“KPop Demon Hunters:” A Golden Movie Review

Maria Franco, Jamie Gonzalez, Kiahna Barnes, and Maria Coronel • September 6, 2025

Netflix’s poster of their new hit film, KPop Demon Hunters.

There’s no way you have opened TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, or even the news, and still not heard about the new “KPop Demon Hunters” movie.

People around the world are talking about this hit Netflix film that premiered on Aug. 23, 2025. Millions of people have commented about it on social media and have streamed their songs daily, which has led the film to get over 210 million views in the few weeks of its release. But how did this movie get so popular? What were the key points to creating such a revolutionary film for the world of animation and K-pop?

“KPop Demon Hunters” is an animated movie that follows ‘HUNTR/X,’ a K-Pop group of three girls who use their voices in order to strengthen the ‘Honmoon,’ a barrier that separates demons from the real world. In their mission to seal the Honmoon forever, they encounter the ‘Saja Boys,’ a competing K-Pop boy band who are secretly demons hungry for the souls of HUNTR/X’s fans. HUNTR/X will have to be more united than ever, using the power of their voices and their friendship to save their fans and banish the demons off Earth.

One of the things that made the movie go extremely viral was its catchy songs. All the music integrated in “KPop Demon Hunters” was essential to making the movie such a global sensation. The most prominent track, “Golden,” is on the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 with almost 32 million streams and was the most streamed song in the United States during the first week of August.

The director, Maggie Kang, took inspiration from works she admired growing up, like those of Disney along with media from her own Korean heritage. The film celebrates Korean culture in its reflection of Korean mythology and K-pop music.

The creator also includes popular Korean media and culture to give more representation of what she did not see as a kid. She wanted to not only incorporate the big picture, but also the little details, such as the main characters placing their napkins underneath their dishes when eating out.

The amazing soundtracks along with the incredible and entertaining representation of Korean culture ultimately made this film go extremely viral all over the internet. The message of self-acceptance and unity leaves viewers with a heart-warming conclusion that makes them feel golden.

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About the Contributors

Maria Franco, Staff Writer

Maria Franco is a senior at Canyon who has been in journalism for three years. Her freshman year, she was accidentally put in journalism and did not plan to stay. But after staying a couple days in the class, she fell in love with it and stayed. She wrote for two years, took a break, and is now making a comeback for her senior year. She is a staff writer and likes to write about different topics, but mostly news. Some of her interests/hobbies include crocheting, music, tv shows, and walking. After graduating, she plans to continue going to school and pursuing education to one day become a teacher.

Jamie Gonzalez, Staff Writer

Jamie Gonzalez is a staff writer and graphic designer in the Journalism program here at Canyon, and a senior in high school. This is their second year in the class, and they are excited to contribute with both art and writing to inform and entertain Cowboys and all involved in this community! He is also involved in the Fashion Club and Eco Chicos Club on campus. After graduating from Canyon, Jamie hopes to study humanities and transfer from COC to a four-year university. Jamie is passionate about writing of all kinds and various creative expressions, especially concerning pop culture and media, covering topics from Canyon life to arts and entertainment.

Kiahna Barnes, Staff Writer

Kiahna Barnes is a staff writer for The Pony Express. This is her first year in the journalism program, and she is currently a junior at Canyon High school. Other extracurriculars she does include: softball, Pet Pals, CSF, and National English Honors Society. In the future, Kiahna hopes to work at a publishing house for books. During her free time, she enjoys watching movies, reading, listening to music, writing, and playing with her two dogs.

Maria Coronel, Staff Writer

Maria Coronel is a freshman and brand-new staff writer that joined journalism in hopes of contributing to the website with entertaining articles and eye-catching designs. She also joined the tennis team, a new sport for her that she really enjoys playing. Other things Maria likes to do are listening to music, going on walks with her dog, and drawing, especially on digital. She loves to draw anything that comes to mind and leans towards illustrating fun thumbnails for future posts. Maria is really glad to be part of The Pony Express staff and will work hard to write articles that students will be able to enjoy.