The animated film KPop Demon Hunters, released in June 2025, has become a global phenomenon, accumulating over 639 million views in its first year, according to one report, while another estimates it reached 600 million views worldwide. The film’s soundtrack also gained immense popularity, especially the track "Golden," which topped music charts with more than 3 billion plays on streaming platforms. The film was recognized with two Oscars in 2026, for Best Animated Film and Best Original Song, along with two Golden Globes and a Grammy for the song "Golden." A sequel, KPop Demon Hunters 2, is currently planned for a 2029 release and will be directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the creators of the first film. Netflix has not yet revealed an exact release date or a detailed synopsis. At the Bloomberg Screentime conference, Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, announced that the sequel will be released in theaters first, aiming for a "broad and global" theatrical rollout. The first film was launched directly on Netflix in 2025 without a traditional theatrical run, though it had limited event screenings that generated $24 million in revenue. Netflix has recently shown a growing interest in releasing its most ambitious films in theaters, as seen with Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, directed by Greta Gerwig. This film will debut in theaters worldwide on February 12, 2027, before becoming available on Netflix on April 2. However, France is an exception, as the film will not be shown in French theaters due to regulations regarding the timing of media releases. This situation may provide insight into how KPop Demon Hunters 2 will be handled in France. Since January 1, 2026, French law requires a 17-month gap between a film’s theatrical release and its availability on streaming platforms like Netflix. A traditional theatrical release of the sequel in France would delay its availability on Netflix by nearly 18 months, which could lead Netflix to avoid a theatrical release in the country or opt for a limited event screening instead. According to one report, KPop Demon Hunters achieved 325 million views in just 90 days, the soundtrack received 3 billion listens on Spotify, and the film and its music earned 147 awards, including two Oscars and two Golden Globes. The film's success has set a new benchmark for animated films and continues to influence how major streaming platforms like Netflix approach the theatrical distribution of their content.