ll say he watched something and move on. When he’s moved, he writes. For example, he recently spilled around 200 words on Avatar: Fire and Ash and capped it with this:
"[It] gave me renewed pride and courage as we look toward the future."
So what is KPop Demon Hunters?
It’s an animated action-fantasy about a girl group, Huntr/x, who literally fight demons using the power of their voices. Their big challenge: the Saja boys, a rival boy band who also happen to be, well, demons in disguise. It’s a clean, high-concept hook, and apparently it delivers.
The film was co-written by its directors, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, alongside Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan. And the voice cast is stacked:
- Arden Cho
- May Hong
- Ji-young Yoo
- Ahn Hyo-seop
- Ken Jeong
- Lee Byung-hun
It didn’t just pop, it exploded
Netflix says KPop Demon Hunters is now the most-watched original movie the streamer has ever had, with 365 million views and counting. That’s not just a hit; that’s rare air. And when a movie numbers like that, studios sprint.
Sequel is happening... eventually
Sony and Netflix moved fast and cut a deal for KPop Demon Hunters 2. The catch: it’s not landing until 2029. That’s a long wait in franchise years, especially when the first one is this hot. On the bright side, the runway suggests they want to build something big rather than rush a quick turnaround. Still, 2029 is a patience test.
Where to watch
KPop Demon Hunters is streaming on Netflix right now. If Kojima’s tear ducts are any indication, bring tissues.