'Kpop Demon Hunters' directors discuss Oscars hopes, soundtrack success and plans for a sequel

Kpop Demon Hunters directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans have shared their thoughts on the film’s potential Oscars success and the possibility of a sequel, following the animated hit’s record-breaking year on Netflix.

Speaking to the BBC, Kang said she was “excited for the potential for more stories” involving the girl group Huntr/x, who front the film.

“There’s definitely more we can do with these characters in this world,” she explained, adding that any continuation “will be a story that deserves to be a sequel.”

Kpop Demon Hunters has surpassed Squid Game as the most-watched title in Netflix history, with more than 325 million views. The story follows Huntr/x — Zoey, Rumi and Mira — a K-pop trio who fight demons while performing as global music stars.

The film has achieved several milestones, including becoming the first Netflix release to top the US box office with its sing-along edition. Its soundtrack also made history, with four songs in the US top 10 simultaneously.

With critical acclaim and a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is now seen as a frontrunner for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.

Appelhans joked that “the title alone is obviously Oscar bait,” adding, “We tried to do something new and it was really hard… if people are going to reward that, that would be awesome.”

The directors confirmed that the breakout song Golden will be submitted for Best Original Song, while other contenders from the film include Your Idol and What It Sounds Like.

Despite the awards buzz, Kang emphasised the film’s core achievement. “All the awards would be great, but seeing people bond over this movie has been so wonderful. It feels like we’ve kind of won already.”