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New Netflix Movie Finally Dethrones KPop Demon Hunters From The Chart (Despite Audience Reactions)
The breakout hit of the summer has been, without a doubt, KPop Demon Hunters, an animated musical about a trio of K-pop superstars who secretly fight the forces of evil. Since its release in June, the film has shown incredible staying power, eventually surpassing Red Notice to become the most-watched Netflix film of all time with 236 million views. This success was not limited to the streaming platform, as a limited sing-along version of the film became Netflix’s first-ever movie to top the U.S. box office, earning an estimated $18 million in a single weekend. Finally, the movie’s soundtrack also became a massive hit, charting multiple songs on the Billboard Top 10 for weeks. However, after months of dominating the charts and cultural conversation, the reign of the demon-hunting idols has finally come to an end, surprisingly dethroned by a new movie that audiences do not seem to enjoy nearly as much.
A new traffic report from Flixpatrol reveals that The Thursday Murder Club is now the number one most-streamed movie on Netflix worldwide. The film, based on the best-selling novel by Richard Osman, follows a group of retirees who solve cold cases for fun until they find themselves investigating a real murder at their retirement community. The mystery film boasts a star-studded cast, including Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Ben Kingsley, big names Netflix is leveraging to promote The Thursday Murder Club.
What makes The Thursday Murder Club‘s ascent to the top of the charts so curious is the film’s divisive reception. While critics gave the film a respectable 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, the audience approval rating sits at a much lower 56%. This lukewarm reception from viewers suggests that, unlike the organic word-of-mouth success that propelled KPop Demon Hunters to phenomenon status, this new chart-topper may not have the same longevity.
The Future of KPop Demon Hunters Is Assured at Netflix
Following the first movie’s success, Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation are officially developing a direct sequel to KPop Demon Hunters. The move solidifies the property as a top priority for the streamer, with co-directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans expected to return to helm the project, which is currently in its early stages. This creative continuity is a significant step, as Kang has already publicly detailed her narrative goals for a KPop Demon Hunters follow-up, that she intends to shift the story’s focus away from the group’s lead vocalist, Rumi (Arden Cho), in order to properly explore the compelling backstories of her fellow bandmates, the stoic Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) and the energetic Mira (May Hong).
KPop Demon Hunters 2 is just the first step in a much broader, multi-platform expansion strategy that Netflix is aggressively pursuing. The most immediate of these plans involves bringing the franchise into the real world, as the company is already developing immersive KPop Demon Hunters experiences in both Dallas and Philadelphia, with a target opening ahead of the upcoming holiday season. To maintain digital engagement, Netflix has also successfully launched a partnership with the gaming platform Roblox for a branded sing-along event. While longer-term plans are still taking shape, reports indicate that discussions are underway for an animated spinoff series and a slate of short films.
What are your thoughts on the new number one movie on Netflix, and are you excited about the future of the KPop Demon Hunters franchise? Join the discussion in the comments!
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