The film K-Pop Demon Hunters (KPDH), streaming on Netflix, has become an international sensation. The film appeals to all audiences with an action-packed, pop-culture fantasy based in Korean folklore and a great soundtrack.
In KPDH, a trio of Korean pop stars fight against demons and use their voices to protect the human world from evil. When a group of demons enter the human world and start to cause trouble with a K-pop group of their own, the two groups clash. Both sides harbor dark secrets and whoever triumphs in this complicated battle between good and evil will control the fate of countless souls.
Themes of the film include hidden identity, loss of identity, self-sacrifice, self-acceptance, redemption, and found family. If you cannot get enough of the story and do not want to wait for the inevitable sequel, check out these teen fiction titles that feature similar themes and appeal factors.
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List published September 25, 2025.
Appeals to those who are interested in an enemies to lovers contemporary fantasy based in Korean mythology. "In this contemporary fantasy, the most notorious nine-tailed fox in Korea pairs up with a trickster god-turned-detective to track down a…
Appeals to those who wished the film gave more information about Jinu's backstory and are looking for an action-packed enemies-to-lovers historical romance set in Korea. "In a kingdom gripped by turmoil, privileged seventeen-year-old Iseul defies…
Appeals to those who enjoyed the scarier parts of the film that lean into supernatural horror. "Attending a new K-pop workshop hoping to reconnect with her ex-BFF and groupmate, 18-year-old former popstar Sunny Lee instead finds herself haunted by…
Appeals to readers who were interested in stories about answering the call of duty. "Banished, isolated, and hunted for a destiny he doesn’t understand, Ryuichi must learn to master the powers he inherited from his mother in order to protect the…
Appeals to those looking for stories about demon-hunting, generational trauma, and self-discovery. "Wanting to escape her previous life after the accidental death of her mother, 16-year-old Bree enrolls in a program for high school students at the…
Appeals to those who are interested in traditional Korean mythology and stories about fate and quests. "In this retelling of the Korean legend The tale of Shim Cheong, sixteen-year-old Mina is swept away to the Spirit Realm, where, assisted by a…
Appeals to those who were interested in the storyline surrounding Rumi and Jinu's relationship and the celebrity side of the K-Pop world. "Moon Minseok, or Moonster, appears on one of Korea’s most popular variety shows to improve his pop group’s…
Appeals to those who are seeking a fantasy romance with a forbidden relationship. "In a land oppressed by the Dragon Empire, sixteen-year-old Lee Seung, a poor cleaner, and privileged Choi Eunji form an unlikely bond, only to find themselves on…
This graphic novel appeals to those looking for a moving story about queerness and self-discovery rooted in Korean folklore. "Kai Song dreams of being a warrior. She wants to follow in the footsteps of her beloved father, the commander of the Royal…
Appeals to those who were interested in stories about self-discovery rooted in East Asian mythology. "When a girl who's never longed for adventure is hit with a curse that begins to transform her into a demon, she embarks on a quest to reverse the…
This LGBTQ+ post-apocalyptic fantasy appeals to those looking for an enemies-to-lovers action-packed story filled with banter. "In an age of 100-foot-tall mechanical deities run by a tyrannical regime, two teenaged girls on opposite sides of a war…
Appeals to those who are looking for a Korean folklore romance about hidden identities, and immortality. "After eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung, a nine-tailed fox surviving in modern-day Seoul by eating the souls of evil men, kills a murderous goblin…
Appeals to those looking for stories about secret identities, sisterhood, and friendship. "Forbidden from practicing magic and burdened by her responsibilities, Jin Zhara's life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes involved with the Guardians…
Appeals to those who wish the film explored the Rumi and her mother's story more deeply. "When a Korean American teenage artist gets sucked into the world of her own web comic, she must find a way out with the help of a cute boy all while facing off…
This LGBTQ+ story appeals to those looking for a more realistic story about life in the public eye with a focus on identity. "On boy band Kiss & Tell's first major tour, lead singer Hunter Drake grapples with a painful breakup with his first…
Appeals to those looking for an action-packed, epic fantasy featuring a dynamic trio. "When their paths cross in the shadows, Rui, who is seeking to avenge her mother's death; Yiran, who is honing his newfound powers; and Nikai, who is searching for…
