At this point, it feels like KPop Demon Hunters runs the culture, and we’re just along for the ride. The next milestone: the animated Netflix film has already landed a spot in the Criterion Collection.
Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans’ viral breakout joins Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein in the Criterion Collection at the height of awards season. But KPop Demon Hunters already has momentum on its side, taking home the Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award for Best Animated Motion Picture, along with wins for its breakout anthem “Golden.” The track made history as the first K-Pop song to win a Grammy, and the film is now nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the upcoming Academy Awards.
Image: Netflix
While some cinéastes may role their eyes at KPDH joining the ranks of The Seven Samurai and Wild Strawberries, let’s not forget that Criterion early on opened its doors to the likes of popcorn fare likeThe Blob (spine #91) and Michael Bay’s Armageddon (spine #40). Criterion inclusion also preserves the movie on a physical release that Netflix would never embark on without its help — and that’s a win for physical media enthusiasts. The disc joins a slate of collector’s items that includes a Lego set, American Girl dolls, and a Monopoly Deal board game set. The girls are even in Fortnite, which is the official benchmark for making an impact in pop culture these days. For film aficionados, a Criterion Collection induction is the ultimate stamp of prestige, underscoring just how massive the film’s cultural impact has been. It’s already Netflix’s most-streamed title, a release strategy (pun intended) that Sony executives say was key to its breakout success.
Huntr/x made history as the first all-women group to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 since Destiny’s Child topped the chart with “Bootylicious” in August 2001. Their hit “Golden” has also wowed audiences with live performances on both The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
With its hands in all facets of entertainment, it’s safe to say KPop Demon Hunters’ place in the Criterion Collection was all but assured. The animated film joins other Netflix titles in the lineup, such as Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog, Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.