Latest news with #Billboard
Geek Culture
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Sony Animation's 'KPop Demon Hunters' Rises To Netflix's Most-Watched Original Animated Film Of All Time
It seems slaying charts and demons is no longer a thing of fiction for Sony Animation. The studio's surprise animated hit, Kpop Demon Hunters , has become the most-watched original film in Netflix history after achieving two major milestones: topping the streamer's chart in 41 countries in its opening week and reclaiming the No. 1 spot in its fourth week of release. More impressively, the movie continued to enjoy a rise in viewership during a time when it would typically be on a decline, chalking up another 26.3 million views for the period of 21 to 27 July and marking its sixth week in the top 10 charts. As of the time of writing, it now stands at No. 2 globally on the English Film list, behind the Adam Sandler-starring pic Happy Gilmore 2 . 'It's the moment! KPop Demon Hunters is Netflix's most-watched original animated film of ALL TIME,' reads the official announcement post on X/Twitter. The catchy music used in and written for the musical adventure is also holding its reign across various charts. 'Kpop Demon Hunters' is the highest-charting soundtrack of 2025 so far, with the majority of its songs currently on the Billboard Hot 100, including the first-place 'Golden' and 'Takedown', the opening number performed by popular girl group Twice's Jeongyeon, Chaeyeong, and Jihyo. Directed by Maggie Kang, who was head of story for The Lego Ninjago Movie , Kpop Demon Hunters centres on a fictional K-pop girl group, HUNTR/X (pronounced 'Huntrix'), who lead double lives as demon hunters, and face off against a rival boy band called Saja Boys, whose members are secretly demons. While primarily in English, it includes Korean dialogue and cultural nods, including dokkaebi, or goblins, the jeoseung saja, the Korean equivalent of the grim reaper (and the inspiration behind Saja Boys), and real-world locations like Namsan Park. Arden Cho ( Teen Wolf ), May Hong ( High Maintenance ), and Ji-young Yoo ( Moxie ) lead the voice cast as vocalist and overall leader Rumi, visual-slash-main-dancer Mira, and rapper Zoey, respectively. The trio are joined by other notable industry faces, such as Squid Game star Lee Byung-hun as antagonist Gwi-ma, actor-singer Ahn Hyo-seop ( Business Proposal ) as Jinu, leader of the Saja Boys, Daniel Dae Kim ( Hawaii Five-O ) as Healer Han, and Ken Jeong ( Crazy Rich Asians ) as Bobby, the manager and main representative of HUNTR/X. Renowned K-pop producer Teddy Park contributed to the soundtrack with his work on 'Golden', Soda Pop', and more, while previous songs like Exo's 'Love Me Right', Twice's 'Strategy, and MeloMance's 'Love Maybe', which most would recognise from the Korean drama Business Proposal , were also featured in the film. The popularity of KPop Demon Hunters caught the world by storm, owing to striking visuals, an interesting premise, and a blend of humour and emotional moments. It has been well-received by audiences and critics alike, scoring 97 per cent critic score and 92 per cent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 7.7 average rating on IMDb. Rotten Tomatoes describes its story as follows: 'When they aren't selling out stadiums, K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat,' a description of the film from Rotten Tomatoes reads. 'Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet — an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise.' Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. KPop Demon Hunters Netflix Sony Animation
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Nicki Minaj Charts Multiple New Top 10 Hits With Years-Old Collaborations
Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne return to the charts with 'Mercy' and '5 Star,' as both land inside the ... More top 10 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap Digital Song Sales charts. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 30: (Exclusive Coverage) Nicki Minaj performs onstage during her Pink Friday 2 World Tour at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 2024 in New York City. (Photo byfor Live Nation) Throughout the years, Nicki Minaj has teamed up with her friend and mentor Lil Wayne countless times. The two have been working together for well over a decade, and Wayne helped Minaj rise to prominence and become the most successful female hip-hop musician of all time. While neither artist has anything brand new out this week, they manage to score a pair of wins together on a couple of Billboard charts, even reaching the top 10 with several cuts simultaneously. 'Mercy' Launches at No. 3 Wayne, Minaj, and DJ Drama hit No. 3 on both the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales and Rap Digital Song Sales charts with the same tune, "Mercy." It earns one of the top starts this frame on the lists, which look at all tracks that Billboard labels as hip-hop, R&B or rap. '5 Star' Opens Inside the Top 10 Another track joins 'Mercy' just a few spaces further down. "5 Star," another collaboration credited to Wayne, Minaj, and DJ Drama, also reaches both of those purchase-centric tallies, though in different spots. The track opens at No. 6 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales tally and No. 7 on the Rap Digital Song Sales ranking. Nicki Minaj's 100-Plus Top 10 Smashes Among the three musicians, Minaj claims the most top 10 hits on both charts, and she adds to her historic total with both "Mercy" and "5 Star." The chart-topper has now reached the highest tier on the Rap Digital Song Sales list 102 times and has pushed into the loftiest space on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales ranking 108 times. Wayne has landed 77 and 76 top 10s, respectively, on the same tallies. DJ Drama, meanwhile, has scored just four top 10 smashes on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales list, but his two new bestsellers bring him to a milestone 10 top 10s on the rap-only roster. Lil Wayne's Dedication Mixtape Series Neither "Mercy" nor "5 Star" are new. In fact, both were released years ago. "Mercy" appeared on Wayne's Dedication 4 mixtape, which arrived in September 2012. "5 Star," meanwhile, followed more than half a decade later on Dedication 6.
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Spectacular' Netflix sci-fi epic that cost '$20m an episode' issues major season 2 update
Netflix have confirmed some major casting news for the popular series Netflix has issued a major update over its 'spectacular' sci-fi epic that reportedly costs $20 million an episode for its second season. The streamer has announced new cast members joining the next instalment of 3 Body Problem. The series is an adaptation of Liu Cixin's saga of novels. Netflix have now confirmed Claudia Doumit, who fans may recognise as playing the part of Victoria Neuman in Prime Video series The Boys, is one key addition. They will take on the part of Captain Van Rijn. In addition, Wolf Hall and The Serpent star Ellie De Lange will also be joining for season two. They are confirmed to be taking on the role of Ayla. Each are confirmed as new series regulars. 3 Body Problem was created for television and co-written by the same minds behind Game of Thrones in David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, alongside Alexander Woo. Woo has previously worked on the hit show True Blood. According to the show's synopsis, season one follows a young woman's fateful decision in 1960s China which reverberates across space and time into the present day. When the laws of nature inexplicably unravel before their eyes, a close-knit group of brilliant scientists join forces with an unorthodox detective to confront the greatest threat in humanity's history. Not many details have been released about the second season's story so far. The only thing confirmed is that events will pick up as the alien invasion nears, with humanity left to prepare on Earth and elsewhere. The first season of the drama series spent three weeks at No.1 and 7 weeks on the Netflix Global Top 10, where it reached the Top 10 in 93 countries and sent three songs from its soundtrack to Billboard's Top TV Songs Chart, including Lana Del Rey's 'Video Games' at #1. 3 Body Problem was received positively by critics and fans alike, registering a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One reviewer claimed: "Visually spectacular and a good cast — Benedict Wong in particular." A report by Forbes claimed that the entire show's budget was in the region of $233 million. With its eight episode season, that means the average cost of each episode is believed to be between $20-29million. Many fans still sing its praises, with one posting: "Netflix's The Three-Body Problem is one of the most gripping sci-fi shows I've seen in a long time. It's brilliantly written, visually stunning, and packed with tension that keeps you hooked from start to finish." They continued: "A lot of people seem eager to criticise it by comparing it to the books, but honestly, my advice is to forget all that. Don't go in expecting it to mirror the source material perfectly. Just let the show take you on its own journey—you won't regret it" Another added: "It has mind blowing and refreshing plot with a brilliant cast and crew. The storyline itself is intriguing , like aliens and AI, it was out of the box idea." 3 Body Problem is streaming on Netflix.
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Morgan Wallen Passes One Of Country Music's Biggest Groups
Morgan Wallen earns a record-setting fourth 10-week No. 1 on Hot Country Songs with 'What I Want,' ... More his hit collaboration with Tate McRae. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Morgan Wallen performs onstage during Morgan Wallen's Dangerous Tour, Night 2 at Los Angeles' Arena on September 25, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) Morgan Wallen runs the show yet again on the Hot Country Songs chart, which is not exactly an unfamiliar sight. The superstar has been ruling Billboard's ranking of the most popular country tracks in the United States for more than two months now with 'What I Want,' his collaboration with Tate McRae. As the tune refuses to budge yet again, Wallen reaches a notable milestone and manages a historic first. Another 10-Week No. 1 'What I Want' has now commanded the Hot Country Songs tally for an even 10 weeks. The collaboration — Wallen's first with a female artist — is his fourth to lead the consumption-based ranking, which uses sales, streaming, and airplay data to show which country tracks are the most successful across the nation, for double-digit frames. According to Billboard, he's the first country act to score four such winners. Four Massive No. 1 Smashes Wallen's longest-running leader on the Hot Country Songs list remains 'Last Night,' which is also one of the longest-ruling tracks ever. That cut, which fronted his past album One Thing at a Time, sat in first place for 25 weeks. 'You Proof' (19 weeks) and 'Wasted on You' (11 weeks) also managed double-digit stays in the spotlight. Morgan Wallen Breaks His Tie With Florida Georgia Line Before 'What I Want' hit 10 turns at No. 1, Wallen was matched with Florida Georgia Line, as both acts had scored a trio of 10-week No. 1s on the Hot Country Songs ranking. The duo's 'Meant to Be' with Bebe Rexha, 'Cruise,' and 'H.O.L.Y.' led for 50, 24, and 18 weeks, respectively. Half of the Top 10 Wallen, once again, claims half of the entire top 10 on the Hot Country Songs chart, as he fills five spaces, but that's only a portion of his successes at the moment. The Grammy nominee appears in 18 of the 50 spots on the roster this week. For most musicians, that would mark a career-high point, but the singer-songwriter has actually dominated much more impressively in the past.
Korea Herald
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Is K-pop's global strategy backfiring? As popularity soars abroad, domestic interest wanes
Absence of breakout rookie girl groups and weakening domestic fandom raise concerns for K-pop's future at home Despite chart-topping hits on Billboard and sold-out world tours across the US, Europe and Southeast Asia, K-pop's grip on its home turf appears to be slipping. Industry experts are sounding the alarm over a growing disconnect between the genre's global success and its dwindling influence at home — particularly as the domestic fanbase, once the engine of the K-pop phenomenon, shows signs of fatigue. At the heart of the issue is a conspicuous absence of breakthrough rookie girl groups in the first half of 2025. These groups have historically driven fandom growth and revitalized the market, but this year's lineup failed to deliver the same impact. Data released in the Circle Chart's 2025 Mid-Year Report backs this up. Total digital music consumption for the top 400 songs fell by 6.4 percent year-on-year and compared to the genre's 2019 peak, it has plunged by a staggering 49.7 percent. Meanwhile, physical album sales — a metric typically bolstered by passionate fans — also dropped by 9 percent, totaling 42.4 million units, down from 46.7 million the year before. The number of albums surpassing one million units in sales fell from nine to seven, and not a single release managed to exceed three million — a feat achieved by Seventeen just a year ago. These numbers suggest stagnation, or even a decline, in the size and spending power of domestic fandoms. Kim Jin-woo, a data journalist at Circle Chart, noted a sharp drop in girl group dominance in the domestic market. 'In the first half of 2024, NewJeans held the top spot in market share and five girl groups were in the top 10. This year, only aespa, Ive and NewJeans made the cut,' Kim said. Kim also cited growing listener fatigue stemming from similar-sounding concepts and English-heavy lyrics aimed at overseas audiences — part of a broader 'de-K-pop' strategy that may be alienating local fans. 'Many groups now focus on global accessibility, often gravitating toward a narrow range of genres and English lyrics,' Kim said. 'This might attract international listeners but has started to exhaust interest at home.' Music critic Lim Hee-yun also pointed out that shifting media consumption habits have weakened the dominance of idol groups. 'With music increasingly consumed through self-produced content, fan platforms and social media, fandoms are less concentrated,' he said. 'Idols used to dominate the charts thanks to mass fan activity, but that's no longer the case. In contrast, solo artists are resonating more with casual listeners.' The Top 10 of the 2025 mid-year digital chart paints a telling picture: Solo acts like Woodz with 'Drowning' at No. 1, Hwang Garam with 'I Am a Firefly' at No. 3 and Jo Jazz with 'Don't You Know' at No. 7 — none of whom enjoy major global recognition — significantly outperformed their idol group counterparts. Seven of the Top 10 artists were solo performers, leaving aespa, Ive and Boynextdoor as the only groups in the Top 10. Lim added that while idol tracks are 'fun and powerful,' they often lack emotional depth. 'Ballads or rock-inflected songs with strong melodic structure and individual expression are better suited for immersive listening,' he said. Industry officials warn that this trend raises serious questions about the sustainability of K-pop's current trajectory. A sluggish domestic market could eventually undermine the health of the entire ecosystem. 'As K-pop pursued global mainstream appeal, the music took on a more (Western) pop-oriented flavor — but unless you're on the level of BTS' Jungkook, that strategy rarely pays off,' an entertainment official said. 'Even with its global expansion, K-pop remains confined to a subculture category rather than breaking into the true global mainstream.'
