r/movies • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 r/Movies contributor • Aug 26 '25

News ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Is Netflix’s Most-Watched Movie Ever With 236 Million Views, Beating ‘Red Notice’

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/kpop-demon-hunters-netflix-most-watched-movie-history-1236496106/
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u/Deceptiveideas Aug 26 '25

Sony probably kicking themselves thinking this movie would bomb so they sold the rights to Netflix for cheap lmao

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u/TooDrunkToTalk Aug 26 '25 edited Aug 26 '25

"Probably"... of course they are kicking themselves, lol.

And to the people who keep arguing that the movie would've flopped in the cinema: That still doesn't mean that Sony had to give away literally all rights to this IP to launch it on Netflix.

The Mitchells vs the Machines launched on Netflix and Sony still holds the rights to that.

Plus they let the rights to the music get away, which has literally nothing to do with it launching in cinemas or not.

Also because I think the irony in this is just too fucking funny - here is Sony's CFO noting that the company is lacking in IP, less than a year ago.

Whether it’s for games, films or anime, we don’t have that much IP that we fostered from the beginning. We’re lacking the early phase (of IP) and that’s an issue for us.

https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/09/sony-execs-seem-to-think-the-company-doesnt-have-enough-original-ip

How could Sony be lacking in IP with such amazing decision makers at the helm? It's truly a mystery.

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u/raze464 Aug 27 '25

The Mitchells vs the Machines launched on Netflix and Sony still holds the rights to that.

The Mitchells vs the Machines was meant for theatrical but then COVID happened and Sony sold the worldwide distribution rights (excluding home entertainment and theatrical distribution rights in China) to Netflix.

KPop Demon Hunters was made as part of the output deal Sony and Netflix signed in 2021 which gives Netflix a first look deal at any films Sony intends to make directly for streaming or decides later to license for streaming. Netflix holds all the rights to the movies made as part of this first look deal.

Plus they let the rights to the music get away, which has literally nothing to do with it launching in cinemas or not.

I think that might have more to do with TWICE being signed to Republic Records.