Why Adults Are Flocking to KPop Demon Hunters Sing-Alongs — and Singing Along Even Without the Korean Lyrics

I attended a sold-out Chicago sing-along screening of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters and found an audience that looked different from the usual fan-show crowd: mostly adults in street clothes, very little cosplay, and a surprisingly restrained theater vibe — except for one energetic child who danced during a musical number.

Sold-out sing-along screening in Chicago drew mostly adult attendees.
Fans sang along to Korean lyrics and fast rap sections, often from memory.
Attendees said they discovered the soundtrack on social platforms and now listen on repeat.
Interviewees described the music as varied and challenging, and the theatrical event as a way to share a streaming hit on the big screen.
The sing-along edition is available to stream on Netflix.

What the screening looked like

Instead of the expected sea of costumes and glow gear, most ticket holders wore everyday clothes. Only two people brought lightsticks, and the audience mostly stayed seated and quiet during non-musical moments. A guide to lightsticks explains the broader fan practice, which was mostly absent here.

However, many people sang along loudly during the songs. They attempted the Korean lyrics and the rapid rap sections as the words moved across the screen. Meanwhile, a child — roughly 4 years old — twirled and high-kicked down front during “What It Sounds Like.”

Audience behavior and reactions

Attendees smiled through both upbeat and darker scenes. They clapped and cheered at musical moments, and several said they were repeat viewers who still noticed new visual details when seeing the film on a large screen.

Who fans talked to us

After the screening I spoke with several of the most enthusiastic viewers. An art student named Baer said, I’ve never gone to a sing-along before, I thought it’d be really fun to just enjoy the movie as part of a community. They added they first heard the music on TikTok and started listening long before watching the film.

James, a 38-year-old massage therapist, said he found the film through online fan art and clips on social sites and now listens to the album “practically every day.” He pointed out small visual details he’d missed before, such as Zoey’s yellow sweatshirt in the final scene that features an image of “Derpy,” the unofficial name for Jinu’s blue tiger.

He also noticed costume details that change with fan loyalty at the concert scene; for example, a HUNTR/X fan shifts T-shirts and ends up wearing one that supports the demon king.

Partners and different fandom levels

James attended with his partners Victor and Natali. Natali said, I’m normally not into K-Pop, and not into sing-alongs personally, [Victor and James are] more into theater than I am. But I just fell in love with this. I thought the music was really unique and interesting, I thought the visuals were standout. He added that the film came up suddenly online and then “exploded” into broader buzz.

Victor, who used to be part of a Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast, said he appreciated turning a streaming title into a communal theater event. He also called some of the songs hard to keep up with: Keeping up with Zoey’s rap is a challenge, and later, Keeping up with the rap in ‘Your Idol’ at the end? I could do that. There’s no keeping up with Zoey.

Why the soundtrack keeps people coming back

Multiple attendees said the soundtrack is a major draw. Baer described themselves as a musical and anime fan who was not originally a K-Pop fan but found the film’s commentary on pop culture and the music “really well written.”

James noted he keeps finding new details on repeat viewings. Victor compared learning difficult songs to past sing-along experiences, saying effort and improvement can be part of the appeal: I spent five months reaching the point where I could sing that whole thing, and that was part of the challenge. That was part of the fun of going back every month, like, OK, how much better am I at this song? I think for some people, the fact that these songs are hard could actually be a fun challenge.

Natali summed up the soundtrack’s variety: It’s not like they were trying for a little-kid sing-along. They’re really good songs, really dynamic. And each of them is different. ‘Soda Pop’ and ‘Your Idol’ are about as far apart as you can be. So if you like the Saja Boys, you’ve got two different dynamics. ‘Takedown,’ ‘Golden,’ and ‘How It’s Done’ all have completely different vibes. So [part of what makes KPop Demon Hunters enjoyable is] them not specifically trying to make a sing-along that anyone can approach.