Golden Glory: KPop Demon Hunters Light Up Empire State Building in Epic NYC Celebration
Quinn Parker here, your favorite over-caffeinated aunt who’s seen it all but still gets shook by a good story—and honey, this one? It’s GOLDEN. Okay, so imagine this: a group of fierce, animated K-pop stars who moonlight as demon hunters (because why not?), their chart-topping soundtrack breaking records left and right, and the Empire State Building glowing like a giant disco ball for them. Sounds wild, right? But guess what—it happened.
That’s right, New York City was buzzing with *KPop Demon Hunters* fever this past weekend as Netflix rolled out the red carpet—well, more like the golden spotlight—for its wildly successful animated film. The movie, which dropped back in June, has already racked up 210.5 million global views, making it the second-most-watched film on Netflix and the most-watched animated original ever. And if that wasn’t enough, Huntr/x—the fictional K-pop girl group at the heart of the action-packed flick—landed the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 with their smash hit “Golden,” officially becoming the first female K-pop artists to do so. Let that sink in for a sec because I’m still hyperventilating.
The celebration kicked off Friday night in style, with none other than Arden Cho, May Hong, and Rei Ami lighting up the Empire State Building in shimmering gold hues. Yes, you read that right. The iconic skyscraper, usually reserved for major holidays and citywide celebrations, went full-on *KPop Demon Hunters* mode. The event was hosted in collaboration with the Empire State Realty Trust, and Senior Vice President Susanne Lieu had nothing but high praise for the film’s cultural impact. She called it “a beacon of connection and joy” and highlighted how the movie blends Korean mythology, K-pop culture, and stunning anime-inspired visuals into one unforgettable experience.
Co-writer Chris Applehans was beaming during the ceremony, crediting the cast’s vocal talents for bringing the characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoey to life. He even gave a shoutout to the fans who’ve made the movie such a massive success. And speaking of fans, get ready for some serious sing-along action—Netflix released a special sing-a-long version of the film just for New York theaters this weekend. That’s right, folks. You can belt out “Golden” and the rest of the soundtrack at the top of your lungs while watching demon-slaying K-pop idols battle evil boy bands. Because yes, the plot involves the Saja Boys trying to steal souls. It’s as dramatic as it sounds.
Arden Cho took to Instagram the next day to gush about the moment, calling it “iconic” and thanking everyone involved—from the cast and crew to Sony Animation and Netflix. She even threw in a little hype for the sequel she and her co-stars are clearly hoping for. May Hong and Rei Ami chimed in too, with Ami giving us pure energy when she wrote, “WERE GOING UP UP UP.” And honestly? Same, girl. Same.
When asked earlier this month whether they’d be open to a sequel, the ladies were practically vibrating with excitement. “Of course. We’re all like, ‘Yes, please call us!’” Cho told Access Hollywood. Hong added that she’d love to see more backstory explored, while Cho hinted at wanting to know how the girls came together in the first place. With all that untapped lore, a sequel feels less like a maybe and more like a when.
So yeah, this isn’t just a movie anymore—it’s a movement. A glittery, musical, supernatural-powered phenomenon that’s uniting fans across the globe. And if you ask me? This is only the beginning.
Whew! That was a LOT to process!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, Empire State Realty Trust, Access Hollywood, Netflix, Billboard
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