The highly anticipated singalong screenings of KPop Demon Hunters recently hit the Alamo Drafthouse in Lower Manhattan, but for many fans, the energy fell flat as the audience failed to match the electric intensity of the hit Netflix musical. Despite the film’s massive status as a streaming phenomenon where pop-star heroines battle demons through song, the New York City theater crowd remained largely silent, turning a potential concert-like experience into a standard, quiet movie screening.
The Disconnect Between Hype and Reality
I arrived at the Alamo Drafthouse with friends, fully prepared for a high-energy event. We were dressed for the occasion, channeling the film’s aesthetic, and expecting a communal celebration similar to the viral clips coming out of Los Angeles. Instead, we were met with a room of “quiet curmudgeons.” Even with an enthusiastic host trying to pump up the room, the majority of the adult-heavy audience seemed hesitant to break the traditional “sit down and shut up” movie theater social contract, despite explicit instructions to “turn the fuck up.”
During the opening track, “How It’s Done,” the lack of participation was jarring. While my group belted out lyrics, the rest of the theater remained muted. It wasn’t until the bubble-gum pop of “Soda Pop” that it became clear: most people were there simply to see the movie on the big screen, not to engage in the interactive “stan” culture that defines the franchise.
A Missed Opportunity for Sony and Netflix
The underwhelming atmosphere highlights a broader issue: the industry’s ongoing hesitation regarding KPop Demon Hunters. Sony, lacking confidence in the project’s box-office potential, offloaded distribution to Netflix. This move secured immediate profit but sidelined a cultural phenomenon that clearly deserved a massive theatrical run from day one. Even now, with the film breaking streaming records and its soundtrack topping the Billboard charts, the demand for these limited singalong screenings proves that audiences are craving more theater time, even if they aren’t always sure how to act once they get there.
Seeking the Perfect Singalong
Determined to find a better crowd, I returned for a second screening the following day. While the audience was marginally more engaged—thanks to one particularly vocal fan reciting every line—the experience remained a far cry from the transcendent, chaotic energy seen in other cities. It is a strange irony: a movie about embracing one’s true, powerful self is being held back by the same cautious, “safe” decision-making that characterized its initial release.
The film’s plot, which centers on Rumi being forced to hide her demonic nature, feels like a metaphor for the film’s own journey. Just as Rumi’s caretaker Celine feared letting her true self be seen, the studio’s lack of faith kept this hit from its full potential. Perhaps by the time the sequel arrives, New York audiences will finally be ready to drop the pretense and actually participate.
