Sony Photos Boss Says He Has “No Regrets” Selling ‘KPop: Demon Hunters’ to Netflix

The studio head moreover suggested the film has made his animation studio basically the most up to the moment in Hollywood.

Describe Credit score: Netflix

It’s no secret that KPop: Demon Hunters is one of Netflix’s most immense success reviews. Since its June 2025 originate, the Sony Photos Animation-produced film has shattered records, pulling in hundreds of millions of views and turning into the streamer’s most-watched customary title in historical previous. Despite some mud-slinging appropriate before Christmas about budget numbers, bonuses, and plenty others., Sony Photos executives have reach out united in fresh weeks, announcing Netflix used to be basically the most spicy dwelling for the film.

Because Sony bought the film to Netflix to quilt its budget and pay a top class—in actual fact giving up the highly profitable, lengthy-time length franchise and merchandising rights—many industry pundits and fans have labeled the switch a big financial fumble for Sony.

Nonetheless in accordance with Sony Photos Chairman Tom Rothman, and all over again currently with Sony Photos Animation bosses Kristine Belson and Damien de Froberville, they aren’t shedding any sleep over it.

At some level of a fresh episode of The Town podcast with Matt Belloni, Rothman used to be requested level-easy if he regretted the deal. His reply? Fully no longer. Here is why the Sony boss believes handing Netflix its biggest curious hit used to be in actuality a strategic win.

The “Parachute Industry” of Theaters First and main, Rothman illustrious that the trendy theatrical box place of work is a strictly unforgiving atmosphere for customary curious movies with out a longtime heed. He described the weak theatrical originate as a brutal test of instant survival. “The motion represent enterprise that I’m in… it’s the parachute enterprise, that manner you originate otherwise you die,” Rothman outlined. When Belloni requested whether or no longer Okay-Pop: Demon Hunters would have opened efficiently in weak theaters, Rothman bluntly answered, “No, I don’t.”

Note-of-Mouth Needs Time (and Free Rewatches) As we coated throughout its trot within the waste 10s, KPop Demon Hunters took its time to originate catching fire and bucked the developments of most Netflix movies trajectories. Rothman identified that Netflix’s model permits audiences to deem a film at their very bear tempo, which is key for customary reviews. “What the colossal advantage there is, and why it’s within the final notice space, particularly for that person thing that used to be a notice of mouth, the repeat viewing is free,” Rothman acknowledged. “Repeat viewing in film theaters is no longer free.” This allowed fans to eternally rewatch and recommend the film to chums, fueling a slack growth curve that the instant theatrical window simply doesn’t enable.

For anybody who hasn’t seen that person graph…

A Big Halo Construct for Sony Animation Beyond viewership numbers, the cultural footprint of the film has been a big boon for Sony’s popularity within the animation industry. Rothman proudly acknowledged that the success has transformed their standing among creatives. “We for the time being are, I’m very proud to claim… basically the most up to the moment animation store in town,” he declared. “When you’re a young, cool animator who needs to ruin flooring and build new stuff and don’t desire to build the same former, same former stuff, you’re beating down Sony Photos Animation’s doorways.”

Strengthening the Netflix Partnership Finally, Sony’s job in this specific deal used to be to carry a success to their streaming accomplice, and as well they delivered in a big manner. By handing Netflix a crown jewel, Sony kept their accomplice incredibly happy, which would maybe pay dividends elsewhere. “Our job is to carry them hits. That’s what we’re supposed to build,” Rothman illustrious. “And I deem they’re more than pleased on legend of they’ve renewed a extraordinarily nice deal for us,” relating to the highly profitable Pay-1 streaming window deal that’s been in space within the US for the previous couple of years and renewed globally ranging from 2027 that brings in billions for the studio.

No Having a gape Back For Sony, the alternate-off of skipping theaters used to be neatly definitely worth the industry clout and the guaranteed streaming payout. While acknowledging that studio leadership requires complex calls, Rothman is fully at peace with this one. “Have faith me, in my job, hindsight is 20-20, and I be apologetic about many of the selections,” he admitted. “No longer that one.”

A sequel and assorted initiatives are anticipated for KPop Demon Hunters within the impending years, though it’s been illustrious currently that the reported 2029 originate date might maybe perchance doubtless moreover very neatly be a bit optimistic.

Would you have made the day commute to theaters to see KPop Demon Hunters when it first got right here out?