Maggie Kang On Why Paying Homage To Her Roots Was Important In Making ‘KPop Demon Hunters’: “I Wanted Every Part Of This Movie To Be Korean”
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- Maggie Kang co‑directed KPop Demon Hunters, an original Korean‑themed animated feature produced by Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix.
- KPop Demon Hunters has been streamed over 540 million times since its June 2025 Netflix release, making it the platform’s most‑watched film.
- KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars and its song “Golden” won Best Original Song, marking the first Korean‑descent woman to win the former and the first K‑pop track to win the latter.
- Netflix released a sing‑along theatrical version in August, earning $19 million and its first No. 1 box‑office win, followed by a $6 million Halloween weekend showing.
- Hasbro signed a toy deal with Mattel for the film, and a sequel is already in development.
Why it matters: Netflix secures a blockbuster original IP, boosting subscriber engagement and opening a new $19 M theatrical revenue stream, while Hasbro, Mattel, and the creators capture lucrative merchandising and sequel opportunities.
