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The Star
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
How ‘KPop Demon Hunters' became a global phenomenon
The Washington Post | Published 4 hours ago Jeff Yang My initiation into the 'KPop Demon Hunters' phenomenon came while traveling on vacation in Taiwan, courtesy of my 19-year-old niece, Sienna. 'Sorry, but you have to watch this if you want to stay part of my family,' she announced, before clicking the link at the top of her 'recently watched' list. Both I and my 21-year-old son feebly protested that we 'weren't really in the demo' for the movie, but to no avail. Ninety minutes later, we found ourselves repeatedly rewinding it to belt out our own baritone versions of the show's soaring power ballad, 'Golden.' It turned out we were in the demo after all. And so are a legion of other viewers of all backgrounds, who have watched it 106 million times and counting - putting the debut feature from Maggie Kang (its creator, co-writer and co-director) on pace to become the most-watched animated movie in Netflix history, while sending it soaring up the lists of the platform's most-watched movies of any kind, period. Since its premiere, the movie has hit Netflix's top 10 list in all 93 countries the streaming service tracks. The show's two idol groups, fiend-fighting femmes fatales Huntr/x and their rivals, the hunks-from-hell Saja Boys, have become the highest-charting female and male K-pop groups with U.S. audiences in Spotify's history - despite being, you know, fictional. Two of their songs have topped the streaming rankings, a peak even flesh-and-blood superstars Blackpink and BTS have yet to summit. But these stats aren't what convinced me that this movie is a cultural milestone. That happened when, the following day, we booked a ride to dinner and the driver, a middle-aged Taiwanese woman, was blasting the 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack on the car's stereo. In my halting Chinese, I commented on her choice of music. Her response: 'Sorry, but you have to listen to this if you want to stay in my car.' Within minutes, we were engaged in an impromptu sing-along as we slogged our way through a summer typhoon. What accounts for the staggering popularity of 'KPop Demon Hunters'? It's not quite your Little Indie Film That Could - it was produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the studio behind the Spider-Verse movies - but Netflix initially didn't seem to know what it had, doing relatively little to promote the movie, which recorded a relatively modest 9.2 million views in its first week. And then, shockingly, it grew by word of mouth - first among those passionate about K-pop, of course, then far beyond that group. It seemed to dance with ease among American, Asian and other global audiences, grabbing eyeballs and planting earworms along the way. Even viewers who think 'Blackpink in your area' sounds like a medical diagnosis found something to enjoy. That expansion of the audience might have to do with the fact that many on the film's creative team are Asians in North America, whose cultural roots on both sides of the Pacific helped them to intuitively find the Venn diagram overlap of taste in between. Kang is a Canadian who was born in Seoul; the stellar cast largely comprises Korean Americans and Canadians; the film's dialogue, and the tone, accent and diction in which it is delivered, is North American English. Even the songs are sung in English (with a few Korean lines to keep them honest) by performers born, raised and/or educated in the U.S. and Canada. It remains an authentically South Korean story, with details and references that reflect a deep and careful respect for the nation's history and pop culture, but one told through the lens of the South Korean diaspora. 'It sounds like a paradox, but it's about balancing the universal and the specific,' says actor Daniel Dae Kim, who has a small but hilarious role in the movie. 'By leveraging the identity of diaspora Koreans, ['KPop Demon Hunters'] was able to create something that anyone Korean would recognize, and anyone not Korean could understand.' That makes 'KPop Demon Hunters' exceptionally rare in Hollywood, although it might become less rare very soon: an example of how Asian Americans can serve as the interpreters and globalizers of authentic and original Asian stories, bringing them to the world without the stigma of 'whitewashing' that often occurs when content crosses oceans. It's a promise we've been waiting for ever since San Francisco-born and Hong Kong-raised Bruce Lee proved that an Asian American storyteller could fuse two cultures to make something universally beloved. It's a promise that we've seen flare up in gate-crashing projects such as 'Crazy Rich Asians,' set in Singapore with an 'Asian Avengers' cast assembled from around the world. And with the triumphant breakout of 'KPop Demon Hunters,' it's a promise that many hope is on the verge of being fulfilled. Last week, Amazon Studios released the trailer for its high-octane spy thriller series 'Butterfly,' produced by and starring Kim and shot entirely in Seoul. This week, Hybe - BTS's management and production company - announced that it is collaborating with Paramount on a feature film set in the world of K-pop, directed by Korean American filmmaker Benson Lee, and starring Ji-young Yoo (who plays Zoey in 'KPop Demon Hunters') and Atlanta-born K-pop star Eric Nam. 'In the past, neither Asia nor Hollywood were particularly interested in Asian Americans,' says Kim. 'But we're starting to see a shift. I'm seeing it in Korea, certainly. They used to laugh and ask, 'Why can't you speak better Korean?' But now that they aspire to become a world leader in pop culture, they've begun to see those of us in the diaspora as a unique resource.' It's an exciting reminder of how immigrant communities are often a boon, culturally and commercially, to both their adopted homeland and their ancestral one. Hollywood was built by immigrants, after all, and their innate feel for cultural fusion is the superpower that has fueled America's rise to pop culture dominance. Isn't it ironic that, just as South Korea is embracing these overlapping identities as a recipe for global success, the message America is increasingly sending is that, if you're 'not really in the demo,' it might not want you here at all? Jeff Yang is the author of 'The Golden Screen: The Movies That Made Asian America.'
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Top royal joins thousands cheering on Lionesses in crowd at London victory parade after Euro 2025 triumph
MEMBERS of the royal family have been spotted in the crowd of the Lionesses' victory parade in London. The royal was seen celebrating the England sides win at the Euros alongside her family as the 5 Thousands of fans lined the streets for the parade Credit: Alamy 5 The Royal and her family were blending in amongst the crowd Credit: AFP 5 Princess Beatrice was seen alongside her husband and young children Credit: AFP Baby Athena was born prematurely in January and was strapped to her dad in a baby carrier during the celebrations. Sienna, three-years-old, was seen waving an England flag in celebration of the The family blended into crowds in casual dress as they stood against barriers erected down The Mall. Read more in Royals The Lionesses were cheered on by thousands both on the pitch and during their victory parade. They retained their Euros title after a nail-biting Buses carrying the victorious squad travelled down the street, led by the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth. Most read in Royals They were flanked on either side by cheering fans waving flags including Manager Sarina Wiegman danced alongside Burna Boy on stage before Leah Williamson lifted the trophy high in the air to huge cheers. Prince William watches on with Princess Charlotte as England take on Spain in Euros final Beatrice and her family were seen cheering and celebrating amongst the crowds as the busses passed them. Three-year-old Sienna was enjoying a sweet treat during the cheery day out with her parents. Christopher was spotted climbing the barrier a bit to get a better view as the The family were all smiles as the parade carried on down The Mall, seemingly enjoying the atmosphere. 5 She dressed casually and had her hair scraped back in a messy bun Credit: PA 5 The Lionesses hoisted the trophy to a thunderous cheer from the crowd Credit: PA Beatrice is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, She is niece to King Charles III and granddaughter to the Late Queen Elizabeth. Several Royals including heir to the throne Prince William and his daughter were seen at the match that saw the Lionesses defend their Euros title. Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice's close bond Over the years, the Queen's granddaughters have often spoken about their incredible bond and have previously described themselves as "each other's rocks." The Duchess gave birth at London's Portland Hospital for Women and Children, and Beatrice's full name was announced as Beatrice Elizabeth Mary almost two weeks later. The couple - who divorced in 1996 - then welcomed As a result of their close bond, it's no surprise that back in 2018, as Eugenie made her way down to When asked about her maid of honour by
The Independent
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Princess Beatrice and children join crowds for Lionesses' football victory parade
Princess Beatrice and her family joined crowds of thousands watching the England women's football team's victory parade in central London. The princess, her husband Edoardo Mozzi and their children Sienna, Athena and Christopher, were among crowds lining The Mall near Buckingham Palace to celebrate the team winning Euro 2025. The King 's niece, who is the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, unofficially represented the royal family at the parade following England's win over Spain in the women's European Championship. Athena, who was born several weeks prematurely in January, was in a baby carrier strapped to her father, while Sienna, three, waved a hand-drawn England flag. England's women made history on Sunday, becoming the country's first international team to win a major tournament overseas and the first to retain their trophy after beating Spain on penalties in the final in Basel. The team, decked in England flags and Union Jacks, travelled along The Mall on two open-top buses towards Buckingham Palace as the crowds sang It's Coming Home and Sweet Caroline. Captain Leah Williamson lifted the silver trophy from the top deck of one bus to raucous applause, while player Alessia Russo said she was 'on cloud nine' and described the celebrations as 'a bit surreal'. England hero Chloe Kelly thanked the crowds and the 'incredible' team, while manager and three-time Women's Euros winner Sarina Wiegman was surprised onstage by her favourite artist Burna Boy. A ceremony outside the Queen Victoria Memorial ended with red flares, fireworks and the team taking to the front to dance with the crowds. On Monday, the team went to a reception event in the garden of 10 Downing Street with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
Scottish Sun
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Top royal joins thousands cheering on Lionesses in crowd at London victory parade after Euro 2025 triumph
The royal blended into the crowd in casual clothes ROYAL APPROVAL Top royal joins thousands cheering on Lionesses in crowd at London victory parade after Euro 2025 triumph Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MEMBERS of the royal family have been spotted in the crowd of the Lionesses' victory parade in London. The royal was seen celebrating the England sides win at the Euros alongside her family as the Lionesses victory parade made its way down The Mall. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Thousands of fans lined the streets for the parade Credit: Alamy 5 The Royal and her family were blending in amongst the crowd Credit: AFP 5 Princess Beatrice was seen alongside her husband and young children Credit: AFP Princess Beatrice was seen alongside her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzie, their two daughters, Sienna and Athena, and Edo's son from a previous relationship, Christopher. Baby Athena was born prematurely in January and was strapped to her dad in a baby carrier during the celebrations. Sienna, three-years-old, was seen waving an England flag in celebration of the Lionesses victory over Spain. The family blended into crowds in casual dress as they stood against barriers erected down The Mall. Beatrice wore a white jumper and a floral dress while her husband dressed in a shirt and black baseball cap. The Lionesses were cheered on by thousands both on the pitch and during their victory parade. They retained their Euros title after a nail-biting penalty shootout in Basel, Switzerland on Sunday. Buses carrying the victorious squad travelled down the street, led by the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth. They were flanked on either side by cheering fans waving flags including Princess Beatrice and her family. Manager Sarina Wiegman danced alongside Burna Boy on stage before Leah Williamson lifted the trophy high in the air to huge cheers. Prince William watches on with Princess Charlotte as England take on Spain in Euros final Beatrice and her family were seen cheering and celebrating amongst the crowds as the busses passed them. Three-year-old Sienna was enjoying a sweet treat during the cheery day out with her parents. Christopher was spotted climbing the barrier a bit to get a better view as the victorious team passed by him. The family were all smiles as the parade carried on down The Mall, seemingly enjoying the atmosphere. 5 She dressed casually and had her hair scraped back in a messy bun Credit: PA 5 The Lionesses hoisted the trophy to a thunderous cheer from the crowd Credit: PA Beatrice is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York. She is niece to King Charles III and granddaughter to the Late Queen Elizabeth. Beatrice Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi was born fifth in line to the throne but is now ninth. Several Royals including heir to the throne Prince William and his daughter were seen at the match that saw the Lionesses defend their Euros title.
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Top royal joins thousands cheering on Lionesses in crowd at London victory parade after Euro 2025 triumph
MEMBERS of the royal family have been spotted in the crowd of the Lionesses' victory parade in London. The royal was seen celebrating the England sides win at the Euros alongside her family as the Lionesses victory parade made its way down The Mall. 5 5 5 Princess Beatrice was seen alongside her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzie, their two daughters, Sienna and Athena, and Edo's son from a previous relationship, Christopher. Baby Athena was born prematurely in January and was strapped to her dad in a baby carrier during the celebrations. Sienna, three-years-old, was seen waving an England flag in celebration of the Lionesses victory over Spain. The family blended into crowds in casual dress as they stood against barriers erected down The Mall. Beatrice wore a white jumper and a floral dress while her husband dressed in a shirt and black baseball cap. The Lionesses were cheered on by thousands both on the pitch and during their victory parade. They retained their Euros title after a nail-biting penalty shootout in Basel, Switzerland on Sunday. Buses carrying the victorious squad travelled down the street, led by the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth. They were flanked on either side by cheering fans waving flags including Princess Beatrice and her family. Manager Sarina Wiegman danced alongside Burna Boy on stage before Leah Williamson lifted the trophy high in the air to huge cheers. Prince William watches on with Princess Charlotte as England take on Spain in Euros final Beatrice and her family were seen cheering and celebrating amongst the crowds as the busses passed them. Three-year-old Sienna was enjoying a sweet treat during the cheery day out with her parents. Christopher was spotted climbing the barrier a bit to get a better view as the victorious team passed by him. The family were all smiles as the parade carried on down The Mall, seemingly enjoying the atmosphere. 5 5 Beatrice is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York. She is niece to King Charles III and granddaughter to the Late Queen Elizabeth. Beatrice Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi was born fifth in line to the throne but is now ninth. Several Royals including heir to the throne Prince William and his daughter were seen at the match that saw the Lionesses defend their Euros title. Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice's close bond Over the years, the Queen 's granddaughters have often spoken about their incredible bond and have previously described themselves as "each other's rocks." Princess Beatrice was the first child born to the Duke and Duchess of York - Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson - back on August 8, 1988. The Duchess gave birth at London's Portland Hospital for Women and Children, and Beatrice's full name was announced as Beatrice Elizabeth Mary almost two weeks later. The couple - who divorced in 1996 - then welcomed Princess Eugenie, whose full name is Eugenie Victoria Helena, on March 23, 1990. As a result of their close bond, it's no surprise that back in 2018, as Eugenie made her way down to Windsor Castle for her royal nuptials, her maid of honour Beatrice was firmly by her side. When asked about her maid of honour by TLC, Princess Eugenie said, 'I can't think of anyone I'd want by my side other than her.'
