In the colourful, animated, musical world of KPop Demon Hunters, everyone is a fan. The general public rocks T-shirts supporting their favourite idols. They hold light sticks and stare starry-eyed at stadium stages; they scream, they cry, they cheer, they buy the merch.

The Sony Pictures/Netflix film itself has inspired similar fanfare, having topped the streamer’s global rankings.

Fans have flooded the internet with art, covers, cosplay and choreography in response to the movie, which follows the fictional K-pop girl group Huntr/x as they fight demons.

It is not just the film that is a summer hit. The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack has topped the charts, debuting at No 1 on Billboard’s Soundtracks chart and No 8 on the all-genre Billboard 200.

Here is how KPop Demon Hunters became the year’s surprising success story.

Musical tradition and K-pop are honoured

The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack uses some of the best and brightest songwriters in the genre. That included a partnership with K-pop company The Black Label, co-founded by super producer Teddy Park, known for his work with YG, Blackpink and 2NE1 – empowered girl groups used as references for Huntr/x.
A still from KPop Demon Hunters, featuring the girl group Huntr/x on stage. Photo: Netflix via AP

A still from KPop Demon Hunters, featuring the girl group Huntr/x on stage. Photo: Netflix via AP