Latest news with #Honmoon
Engadget
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters is headed to theaters for two days
You'll soon be able to watch KPop Demon Hunters on the big screen. The Netflix animated film has become a global hit since it launched on the platform and has reportedly become the second most-watched movie on the service's history after Red Notice . Now, Netflix is holding a limited theatrical event, wherein fans can watch a sing-along version of the film. Aside from the movie itself being a hit, its songs have gained massive popularity, with the track Golden recently taking the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. KPop Demon Hunters is a musical that revolves around the girl group Huntr/x, which as you might have guessed, are demon hunters. The group is the latest trio of women who uses the power of their singing voices to maintain the Honmoon, or the magical barrier that prevents demons from entering our world established generations ago by the first trio of singing demon hunters. In the film, they're in constant competition with a boy band called Saja Boys, who are made up of demons that look like pretty boys. The main antagonist, however, is Gwi-Ma, ruler of the demons. He was voiced by Lee Byung-hun, whom a lot of people might know as the Front Man in Squid Game. The film's limited theatrical release will only last for one weekend, from August 23 to 24, in select screens across the US and Canada. You can buy tickets starting today, August 13, at 9AM Eastern time, from the even't official website, where you can also view the full list of theaters and showtimes in your area. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
6 days ago
- Entertainment
'KPop Demon Hunters' heads to select theaters for sing-along event
Get ready to sing your hearts out and seal the Honmoon with a "KPop Demon Hunters" sing-along. The hit Netflix animated film is coming to select theaters for one weekend this month, the streaming platform announced Tuesday. A series of screenings of the film will take place across the U.S. and Canada on Aug. 23 and 24. The limited theatrical screening event will be a sing-along version of the movie, according to a press release. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 6 a.m. PT. News of the sing-along event comes one day after the film's viral song, "Golden," reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song, which is by the fictional K-pop girl group Huntr/x and performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, made history as the first No. 1 Hot 100 hit by a female K-pop group, with nearly 32 million streams, 7,000 sales, and 8.4 million radio airplay impressions in the United States, according to Billboard. The track also continues to rise on the charts for a seventh consecutive week, surpassing 3 billion global streams to date, according to a press release. The achievement also marks the first Hot 100 No. 1 by any act with a fictional background since "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto in March 2022, as well as the first female group track to do so since Destiny's Child in 2001. The soundtrack has also claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Soundtracks chart, dominating for a seventh week. The "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack continues to hold steady at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, recording its best week yet with 100,000 equivalent album units. The album, associated with the animated action-fantasy film of the same title, has grown in popularity each week since its release. The action-packed film, which premiered June 20, follows a world-renowned K-pop girl group balancing their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as demon hunters. The film has become a global streaming sensation on Netflix, with 158.8 million views since its debut, ranking among the streamer's most popular titles ever. It's been in the Netflix Top 10 for seven weeks, according to Variety. The movie stars Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong and Ji-young Yoo. Knowing how important the soundtrack would be, directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans collaborated with experienced K-pop producers. "Because we wanted the music to be really incredible and really speak to the K-pop fans and be legitimately fit into the K-pop space, we felt that it was important to partner with a Korean label," Kang said during a Netflix press interview, per BBC.
Express Tribune
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
TWICE make history as first K‑Pop girl group to headline Lollapalooza at 2025 Chicago festival
K-pop group TWICE made music history on August 2, 2025, as the first all-female K-pop act to headline Lollapalooza. The third day of the four-day festival, held annually at Grant Park in Chicago, featured TWICE, who "sealed the Honmoon" as part of their KPop Demon Hunters era with a dazzling drone light show that lit up the Chicago sky and a landmark Lollapalooza performance. TWICE SEALS THE HONMOON AT LOLLAPALOOZA — Netflix (@netflix) August 3, 2025 Comprised of Jihyo, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu, the group delivered a high-energy set of 21 songs in total to an enthusiastic crowd. Their performance included 'Queen of Hearts' and the title track from their newly released fourth album, This is For, which debuted in July 2025. This year's edition of Lollapalooza also featured a lineup of major acts, including A$AP Rocky, Olivia Rodrigo, and Tyler, the Creator. Day 3 also showcased Australian group Rüfüs Du Sol on the T‑Mobile stage, Grammy-winning rapper Doechii with a theatrical set titled Doechii's School of Hip-Hop, and guest appearances like rapper JT on Alter Ego. Orion Sun opened her Grove stage set with 'Antidote' and 'Space Jam – An Odyssey,' receiving acclaim for her R&B-infused performance. Lollapalooza 2025 concludes on August 3 with anticipated performances by Sabrina Carpenter and A$AP Rocky.
Los Angeles Times
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Opinion: KPop Demon Hunters through a Christian lens
Swiftly reaching No. 1 on the Netflix Charts in 33 countries , Kpop Demon Hunters has grown into a global sensation. An ingenious plot of a K-pop girl and boy band pitted against each other set to an addictive soundtrack has created another successful Netflix animated film, whilst honing an amalgam of genres such as action, musical, and even a hint of romance. However, beyond being an enjoyable film for all age groups, throughout the course of watching the film, I recognized that many aspects of the movie were surprisingly analogous to themes related to Christianity. In many ways, the girl group in the film, HUNTR/X, symbolizes believers of Christ. Rumi, Mira, and Zoey desire to restore the Honmoon – a way to shield people from demons – by sharing their music. The songs that they perform, like 'Golden' and 'What It Sounds Like,' can be representative of Christian worship music. In particular, people who listen to HUNTR/X's music strengthen the Honmoon, similarly to how people's faith in God is amplified as they listen to more music to praise his name. In contrast, songs performed by the Saja Boys – a demon boy band in the film – such as 'Soda Pop' and 'Your Idol' are meant to feed on the souls of the people who listen to their music. The Saja Boys are heavily connected to a major obstacle many Christians face: listening to secular music. Secular music can be defined as music that 'often promotes immorality and violence while belittling purity and integrity.' In other words, music with lyrics that promote sins outlined in the Bible can negatively deter individuals' religious faith and can cause us or our souls to fall astray. Furthermore, a more apparent connection to Christianity in the film is that the main villain, named Gwi-ma, resembles Satan as he tempts people like Jinu, who is the main member of the Saja Boys, to fall into sin on Earth, ultimately leading to their spiritual death as they become demons. For example, Jinu was tempted by Gwi-ma to abandon his mother and sister for a life of luxury. In other aspects, Jinu's ultimate decision at the end of the film to sacrifice himself for Rumi resembles the sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross, since Jinu's sacrifice not only saved Rumi but also sealed the Honmoon as well, likewise to how Christians believe that Jesus' sacrifice saved us from spiritual death. In actuality, the aforementioned observations aren't solely based on speculation. In an interview with Forbes, EJAE, who is a songwriter involved in the film's soundtrack and is the voice of Rumi, said, ''I was raised Christian and remembered it's a sin to idolize something. So, it was like a twist of 'I'll be your Idol.' It was kinda creepy.' Therefore, there is an aspect of the film that is based on Christianity's view on idols. More specifically, let's analyze verse two of 'Your Idol': Don't let it show, keep it all inside The pain and the shame, keep it outta sight Your obsession feeds our connection So right now give me all your attention The message of these lyrics completely juxtaposes themes of Christianity, like not presenting one's worries to God, along with having unhealthy obsessions with things of the world, which are idols. Psalm 34:18 is a direct response to the first two lines of verse two when it reads, 'The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.' As for unhealthy obsession outlined in the third and fourth lines, Colossians 3:5 is a fitting retort as it says, 'Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.' Although not everyone may agree with this Christian perspective, these analogies still hold heavy significance to Christians who identify with deeper symbolism that exists in the film. My final remark is in relation to both a notable yet universal concern in the film and a driving cornerstone of Christianity. In the words of Rumi, 'That's the funny thing about hope. Nobody else gets to decide if you feel it. That choice belongs to you.' Related
Korea Herald
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
K-pop meets local lore: Hidden gems in 'KPop Demon Hunters'
Behind the animation's K-pop flair, the film is a rich blend of Korean culture and traditions woven into the story and characters "Listen 'cause I'm preachin' to the choir. Can I get the mic a little higher? Gimme your desire, I can be the star you can rely on." Yes, what is easier than stealing the souls of K-pop fans already under a spell? Many of you might have fallen head over heels for the Saja Boys — the Korean grim reapers who also top charts — like Abby, whose muscles pop shirt buttons, and Jinu with his charming smile. The group is a five-member fictional boy group created for the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," and they're not just taking the fictional world by storm — they're stealing the hearts of real-life K-pop fans, too. But behind the animation's glittering visuals and K-pop flair, the film packs something even more powerful: a rich blend of Korean culture, age-old traditions and shamanistic elements woven into the story and characters. It is not just eye candy; it's a cultural deep dive wrapped in pop perfection. The term "Saja" translates to "lion," so people might assume the boy band chose the name to symbolize strength and power, like the lion itself. But there's a twist: The boys aren't just charming idols. "Jeoseung-saja" also refers to a grim reaper-like mythical figure who guides souls to the afterlife. In this case, the boys are demons sent to the human world to steal their fans' souls. The blending of spiritual tradition with pop spectacle is also reflected in the trio girl group Huntrix, comprising Rumi, Mira and Zoey, who are demon hunters sworn to protect their fans from supernatural threats. Huntrix's performances help to seal the "Honmoon," a mystical gate or barrier that separates the human world from the demon realm. The word is a combination of "hon," meaning soul, and "moon," meaning door, which is a traditional Korean shamanic "gut" ritual reinterpreted in a flashy way. In real life, such Korean rituals are performed by shamans, or "mudang," to drive away evil spirits, bring good fortune, resolve misfortune and foster harmony between the human and spirit worlds. The rituals combine music, dance, costume and spoken incantations. So when Huntrix begins using its music to seal off the demon realm, its ruler Gwi-ma strikes back by sending the Saja Boys to weaken the Honmoon by dominating music charts. Although produced overseas, these hidden cultural elements reflect director Maggie Kang's desire for the film to be "as Korean as possible," as she said in a Q&A video released to the press on June 26 — a vision that comes to life in every frame. Also, each Huntrix member carries a weapon with deep cultural roots, as each blade is inspired by traditional Korean weaponry and shamanic instruments. Rumi's sword, known as the "Quadruple Tiger's Evil Slayer," or the Four Tiger Sword, is a ritual blade dating back to the Joseon era (1392–1910). In Korean cosmology, each of the four cardinal directions is guarded by a mythical tiger, believed to protect the world from harm. Similarly, Rumi uses the sword to shield human souls from the demons, embodying the same protective spirit. Initially mistaken for a Chinese guandao — a type of Chinese pole arm — Mira's sword, known as "gokdo," is also inspired by the Cheolyeomchu, a curved pole arm from Goguryeo Kingdom (37 BC-668 AD), which gives the weapon a distinctly Korean identity. The spirit knife wielded by Zoey is the "shinkal," which is used during the gut ritual to fight evil spirits. Her blade is adorned with a "norigae," a traditional Korean pendant accessory worn by women, rich in both aesthetic beauty and emotional symbolism, reflecting the grace and spirit of women from the Joseon era. But the animation is not only about mythical themes and traditional Korean elements. The film also does an excellent job of portraying modern-day Korea. For example, in a scene where the members of Huntrix eat gukbap — a bowl of rice and boiling soup — tissues are placed under their spoons, reflecting Korea's dining etiquette. As the film and its spotlight on Korean culture continue to captivate audiences worldwide, pop culture critic Jung Duk-hyun noted that Korean culture is now seen as "hip" on the global stage, adding that it is one of the key reasons it resonates so strongly with international viewers. "The success of 'KPop Demon Hunters' serves as clear evidence that stories rooted in Korean traditions, music and lifestyle can capture global attention and serve as the core of a compelling film. It highlights the strong potential of Korean culture to inspire and shape not only movies but a wide range of creative content in the future," Jung told The Korea Herald on July 15. Yoo Seung-chul, a professor of media convergence at Ewha Womans University, echoed the sentiment, saying that the incorporation of Korean elements adds depth and richness to the film's details. "The film takes elements audiences already recognize from K-pop, along with familiar storytelling techniques, and creatively blends them," he explained.
