When my 14-year-old began raving about Netflix sleeper hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” an animated movie a couple of Korean lady band battling demons attempting to steal human souls, I didn’t give it a variety of thought.
However after she’d watched it for the fifth time, she insisted that the entire household sit down and watch collectively. “Ignore the name,” she stated. “The movie is really, really good!”
So we did, and I’ve to confess — it was good. The film is intelligent, the music is tremendous catchy, and the themes of resilience and identification are heartfelt and relatable.
Clearly my teen and I are in good firm. “KPop Demon Hunters” is now Netflix’s most considered film of all time. The film’s soundtrack landed 4 of its songs within the high 10 spots of the Billboard Sizzling 100. And TikTok is filled with movies of individuals lip syncing to the film’s high hit, “Golden,” or performing the choreography from demon boy band music “Soda Pop.”
Briefly, “it’s breaking the world,” my 14-year-old says.
Why ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ resonates
“KPop Demon Hunters” has quite a bit going for it. The film was produced in partnership with the identical studio that created “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” and followers respect the animation high quality and character designs.
On the identical time, the accompanying high-energy soundtrack was impressed by real-life Okay-pop teams, and the songs follow individuals lengthy after the film ends. (Are you able to say “earworm”?)
However individuals’s emotions transcend animation and the snappy soundtrack.
“Like ‘Frozen,’ it’s a shining example of radical acceptance and moving forward from a place of shame to being able to focus on the things in one’s control,” says NerdWallet head of content material Karen Gaudette Brewer, who watched the film along with her 13-year-old and 9-year-old.
“To be your best self,” she says, “you must first embrace your full self.”
The cash aspect of fandom
Not surprisingly, Netflix is capitalizing on the fan furor. Though “KPop” premiered on Netflix, the corporate launched a two-day theatrical sing-along model in August that crushed field workplace ticket gross sales. Netflix then added the sing-along model to its on-line catalog. (Extra views!)
You should purchase movie-themed merch together with T-shirts, hats, cellphone circumstances, water bottles, blankets and replicas of character clothes, equivalent to Rumi’s prepare pajama pants.
There’s additionally a newly created line of Funko POP! figures, together with Derpy, a blue tiger-like fan favourite.
Wish to purchase the soundtrack on vinyl? You’ll be able to. Wish to costume up as Rumi for Halloween? You are able to do that, too. Is there a sequel within the works? Talks are beneath method.
Despite the fact that his household purchased merchandise after watching the film collectively, NerdWallet lead author Alex Rosenberg’s 8-year-old spent her personal allowance to purchase a second shirt with “zero hesitation.”
“My daughter plans to wear her favorite ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ shirt to her first day of third grade to find out which of her classmates love it, too,” Rosenberg says.
Popular culture as a household bridge
Past being a merchandising juggernaut, “KPop Demon Hunters” additionally offers households one thing to take pleasure in collectively. Johanna Arnone, a NerdWallet managing editor, attended Netflix’s theater sing-along model along with her 10-year-old son.
“I embarrassed him by singing along in the theater, which means I’m doing my job as a mom,” Arnone says.
Julie Myhre-Nunes, one other NerdWallet managing editor, additionally watched the film along with her 6-year-old. “I love that it introduced my son to a new type of music (K-Pop) and culture,” she says.
As for me, my 14-year-old was thrilled that all of us sat down and watched the factor she was obsessive about — and it was a pleasant option to bond along with her. In complete, she’s watched “KPop” 9 occasions.
Will she watch it once more? “Yes,” she says. “I love it.”
(Picture by Charley Gallay/Getty Pictures for Netflix)
#Teen #Loves #KPop #Demon #Hunters
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