KPop Demon Hunters has become Netflix’s most-watched film of all time with more than 1 billion viewing hours logged, Ampere Analysis reveals, highlighting the key role of kids and family fare on the platform as a subscription and retention driver.
KPop Demon Hunters was also the most popular movie on subscription streaming platforms last year. Ampere referred to it as a rare example of an original film with the cultural resonance of flagship series like Stranger Things and Squid Game. It has also held its own against major animated franchises from Disney and NBCUniversal.
Looking at kids and family more broadly on Netflix, Ampere reports that the genre has a longer viewing cycle on the platform; KPop Demon Hunters reached peak weekly viewing in its 11th week after release.
As valuable as the genre is, Netflix is commissioning less of it; kids and family only accounted for 4% of overall commissions from 2024 to 2025, down from 9% in 2022-23. And as we all know, it’s not just Netflix. Ampere reveals that SVOD services have the lowest share of kids and family commissions, at 13%; pubcasters are at 47%. Ampere puts the SVOD pullback down to an increased reliance on ad-supported models and more viewing on YouTube.
The genre is still a key subscription draw, though, Ampere said. In homes with children, 35% say having a kids’ and family slate is a key subscription motivator. Engagement is also high; children and family generated 4.4 billion views on Netflix in the first half, second only to crime and thriller.
Joe Hall, research manager at Ampere Analysis, said: “The film’s musical core extended its reach beyond the platform and encouraged repeat viewing. Its themes, grounded in the global Korean cultural wave, helped build a highly engaged international fan base. With a sequel already announced, KPop Demon Hunters shows there is still a lot of value in developing original IP that appeals across age demographics.”
