James Cameron Says He’s a Fan of Netflix’s New Breakout Hit

Netflix’s animated film KPop Demon Hunters has earned praise from one of Hollywood’s biggest directors.

According to Empire, filmmaker James Cameron shared that he enjoyed the movie, calling it “a pretty good film.” His comment adds to the long list of strong reactions the movie has received since its debut.

The film, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released on Netflix, became a major breakout hit shortly after it arrived on the platform in June. It follows a fictional K-pop girl group who secretly fight demons while balancing their public careers. The story blends music, fantasy, and Korean cultural elements, and it quickly found a massive global audience.

The movie’s popularity eventually pushed Netflix to give it a sing-along theatrical release, which opened in late August. Even though Netflix normally focuses on streaming, the company sent the film to more than 1,700 theaters in the U.S.

Reports from several industry outlets say the movie topped the box office during that weekend, beating previous records held by Netflix releases. It earned around $19 million in its opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada, making it one of Netflix’s strongest cinema performances so far.

Writers at publications such as TheWrap and The A.V. Club noted that many people who first watched the film on Netflix still chose to see it again in theaters, showing how strong the fanbase had become. Analysts also pointed out that the movie’s critical success played a big part in Netflix choosing to give it a wider theatrical run.

The soundtrack has been another major part of the film’s success. It became a cultural hit on its own, with multiple songs climbing music charts and earning major award nominations. By autumn, the soundtrack was certified Platinum in the U.S., and several of its songs reached the top spots on Billboard charts.

Financially, the film has also drawn industry attention. Reports from The Wall Street Journal and Puck explained that Netflix is likely to benefit the most from the movie’s long-term success because of how the distribution deal with Sony was structured.

This has sparked conversation in Hollywood about how streaming platforms may continue to handle major animated franchises in the future. A short film and a full sequel are already in development, with the follow-up movie expected in 2029.

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