Quick question: What was the most popular movie of 2025? If you take a look at the year’s box-office grosses, you might say Ne Zha 2 or A Minecraft Movie, but don’t be fooled. KPop Demon Hunters leaves Ne Zha and Minecraft in its glittery dust. As of January, KPop Demon Hunters has been viewed a staggering 540 million times, according to Netflix.
The surprise Netflix hit was more than a movie: It was a flat-out phenomenon. Its soundtrack landed four songs in Billboard’s top 10 simultaneously. “KPop Demon Hunters” was one of Google’s top trending searches of 2025, lagging only behind “Charlie Kirk.” The movie even dominated Halloween: The top five most-searched-for costumes in 2025 were all based on characters from KPop Demon Hunters.
But not all was golden. We heard from plenty of readers who felt the film was problematic. The movie is based in Korean mythology, after all, and some parents pointed out that it takes more than a trio of pop stars to truly fight demonic influences: It takes Jesus.
We totally get that. And yet, Plugged In still included KPop Demon Hunters in our own list of nominees for Best Movies for Teens. What gives?
Kennedy Unthank and I had a chance to do a deep dive into KPop Demon Hunters—the good, the bad and the surprisingly resonant messages it contains. And while we completely understand why some parents might be wary of the film, we explore why many Christians have embraced it, too.
So sit back, crack open a soda pop and listen to Kennedy and me dig into 2025’s biggest film. And once you’re done watching, let us know what you think below and on YouTube.
5 Responses
Haven’t watched the movie and I never will. However I fear the movie has got got little kids hooked on Kpop, which may not be the best thing, as lyrics may not be 100% family friendly. Just like little kids hooked on Taylor Swift when her music literally contains F bombs as well as sexual references and spiritual issues (songs like Karma and Guilty as Sin)
Love this movie and the review on it
Thank you for your thoughtful in-depth review. My main concern with this movie is the massive following it has by young kids (ages 3-10) and the now casual familiarity of demonology exposed to young kids – all the Rumi halloween costumes; birthday party themes; playing demon-hunters on the playground; little girls wearing demon markings on their arms from temporary tattoos, etc. I think this young age group is merely entertained by the movie, and Rumi is the new pop-favorite, and they think she and her markings are cool. But Rumi is not like the other humans – she is literally half demon, born that way – not because of some bad decisions she has made – and I find her character as a little girl’s new idol disturbing, and to be avoided. I would never want my daughter wearing arm tattoos that symbolize the marks of being a demon. Rumi’s character blurs a line between good and evil. It will be interesting to see what messages the second movie contains.
Agreed. Right after the movie came out I was at our church VBS volunteering and the little girls started singing Kpop Demon songs. I felt very disappointed in that.
I didn’t see the Demon Hunters movie until recently, and well, it is a cool movie that warns girls that we should beware of certain guys if we interpret the demons as a metaphor, but I didn’t feel comfortable with Rumi using the demon power to build the Honmoon.
Someone asked me why it bothered me that Rumi’s half demon when I didn’t say anything about Raven from Teen Titans being half demon. In Teen Titans, Raven doesn’t let herself fall for thinking some demons might actually be good. When Raven’s demon father tries to kill her friends, they defeat him through teamwork instead of using others’ souls, if I remember correctly.
But it is tricky because I find myself trying to fit Rumi into a Western framework, whereas with an anime I’d just accept that it is a Buddhist worldview. Thank you for your discussion of this movie, Plugged In!