Tag: movie

TechPulse

Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Enters Fortnite With Playable Mode and Creator Assets

Tanisha Cardozo

Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters is officially stepping into the metaverse with a full-scale integration into Epic Games’ Fortnite, blending streaming, gaming, and K-pop fandom in one dynamic collaboration. The crossover launched on October 2 and will run through November 1, allowing Fortnite players to dive into a brand-new game mode and experience the world of KPop Demon Hunters firsthand.

In the newly introduced “Demon Rush Mode,” fans can team up with the elite demon-slaying crew HUNTR/X to defend the mystical Honmoon from relentless waves of faceless demons. Players can also take on the personas of fan-favorite characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoey—complete with custom outfits, accessories, and signature items like spicy ramyeon, which has already become an iconic part of the film’s visual branding.

In a major move for user-generated content, Netflix is also enabling Fortnite creators to design and publish their own games using official KPop Demon Hunters assets. These assets are now accessible through Fortnite’s creator tools and are fully licensed, giving fans a creative outlet to expand the universe of the film inside one of the world’s most popular games.

The collaboration reflects the increasing convergence of entertainment platforms—bringing cinematic universes to life within interactive digital spaces. With K-pop’s global influence, Fortnite’s massive user base, and Netflix’s storytelling reach, this partnership positions KPop Demon Hunters not just as a film, but as a living, playable IP.

This isn’t Netflix’s first foray into gaming, but it’s one of its boldest, tying in a culturally resonant title with a gaming ecosystem known for its crossovers and community engagement. With a rising number of users exploring Fortnite Creative, the timing couldn’t be better for fans to interact with the KPop Demon Hunters universe in new and imaginative ways.

Whether you’re a K-pop stan, a Netflix binge-watcher, or a Fortnite creator, KPop Demon Hunters in Fortnite is a crossover that promises energy, creativity, and plenty of demon-slaying fun—one spicy ramyeon at a time.

Films

KPop Demon Hunters: Netflix Hit Redefines Female Superheroes Through K-pop and Korean Mythology

Tanisha Cardozo

Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters isn’t just a film—it’s a genre-defying cultural explosion. Co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, this animated superhero movie has taken the platform by storm, becoming the second most popular English-language film on Netflix, while simultaneously earning critical acclaim and charting on Billboard.

The film follows Huntr/x, a fictional K-pop girl group who double as demon-fighting superheroes. Armed with magical musical powers and real-world sass, the girls take on ancient evil with a blend of pop performance and supernatural flair. Alongside them—or sometimes against them—are the Saja Boys, a rival male idol group with secrets and powers of their own.

What makes KPop Demon Hunters truly groundbreaking, however, is its unapologetically raw portrayal of its female leads. “They eat messily, they burp, they make weird faces,” says director Maggie Kang. “I wanted to break away from the polished, idealized female characters we usually see in animation.”

Kang took a hands-on, physical approach to directing. She often had her animation team act out scenes to capture authentic emotion, comedic timing, and real human gestures. When scenes didn’t quite land, Kang would step in and demonstrate the facial expressions herself—sometimes contorting her face to extreme degrees to convey a particular feeling.
“Even when you draw, you want to feel the expressions,” Kang told Q host Gill Deacon.

More than just a stylistic tour de force, KPop Demon Hunters roots itself in deep Korean heritage. The film’s opening sequence—depicting generations of Korean musicians fighting supernatural forces—draws heavily from Korean shamanism and folklore. Kang’s own upbringing between Toronto and summers in Seoul shaped the narrative, blending diasporic identity with mythological storytelling.

“When we grounded the mythology into Korean shamanism, it opened up this opportunity to feature different eras of Korea and show how Korean music evolved through the ages,” she explained.

The fictional group’s impact isn’t limited to the screen. Huntr/x’s track “Golden” hit No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Global 200, while the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack soared to No. 2 on the Billboard 200—making it the top-charting soundtrack of 2025.

“I didn’t think this kind of reaction was even possible,” Kang said. “It’s incredible.”

With voice performances from Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun, the film has a dynamic and diverse ensemble that brings the world of Huntr/x vividly to life.

Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, KPop Demon Hunters is proof that authentic cultural storytelling—blended with universal themes, bold creativity, and the magnetic rivalry between Huntr/x and the Saja Boys—can break every mold, entertain, and inspire.