Entertainment
8 Musicals That Are as Good as ‘KPop Demon Hunters’
Since its release in 2025, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans’s KPop Demon Hunters has become a true cultural phenomenon around the globe. With a story inspired by Korean mythology, K-pop, and anime, and a stellar soundtrack to go with it, the fantasy musical is easily one of the biggest hits of recent years, winning several accolades for its striking animation and brilliant music. But while the film is certainly one of the best musicals ever made, it’s hardly the only great movie in the genre.
Hollywood has been making musicals since the early 20th century, and over the decades, we’ve been graced with the release of several toe-tapping, mind-blowing audiovisual journeys. And the greatest of them, the true masterpieces, deliver exhilarating experiences that are just as amazing (if not more, in some cases) as the blockbuster Netflix movie. So, here’s our handpicked selection of some spectacular musicals that are as good as KPop Demon Hunters.
1
‘Over the Moon’ (2020)
Directed by Glen Keane from a screenplay by Audrey Wells, Over the Moon is an animated musical fantasy that takes inspiration from Chinese mythology. The film follows Fei Fei, a spirited young girl who misses her late mother and tries to hold on to the stories she told her about the moon goddess, Chang’e. When her father gets engaged to a woman who questions the existence of Chang’e, Fei Fei builds a rocket ship to prove her wrong, but things get complicated by an unexpected stowaway. Cathy Ang leads the voice cast as Fei Fei, with Phillipa Soo, Ken Jeong, John Cho, Ruthie Ann Miles, Margaret Cho, and Sandra Oh voicing supporting roles.
An Academy Award-nominated work of animation that has gone sorely underrated, Over the Moon is a vibrant and wonderful film with excellent art and great emotional depth. The Netflix Original movie presents a beautiful story about moving on from grief, told using the motifs and legends of Chinese mythology, and further elevated by its energetic, pop-infused soundtrack. The film received positive reviews after its premiere at the 2020 Montclair Film Festival and earned several accolades, including six Annie Award nominations.
2
‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ (2016)
Produced by Laika and directed by Travis Knight, Kubo and the Two Strings is a stop-motion animated fantasy film set in feudal Japan. The movie follows a young boy, the titular Kubo, as he sets out on a mystical quest, wielding a magical two-stringed musical instrument and aided by strange companions. Art Parkinson voices Kubo, leading a cast that includes Charlize Theron, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, George Takei, and Matthew McConaughey.
Often hailed as one of the greatest animated films of all time, Kubo and the Two Strings may not be as well-known as KPop Demon Hunters, but its musical fantasy narrative is practically perfect. It’s a highly emotional movie with breathtaking animation and an absorbing, all-ages narrative, and the film has been widely praised for its story, production, and music. Though it’s often overlooked these days, the movie has earned numerous accolades, including two Oscar nominations and a BAFTA win for Best Animated Film.
3
‘A Hard Day’s Night’ (1964)
Directed by Richard Lester and written by Alun Owen, A Hard Day’s Night is a classic musical comedy starring the Beatles as fictional versions of themselves. The movie follows John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr in the hours leading up to a televised variety show concert, evading obsessed fans, teasing reporters, and generally trying to have some fun — against the wishes of their strict manager. Wilfrid Brambell, Norman Rossington, John Junkin, and more star in supporting roles.
Released in 1964, during the peak years of Beatlemania, A Hard Day’s Night was an instant hit, earning rave reviews from critics for its lurid, surreal story and setting new records with its box office performance. Powered by the easy charisma of its iconic stars and elevated by a fantastically funny screenplay, the film is easily one of the most popular musicals of all time. A Hard Day’s Night received two Academy Award nominations, and the soundtrack album was a multi-platinum certified hit as well.
4
‘Encanto’ (2021)
Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, Encanto is a Disney musical fantasy that revolves around a multigenerational Colombian family, the Madrigals, who live in a magical house. All the Madrigals — except for Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) — have miraculous gifts that they use to help their community, but when the family begins to lose their magic, it falls to Mirabel to save them all. The film’s ensemble voice cast also includes María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo, Diane Guerrero, Wilmer Valderrama, and more, and it features original songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Though KPop Demon Hunters may have reached unprecedented heights with its success, Encanto was an equally important cultural phenomenon when it first came out in 2021, receiving highly favorable reviews from critics and audiences around the world. A beautiful movie that explores generational trauma through a magical narrative, the film has been widely praised for its music, performances, animation, and emotional depth. Encanto went on to receive several awards, including the Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Awards for Best Animated Feature/Film.
5
‘Blue Giant’ (2023)
Adapted from the manga series by Shinichi Ishizuka, Blue Giant is a musical anime film directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa and produced by NUT. The film follows a former high school basketball player who discovers a love for jazz, teaching himself to play the saxophone and moving to Tokyo, where he teams up with his drummer friend and a gifted pianist to form a jazz trio. The voice cast stars Yuki Yamada, Shotaro Mamiya, Amane Okayama, and more.
Combining mindblowing animation with an excellent jazz soundtrack, Blue Giant is a passionate love letter to music that earned universal acclaim. Charting one young man’s earnest quest for musical greatness, the film is an electrifying and immersive experience, and though it may not be as widely known as KPop Demon Hunters, it is easily one of the best animated movies of recent years. Blue Giant went on to win several accolades as well, including a Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music Score.
6
‘Hamilton’ (2020)
Directed by Thomas Kail, the 2020 film Hamilton is a live stage recording of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical. The movie follows the life story of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, from his childhood as an orphan in the Caribbean to his tragic death. Miranda stars as Hamilton, alongside most of the original cast, including Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, Christopher Jackson, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Daveed Diggs, and more.
The next best thing to actually watching the acclaimed musical live, Hamilton premiered on Disney+ in July 2020 and quickly became one of the most-streamed films of the year. Successfully transporting the experience from stage to screen, the movie was widely praised by critics for its direction, performances, and visuals, and it was named one of the best films of the year by the American Film Institute. The film also earned several accolades, including two Golden Globe nominations and 12 Emmy nominations, of which it won two.
7
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)
Probably the most famous musical of all time, The Wizard of Oz is a film adaptation of the novel by L. Frank Baum, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. Like the book, the film follows Dorothy, a young girl from Kansas, as she finds herself magically transported to the wonderful land of Oz, where she must embark on a quest to meet the titular wizard and defeat the Wicked Witch of the West to get home. Directed primarily by Victor Fleming and produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the movie also features Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Billie Burke, and Margaret Hamilton in key roles.
An evergreen audience favorite that has been an inspiration to generations of filmmakers, The Wizard of Oz is a landmark of cinema history that has earned great acclaim over the years for its timeless story, beautiful soundtrack, and groundbreaking visual effects, especially its combination of black-and-white and Technicolor. The film’s performances, music, and stagecraft still hold up today, decades later, and it remains a widely loved masterpiece.
8
‘Inu-Oh’ (2021)
Directed by Masaaki Yuasa and produced by Science SARU, Inu-Oh is an anime musical film inspired by Hideo Furukawa’s novel Tales of the Heike: Inu-Oh. Set in 14th-century Japan, the film explores the friendship between Inu-Oh, a young Noh dancer born with a disfigured appearance, and Tomona, a blind musician. Avu-chan and Mirai Moriyama lead the original voice cast as Inu-Oh and Tomona, respectively, with Tasuku Emoto, Kenjiro Tsuda, and Yutaka Matsushige voicing supporting characters.
Inu-Oh had its world premiere at the 2021 Venice International Film Festival, where it became an instant critical favorite. A thrilling audiovisual journey with powerful social commentary and a mindblowing soundtrack, the film is a triumph of animated storytelling that centers on the importance of music as a way to challenge the status quo. The movie went on to receive several accolades, including a Golden Globe nomination, two Annie Award nominations, and the Fantasia International Film Festival’s Satoshi Kon Award for Best Animated Feature.
Inu-Oh
- Release Date
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October 30, 2021
- Writers
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Hideo Furukawa, Akiko Nogi
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Tasuku Emoto
Shogun Ashikaga
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Kenjiro Tsuda
Inu-oh’s Father
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