Netflix's new Korean movie, slammed for cultural plagiarism, tops global chart with 96% Rotten Tomatoes; beats 28 Years Later, Plane and more

Indian Express

5 hours ago

Netflix just expanded its K-content lineup with an unexpected animated movie that blends anime-style fantasy with South Korea's music scene, K-Pop Demon Hunters. Co-directed by Korean-American filmmaker Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the film was released on June 20 and, within four days, shot to the top of Netflix charts. With the silliest premise that somehow works, and critics praising it for staying true to its wild tone, the 1-hour-30-minute flick follows a fictional girl group called Hunterix, who've inherited the mission of using music to trap demons underground. The three-member girl group formed by Celine battles out ridiculously handsome demonic boy band called the Saja Boys. However, the film hit an unexpected setback after some Chinese netizens slammed it for cultural appropriation and plagiarism, claiming certain elements, like character outfits and palace architecture, were heavily lifted from Chinese culture. The movie has since sparked a heated debate online, with netizens divided and taking sides.
Also read: KPop Demon Hunters review: From BLACKPINK-esque energy to K-drama jabs, Netflix nails the tone without making a joke of it
K-Pop Demon Hunters topped Netflix's global chart, according to FlixPatrol data. Between June 21 and 22, it held the No. 1 spot worldwide. It ranked first in 26 countries and landed in the Top 10 in 93. Netflix originals have clearly become the OTT giant's biggest strength when it comes to pulling in viewership across genres, and this film is proof. The voice cast includes some of the most familiar actors in the industry, including Squid Game 3's Lee Byung Hun as the villain Gwi Ma, along with Arden Cho, May Hong, Ahn Hyo Seop, Ji Young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, and Ken Jeong. Netflix data shows the film is performing strong not just in Asia, but also in the U.S. and across several European markets. The movie also features original soundtracks from renowned K-pop idols and soloists of the industry, delivering a full package.
On June 25, viewership dipped slightly, with the film slipping to No. 2, one point behind the newly released STRAW. Still, Demon Hunters clocked 9.2 million views this week and remain in the Top 10 in 80 countries, including across America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The unexpected rise seems fueled by the crossover fandom of anime and K-pop. We'll see how the scores hold in the long run, but for now, K-Pop Demon Hunters is outpacing Oscar winners and summer blockbusters. It currently holds a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, a rare feat for any Korean film.
Also read: BTS' Suga mobilises global ARMY to raise over 200 million won in 24 hours with one quiet, heartfelt gesture
China has one of the biggest fan bases when it comes to binge-watching Korean dramas, films, and music shows. In fact, even though Netflix is banned there, the platform still sees considerable viewership, mostly through illegal streaming. But this time, some Chinese netizens were enraged. According to Korean media outlet Chosun Biz, the movie was slammed for plagiarism and cultural appropriation, with critics pointing to visuals like 'traditional knots, herbal medicine, tiger motifs, and architectural styles.' On the Chinese platform Douban, angry comments poured in: 'Korea doesn't hide its theft,' 'Sony is helping Korea,' 'Why are you mixing Chinese elements into Korean culture?'
In response, Korean netizens hit back, calling out the same illegal streaming culture during shows like Squid Game, The Glory, and When Life Gives You Tangerines, raising serious concerns about copyright infringement. K-pop producer Teddy, best known for his work with BLACKPINK, contributed to the movie's soundtrack. TWICE's Jeongyeon, Chaeyoung, and Jihyo are in the lineup too, along with EXO, Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, and more. The tracks are now streaming on Spotify.