Netflix’s 2025 Breakout Hit Is About to Flip the Franchise Script

Netflix may have stumbled into its next big thing. KPop Demon Hunters looked like a one-and-done animated mash-up, but between a fast-rising tabletop spin-off and a high-profile seal of approval from a certain game director who cries at movies, it’s already behaving like a franchise.

The tabletop jump: Idols of the Neon Dark

Tabletop designer Dan Thut has revealed Idols of the Neon Dark, a full Dungeons & Dragons 5E adventure directly inspired by KPop Demon Hunters. Think the film’s core fantasy reimagined for the table: you’re pop idols by day, demon hunters by night, navigating the neon-lit cavern city of Lumenica while trying to keep the beat and keep the monsters at bay.

It’s a chunky package — over 120 pages — and it’s purpose-built for families, kids, and first-time players (Polygon first reported the details). Thut, a veteran D&D player, has built a new Demon Hunter class with three subclasses that are literally designed to sync with each other. Instead of rewarding lone-wolf min-maxing, the system pushes teamwork, rhythm, and shared storytelling.

It’s also intentionally kid-friendly. There’s a gore on/off toggle and a design ethos influenced by accessible RPGs like My Little Pony: Tales of Equestria. Thut says the idea grew out of playing that game with his daughters — the goal is a table where adults and kids can jump in together without losing depth.

The Kickstarter moved into its Upcoming status in December 2025 (that’s the pre-launch follow button phase), and it quickly shot up as one of the most-followed projects on the platform — an early sign there’s demand for more than just the movie. Worth noting: this is not a Netflix production, but the interest says a lot about how hard the film landed with its audience.

Kojima watched it on a whim and ended up in tears

Hideo Kojima — yes, the Death Stranding mastermind and extremely online cinephile — chimed in this week after watching the film Netflix is calling its most-watched of all time. He posted on X that he put it on casually, got completely sucked in, and by the end, he was a mess in the best way.

'It was so, so good'

He also tweeted a shot of Huntrix’s earworm single Golden and boosted a Variety post calling Golden one of the year’s best songs. Free marketing doesn’t get much better than Mr. Kojima crying happy tears on your behalf.

The film, at a glance

• Title: KPop Demon Hunters
• Type: Animated fantasy action with musical/K-pop elements
• Directors: Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans
• Voice cast: Arden Cho (Rumi), Ji-young Yoo (Mira), May Hong (Zoey), Ahn Hyo‑seop (Jinu), plus a supporting ensemble as the Saja Boys and others
• Premise: K-pop girl group Huntrix — Rumi, Mira, and Zoey — juggle idol stardom with secret demon-hunting duties. A rival demon boy band tries to siphon their fans and weaken the barrier that keeps humanity safe.

So, is this a franchise now?

Feels like it. You’ve got a breakout 2025 hit, a family-forward D&D module that expands the world into long-form play, and celebrity endorsements giving it extra lift. The tabletop piece is a particularly nerdy tell: building a class with three synergistic subclasses is a designer’s way of saying this world works best when everyone plays in harmony — which also happens to be the whole point of a pop group fighting demons together.

KPop Demon Hunters is streaming on Netflix. If you end up running Idols of the Neon Dark with your kids or a new group, I want to know how the teamwork mechanics actually feel at the table.