Entertainment
1 Year Later, Netflix’s Most-Watched Film Ever Returns With a New Anniversary Release
Through the first half of 2026, Netflix is on a hot streak with its original films. The standout so far has been the sci-fi action epic War Machine starring Reacher‘s Alan Ritchson, which surged into ninth place on the platform’s all-time global viewership charts with 139.9 million views, but Matt Damon and Ben Affleck‘s The Rip and the Michael B. Jordan family animated adventure Swapped have also reached some impressive milestones. Yet, none have been quite as towering as last year’s breakout global sensation KPop Demon Hunters. This week marks the first anniversary of HUNTR/X’s game-changing debut, and since then, viewers have kept watching Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, if its streak of 50-straight weeks in the English top-ten is any indication.
Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans‘ Sony Pictures Animation feature has accomplished so much since everyone heard “Golden” for the first time, from becoming the first soundtrack to ever have four songs in the Billboard Hot 100 at once to winning the Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. While the music was everywhere, the action-adventure was hailed by critics and audiences alike and soared to #1 all-time on Netflix with an unparalleled 325.1 million views. There’s no time like the present, then, to reflect on the adventure to seal the Honmoon that started it all, and the streamer has a few plans to make it a proper celebration, from anniversary screenings to a global TikTok watch party, anniversary edition vinyls, and much more. Among the new KPop Demon Hunters items heading to shelves is a collaboration to bring to life a certain supernatural messenger tiger.
Netflix and LEGO have revealed a new set that will allow fans to construct Rumi and Jinu’s pal, Derpy Tiger, and his little six-eyed magpie companion, Sussie. Made to be built and displayed with 825 pieces, it depicts Derpy loyally sitting in place and poseable with multiple spots to perch Sussie on his head. His mouth can either be shut or open with a special, friendly message to share, and he comes with a flower pot that he can try and fail to tip back up. It acts as a colorful commemoration of one of the movie’s most beloved characters and his clumsy quirks.
What’s the Status on a ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Sequel?
Buzz for a sequel remains high one year after KPop Demon Hunters, especially given how much of this world and its Korean-inspired lore is left to explore. Back in March, Netflix officially confirmed that the follow-up was happening, with both Kang and Appelhans back as writers and directors and Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo likely reprising their roles as the speaking voices of HUNTR/X alongside EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami. Animation takes time, though, so it’s not expected to arrive until 2029. Although there’s no idea where the story is heading next, both sides of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey have expressed their opinions on what the next film should be, from a globe-trotting new adventure sending the group to different cities across the globe to a darker Andor-like story that explores real Korean history.
Whatever comes next, Kang assured in an interview with Collider’s Perri Nemiroff that it will be true to what she and Appelhans want to do with these characters and this world, not unlike the original KPop Demon Hunters.
“Yeah, anything that we do after this, I think, will be exactly like how we approached the first movie, which is, it’s everything that we wanted to see and we wanted to challenge ourselves with. So, anything from us after this one will be exactly that, and it’ll be what we want to see. Well, we’ll, of course, look at what other people want to see, as well, but as directors and writers, you have to be true to yourself, and be your harshest critic, and that’s what we were with the first film, and we have very high standards, and we will still stick to those standards in every single inch of whatever we make next. So, yeah, it’ll be hard. I mean, it will be just as hard as this, and probably harder, but we’re up for the challenge.”
The new KPop Demon Hunters LEGO Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird set will be available for pre-sale globally on the official LEGO website and will officially launch in stores on August 1. Get your first look at the new set in action in the gallery above.
- Release Date
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June 20, 2025
- Runtime
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96 minutes
- Director
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Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang
- Writers
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Hannah McMechan, Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang, Danya Jimenez
- Producers
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Michelle Wong
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