Netflix has awarded a $15 million bonus to Sony Pictures, the studio behind the globally popular animated series K-Pop Demon Hunters (KDH).
According to major North American media outlets including The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix recently granted the bonus — approximately 19.4 billion KRW — in recognition of KDH’s record-breaking success and phenomenon-level popularity.
Released in June, KDH is an animated series that blends K-pop and exorcism themes, produced by Sony Pictures with significant participation from a Korean creative team. The story follows Lume, Mira, and Joy from the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTRIX as they battle evil spirits through music while confronting personal traumas.
The series has surpassed 300 million cumulative views, becoming Netflix’s highest-grossing title across both series and films — overtaking Squid Game Season 1. Its main OST, Golden, has dominated the Billboard charts and sparked global buzz. The track earned five Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year, and has been featured at U.S. elections and British royal events, underscoring its cultural impact.
Industry insiders speculate that Netflix’s generous bonus is a strategic move to secure a sequel deal and finalize the upcoming release schedule for KDH.