Netflix's K-pop Demon Hunters sparks culture war, accused of stealing Chinese traditions despite breaking global streaming records

Time of India

6 days ago

Netflix's K-Pop Demon Hunters is riding high on global success, but its rise hasn't come without controversy. The animated film, which combines the glimmer of Korean pop stardom with fantasy worldbuilding, has claimed the top spot on Netflix in 26 countries and landed in the Top 10 across 93 nations. Yet even as it captures hearts around the world, the movie is drawing criticism from Chinese viewers who accuse it of appropriating Chinese culture.
Chinese netizens accuse K-Pop Demon Hunters of 'cultrual appropriation'
According to KBIZoom (via Sohu News), the backlash stems from claims that the film's aesthetic borrows too heavily from Chinese tradition. According to the report, Chinese netizens believe the movie "stole from Chinese heritage", citing specific details like traditional garments, palace-style architecture, herbal medicine references, and symbolic design motifs. One online comment read, 'Is Korea not even trying to hide their cultural plagiarism anymore? This is clearly Chinese.' Another accused Sony, one of the film's co-producers, of aiding what they called 'cultural theft'.
The comments quickly multiplied on Chinese-language platforms, with statements like 'All the traditional knots are clearly Chinese' and 'Too many cultural thieves' flooding posts about the film. Some went further, mocking the animation quality and the character design, calling it 'cheap, boring trash' and taking aim at the male lead's visual styling.
However, a number of Chinese viewers were also impressed by the movie, praising it as 'a rare animated gem' and appreciating the dynamic female leads and energetic soundtrack. One viewer wrote, 'The sisters are cool, and the music is great,' while another added, 'Sure, the story is simple, but it's still fun and engaging.'
Netflix is not available in China
Notably, Netflix is not officially available in China. Many of the loudest critics of the movie likely accessed K-Pop Demon Hunters through unofficial or pirated channels, leading to a wave of irony as those who watched it without authorisation accused the creators of theft. This paradox wasn't lost on other social media users, who questioned the basis of outrage from people watching on illegal streams.
K-pop Demon Hunters breaks streaming records
Despite the criticism, the film is undeniably thriving. Streaming analytics platform FlixPatrol reported that as of June 22, it was the most-watched title on Netflix globally, with a viewership score of 771. That's a solid lead over the runner-up, Straw, which scored 609. The film's widespread popularity speaks to its ability to connect with viewers beyond the K-pop fandom, offering a colourful mix of music, action, and mythology.
K-pop Demon Hunters Soundtrack soars on US iTunes
According to the Chat Data X account, the film's soundtrack shot up to No. 1 on the US iTunes Album Chart. The lead single, Takedown, is a standout, featuring powerhouse vocals from TWICE's Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung. Fans are loving its bold energy and slick production, with other tracks like How It's Done and Golden also earning plenty of replay value. The soundtrack feels like a legit K-pop album—and that's exactly the point.
'K-Pop Demon Hunters' soundtrack has reached #1 on US iTunes. pic.twitter.com/MiiABOQr9b
K-pop Idols inspirations behind the heroes and villains
The animated girl group Huntrix didn't come out of thin air. Director Maggie Kang shared that the team took major cues from real-life K-pop queens—especially BLACKPINK—when shaping the group's fierce energy and confident stage vibes. You can feel it in their styling, their moves, and the way they command every scene, just like how BLACKPINK owns a stage in real life. On the other side, their on-screen rivals, the Saja Boys, bring that sleek, polished look fans often associate with K-pop idols, particularly ASTRO's Cha Eun Woo and BTS' Jimin.
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