KPop Demon Hunters, the Sony Pictures Animation film that became Netflix's most-watched title in history, turns one year old on Saturday, June 20 — and fans who want to catch it on a giant screen this week can do so for free or for as little as a dollar. Netflix has announced a global anniversary campaign running through June 26, spanning theatrical sing-along screenings in 16 countries, nine free outdoor events across the United States, merch drops, and a full day of fan activities at both of its Netflix House venues. A world tour is also officially in the works.
The timing lands days after Netflix film chief Dan Lin told The New York Times that the streamer has accepted it will not work with directors who insist on traditional theatrical releases. KPop Demon Hunters — which generated more than 500 million views on the platform and surpassed Squid Game as Netflix's all-time most-watched title — has repeatedly pulled the company back into theaters anyway, first with a sing-along run in August 2025, then a Halloween re-release, and now a global anniversary campaign in 16 countries. The film is the exception Netflix keeps making for itself.
$1 Tickets, Sing-Alongs, and the Big Return
The sharpest deal of the anniversary run comes courtesy of Regal Cinemas. From Monday, June 15, through Thursday, June 18, Regal's Summer Movie Express 2026 program will screen KPop Demon Hunters in sing-along format for $1 per ticket at select locations, starting at 11 a.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to bring light sticks and sing.
Broader theatrical sing-along screenings in the United States begin Friday, June 12, and continue through the anniversary week, with international screenings running across the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Israel.
In South Korea — the country that provided the cultural blueprint for the film's fictional girl group HUNTR/X — South Korea's multiplex chain CGV is giving the film an exclusive three-day re-release across 30 locations nationwide. Both dubbed and subtitled versions are available, and select locations are hosting dedicated sing-along screenings.
Free Outdoor Screenings Across the Country
Netflix is staging nine free outdoor screenings at parks and public venues across the United States in the days surrounding June 20. Below are the confirmed dates and locations:
- Friday, June 19 — Kenley Centennial Amphitheater, Salt Lake City (Free Friday Family Film Series)
- Saturday, June 20 — Honeysuckle Park, Atlanta (Doraville Summer Movie Series)
- Saturday, June 20 — Union Square Plaza, San Francisco (Cinema in the Square)
- Saturday, June 20 — Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, New York
- Saturday, June 20 — Waterfront Park, San Diego (Summer Movies in the Park)
- Wednesday, June 24 — The Commons, Minneapolis (Music and Movies in the Parks)
- Wednesday, June 24 — Clark Park, Butte, Montana
- Thursday, June 25 — Crocker Park Shopping Center, Cleveland (Movies in the Park)
- Friday, June 26 — Nobel Recreation Center, San Diego (Summer Movies in the Park)
Netflix House Fan Day on June 20
Both Netflix House locations — in Philadelphia (at King of Prussia) and Dallas (at Galleria Dallas) — will host a full day of fan activities on the anniversary date itself, Saturday, June 20. The Philadelphia venue will additionally screen the film throughout the week leading up to that date. Netflix has signaled further announcements, events, and releases will roll out across the anniversary week.
Merch, Music, and New Releases
A physical anniversary edition of the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack is on the way, featuring four previously unreleased tracks on both CD and vinyl, along with chibi stickers and collectible holographic photo cards. A two-volume Official Screen Comic Boxed Set graphic novel adaptation has also been announced.
The film's soundtrack has been a story in its own right. "Golden," performed by EJAE, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna as HUNTR/X, became the first K-pop song to win both a Grammy and an Academy Award, spent eight nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped charts in more than 30 countries. The three performers have become stars in their own right, with live appearances following the film's release.
Netflix's Most-Watched Film Keeps Breaking Its Own Rules
KPop Demon Hunters was produced by Sony Pictures Animation and co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. Sony Pictures Imageworks animated the film using a hybrid Maya and Unreal Engine 5 pipeline — a first for the studio — which reduced sequence layout export times from hours to minutes at scale and enabled the stadium crowd and concert-lighting sequences that became the film's visual signature. That real-time workflow is now being carried forward into future Sony productions.
When the film debuted on Netflix on June 20, 2025, it reached the global Top 10 in 93 countries within two weeks. By late August 2025, it had surpassed Red Notice to become Netflix's most-streamed movie ever, and by year's end it had overtaken Squid Game — the only other Netflix title with comparable viewership — to claim the all-time record across all Netflix content. Both titles are rooted in Korean culture.
Dan Lin's statement to The New York Times this month — that Netflix has accepted it cannot work with filmmakers who prioritize theatrical windows — came just days before the streamer organized one of the widest global theatrical campaigns in its history for this film. Netflix has declined to characterize the anniversary re-release as a change in strategy. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos said the same after the film's first theatrical run last August: "There's no change in the strategy."
What Comes Next for HUNTR/X
KPop Demon Hunters 2 is officially in development with the same creative team — Kang, Appelhans, and their writing collaborators — and a 2029 release is expected, though that timeline remains subject to production schedules. A global concert world tour presented by AEG Presents and Netflix is also confirmed, with specific venues and dates still to be announced. Tickets for the current theatrical sing-along screenings are available at singkpopdemonhunters.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the free KPop Demon Hunters anniversary screenings?
Free outdoor screenings are scheduled at nine U.S. locations from June 19 through June 26, including Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York on June 20, Union Square Plaza in San Francisco on June 20, Honeysuckle Park in Atlanta on June 20, and additional venues in Salt Lake City, San Diego, Minneapolis, Butte, and Cleveland. The full schedule and confirmed locations are on Netflix's Tudum page.
Is KPop Demon Hunters coming back to theaters in 2026?
Yes. Theatrical sing-along screenings began in the United States on Friday, June 12, with international screenings running across 16 countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and several European nations. Regal Cinemas is also screening the film for $1 per ticket from June 15 through June 18 as part of its Summer Movie Express program.
How many views does KPop Demon Hunters have on Netflix?
The film surpassed 500 million views as of early 2026, making it Netflix's most-watched title ever across all content categories — overtaking both Red Notice and Squid Game, the latter being the only other Netflix title with comparable viewership and also a work rooted in Korean culture.
When does KPop Demon Hunters 2 come out?
KPop Demon Hunters 2 is in development with the original creative team and a 2029 release is currently expected, though that date has not been finalized. A global concert world tour is also confirmed, with venues and dates to be announced.
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