Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters turned the streaming service’s most profitable unique of all time this summer time, because of its soundtrack of bangers, having a glowing feel-good message that has actually caught with audiences, and its Korean illustration. Its reputation led Netflix to deliver a sing-along model to theaters for one weekend, which additionally dominated the field workplace for its brief keep. The film’s trajectory leads one to marvel if Sony Animation ought to have given it an opportunity in theaters moderately than promote it to Netflix, and sure, the studio’s CEO has considered that too.
Sony Footage CEO Ravi Ahuja was requested whether or not KPop Demon Hunters might have been viable to go straight to theaters moderately than first turning into out there to observe with a Netflix subscription throughout a Thursday convention. Right here’s what he needed to say:
That is the query we ask ourselves, everyone seems to be asking us too. , I don’t know. Clearly in hindsight it’s such an enormous hit you suppose possibly it might’ve. It was throughout the pandemic, it’s k-pop themed, it was a really particular movie, Netflix paid the entire value plus a revenue premium to us. On the time it made sense, however in hindsight you suppose possibly it might’ve been theatrical, and in reality Netflix took it to theaters.
Absolutely, if Sony might take a time machine again in time, they may wish to see if KPop Demon Hunters might have seen the identical success if it went straight to theaters like its different titles, like Spider-Man: Throughout the Spider-Verse or a few of the earlier Lodge Transylvania films. Ahuja’s feedback (by way of The Hollywood Reporter) illuminate why Sony determined to take it to Netflix as an alternative.
For one, it began going into manufacturing in 2021 (one 12 months after the COVID-19 pandemic), and there have been some issues about whether or not it might carry out in an unsure theatrical local weather. Moreover, the studio noticed its Okay-pop theme being maybe too “particular” for mainstream audiences and determined to not gamble on it for a large theatrical viewers.
Enter Netflix, which paid generously for the film. Sony Footage Animation and Netflix have had a stable relationship for years, with the animation division bringing different films like Vivo, Want Dragon and The Mitchells vs. the Machines to the streaming service first. However none of these films have seen the cultural affect we’ve discovered with KPop Demon Hunters. Right here’s what else Ahuja mentioned throughout the convention on the topic:
It began out on Netflix, and phrase of mouth made it develop. In theatrical, that could be a lot tougher to do. I believe it was in the suitable residence. I believe KPop Demon Hunters’ proper residence was Netflix, however yeah, it’s an attention-grabbing query, might it have been theatrical? It’s exhausting to say.
KPop Demon Hunter’s success has proved it has broad enchantment. A lot of the music turned the largest soundtrack of the 12 months thus far, charting on the Billboard Sizzling 100 – “Golden” is at present at No. 1, and three different songs are within the prime 10. When it got here to theaters, it topped the field workplace at $20 million regardless of the film not enjoying in any AMC Theatre location.
It’s a curious query that we’ll take into consideration for a very long time. Would KPop Demon Hunters have been so huge if it didn’t go to Netflix first? And, might it have boosted the 2025 summer time field workplace?
Going ahead, what’s accomplished is finished. A KPop Demon Hunters sequel is anticipated to be made underneath Netflix for the reason that streaming service owns the franchise, together with merchandising rights. Both method, it’s nice to see Sony Animation have such a large success with the film, and so they definitely share the win with Netflix.