The cast members describe emotional reactions from viewers
In an article published by Variety on February 17, 2026, the women of KPop Demon Hunters spoke about the film’s cultural impact and its influence on fans and viewers. During a January morning gathering in Los Angeles, EJAE, Ji-young Yoo, Audrey Nuna, Arden Cho, May Hong and Rei Ami (the singing and acting voices of KPop Demon Hunters) discussed how audiences have responded to the different moments in the film. EJAE shared that a viewer who was transitioning told her the film gave him the confidence to move forward with his decision. Similarly, Hong also noted that many members of the queer community have said the movie helped them stop hiding who they are.
“I met someone who was saying how much he loved the film because he was transitioning. He said, ‘This movie made me confident to make this choice to transition.’ I was like, ‘Wow.’ Accepting who I am and being confident in who I am, both my flaws and my good, that’s how much it gave life to his life. So that was really impactful.” EJAE revealed.
“It’s resonating with the queer community. I’ve met a lot of people who are transitioning that say, ‘I’m done hiding,'” Hong said.
The film connects with other diverse communities in meaningful ways
Similarly, Hong explained that parents of autistic children have also reached out. Some shared that their children were able to sit through the film fully, and one parent said their nonverbal child spoke after watching KPop Demon Hunters. The cast members described these stories as powerful and humbling, saying that the emotional weight of these experiences stays with them.
“A lot of parents of autistic kids tell me that this is one of the first movies that kids have been able to sit through. Someone told me the other day that their nonverbal autistic kid spoke as a result of the movie. It’s intense to have that shared with you, because you know what it means to you, but then when you feel how it’s impacting other people that deeply, there is a weight that you walk away with too, and I’m so humbled by that.”
The movie challenges industry expectations and sets records
Yoo closed out a section of the interview by pointing out that the film has broken several industry assumptions. The team believed that musicals and stories centered on women and people of color struggled in the current market. However, the film topped the box office for one weekend months after its streaming release and set a record for the most songs from a movie soundtrack on the Billboard Hot 100. According to the cast, the project has encouraged filmmakers to rethink what stories are possible to be told in today’s Hollywood.
“So it’s been lovely to hear young and seasoned filmmakers talk about how the movie has been inspiring in terms of what the rules are in Hollywood right now,” Yoo said.