KPop Demon Hunters-2025

Director Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans

Voices Arden Cho, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo

Scott’s Review #1,524

Reviewed March 12, 2026

Grade: B+

KPop Demon Hunters (2025) has become an international hit sensation and a phenomenal crowd pleaser, winning several year-end awards in the process.

This is unsurprising, since the film is a beautifully animated/anime extravaganza, oozing with infectious energy and vibrant colors.

The film contains poignant messages of girl power, self-acceptance, and humanity that make it perfect family entertainment with a terrific soundtrack to boot.

Juicy songs like ‘Takedown’, especially ‘Golden’ and ‘Soda Pop’, are instantly memorable and hummable, celebrating universal pop boy-and-girl band sensations that kids and parents alike can appreciate.

It also incorporates a storyline about South Korean culture and ancient lore, which provides a rich international flavor.

It’s not high art nor groundbreaking cinema, but rather pure bubble gum: fun, sweet, and joyful, and it sticks with you all throughout the running time.

For this type of film, that is acceptable, and the main reason to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

Between gigs as a stadium-headlining, social-media-frenzied pop sensation, the members of the girl band Huntrix use their secret identities as demon hunters to protect their fans. A constant supernatural threat hovers, posed by demons named Honmoon who roam the streets.

It’s unclear if Honmoon are spirits or if the fans can actually see them.

Each of the girls, Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), has a distinct personality, but Rumi is the leader of the pack with the strongest singing voice.

When a dark secret about one of the girls is revealed, it threatens to break up the group just as a rival boy band, the Saja Boys, of demons in disguise, emerges on the scene.

In teen fashion and a clear attempt to market the film to a young demographic, romance blossoms between Rumi and Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), the pretty leader of the Saja Boys.

Of course, they begin as rivals but form a strong alliance later in the film.

The lavish colors, many pinks, purples, and blues, make the look enticing and cotton candy-like, almost like being immersed in a sugary video game version of Candy Land with songs.

The plentiful concert sequences also score big, as the anthemic numbers are sometimes repeated. This reinforces the connection between the bands and the fans, and also the film and the fans.

A main message is one of connectivity. Community, friendship, and having each other’s backs are the main themes and an inspiration for the viewer to come together as one, as evidenced by the concert scenes.

Despite KPop Demon Hunters not being defined as an LGBTQ+ film nor having any specific LGBTQ+ characters, it still resonates on a deep level.

Rumi’s story parallels the experience of coming out, particularly in terms of parental and societal expectations. The continuous lyrics focused on the struggle to hide your true self and finally be yourself are highly inspiring.

So that, while an entertaining crowd pleaser, there is more than meets the eye if one is to dig a little deeper.

Victory is achieved by KPop Demon Hunters (2025) through expressive animation, articulate lyrics, and spectacular action, resulting in a gem that’s comical, romantic, exciting, and moving all at once.

It also makes older adults feel like part of things and not embarrassed about watching a youthful film.

A sequel is planned.

Oscar Nominations: Best Animated Feature, Best Original Song-“Golden”