Kpop Demon Hunters Tops Netflix as the Platform’s Most-Watched Film
The animated musical from Sony Pictures Animation continues its record-breaking run, adding 25.4 million views in the week of August 18–24 and bringing its total since the June 20 premiere to 236 million. With that leap, it has eclipsed Red Notice to become Netflix’s most popular English-language film to date. The performance comes amid a period of unusually stable audience engagement, marking a third straight week with virtually no drop in viewership following two prior weeks of roughly 26 million views.
A big driver of the surge is the new KPop Demon Hunters The Sing-Along Event. Netflix plans to combine the sing-along viewership with the original film’s numbers for upcoming reports, effectively boosting the tallies even further. The sing-along was released in theaters this weekend, contributing to a strong box-office showing that saw the title beat Weapons for the No. 1 spot with $19 million.
There are still 24 days left in the film’s 91-day premiere window, a period during which it is expected to widen the gap over its closest competitor, Red Notice, which had 230 million views in its 91-day window.
On the TV side, Wednesday Season 2 premiered with 13.4 million views, while Season 1 also appeared at No. 4 with 4 million views as viewers refreshed, or caught up, ahead of the new season’s debut on September 3.
In second place among TV titles was Hostage, the British political thriller that drew 10.8 million views. The series stars Corey Mylchreest as the activist stepson of the French president (Julie Delpy), with Suranne Jones as the British prime minister whose husband has been kidnapped.
Actor Corey Mylchreest also appeared on the film list with My Oxford Year, which captured 5.9 million views and ranked No. 4.
Rounding out the week’s Top 10, reality titles remained in the mix, including Fit For TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser at No. 3 with 8.5 million views, and America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys at No. 9 with 1.9 million views.
In the film category, Happy Gilmore 2 enjoyed a fifth week in the Top 10, holding No. 6 with 4.5 million views.
What this means for Netflix going forward is a continued demonstration of the platform’s ability to sustain major titles through cross-promotional formats like sing-alongs, and through strategic theatrical ties that drive broader audience engagement. If the current trajectory holds, Kpop Demon Hunters could continue to set new benchmarks for single-title performance on the service, while keeping viewers returning week after week.
Summary: Kpop Demon Hunters is now Netflix’s most-watched English-language film, bolstered by a strong retention pattern and a new sing-along event that could push totals even higher. The film’s cross-media push and steady weekly gains suggest a bright trajectory for Netflix’s catalog as it leverages both streaming and theatrical strategies to maximize audience reach.
Positive note: The ongoing success reflects a growing appetite for animated musical experiences on streaming platforms, expanding opportunities for creative storytelling and cross-promotion beyond traditional release windows.