Renowned video game designer Hideo Kojima shared that he became unexpectedly emotional while watching Netflix's animated hit KPop Demon Hunters. The filmmaker revealed he ended up crying by the film's conclusion, calling it exceptionally moving. This endorsement comes amid the movie's massive success and upcoming sequel.
Hideo Kojima, the creator of the acclaimed Death Stranding franchise, recently expressed profound admiration for Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters. In a post on X, the 62-year-old Japanese designer wrote, “I casually started watching ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ got completely hooked, and ended up crying my eyes out by the end. It was so, so good 🥺🫶.” Kojima, known for his work on post-apocalyptic narratives involving supernatural threats, found himself deeply moved by the animated film.
Produced by Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix and directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, with co-writers Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan, KPop Demon Hunters premiered on the streamer in late June 2025. The story follows the K-pop group HUNTR/X—members Rumi (voiced by Arden Cho), Mira, and Zoey—as they balance global stardom with secret lives as demon hunters protecting fans from supernatural dangers. Their primary adversaries are the Saja Boys, a rival boy band revealed to be demons serving the villain Gwi-Ma, inspired by Korean mythology.
The film has achieved unprecedented viewership, becoming Netflix's most-watched animated movie and its most popular English-language film ever, with over 325.1 million views. It has also grossed $24.6 million from theatrical runs, including a sing-along version, and earned nominations for Best Animated Film at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes. The New York Film Critics Circle voted it the year's best in its category. Its soundtrack received five Grammy nominations, with the hit song “Golden” making the Oscar Original Song shortlist.
Kojima's enthusiasm extended to the music; he shared an image of “Golden” playing and retweeted a Variety post praising it as one of 2025's best songs. A sequel is in development, targeting a 2029 release. The film's themes, drawn from Kang's Korean heritage, explore internal struggles like Rumi's half-demon secret and Zoey's cultural identity as a Korean-American, using music and empathy as a protective force against darkness.
