5 Netflix Animated Films That Surpassed KPOP DEMON HUNTERS in Its Opening Week

Kapanlagi.com - Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and produced by Sony Pictures Animation, KPOP DEMON HUNTERS became the most-watched Netflix film of 2025 with a total of 481.6 million views. The film even won the 2026 Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for the song "Golden."

However, its first week performance was not as big as many had imagined. The film only garnered around 9.2 million views during its initial debut before it eventually exploded thanks to word of mouth, Netflix's algorithm, and a continuously increasing rewatching over the months.

Interestingly, there are several other Netflix animated films that had a much larger opening compared to KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, although not all of them managed to maintain long-term popularity like this film. Here are 5 Netflix animated films with a bigger debut than KPOP DEMON HUNTERS.

1. ORION AND THE DARK

ORION AND THE DARK performed strongly in its first week (credit: IMDB)

ORION AND THE DARK is produced by DreamWorks Animation and written by Charlie Kaufman. The film follows Orion, an anxious elementary school student who must confront his fears through a nighttime journey with Dark, a physical manifestation of darkness.

The film, which premiered in February 2024, successfully surpassed the initial debut of KPOP DEMON HUNTERS. Many viewers praised its emotional concept that depicts childhood fears with a unique and warm approach. The unusual story structure also makes this film feel different compared to typical family animations.

Despite receiving positive responses from critics, the film did not achieve the same viral impact as KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, gradually disappearing from the Netflix charts within just a few weeks. However, to this day, ORION AND THE DARK is still frequently praised as one of the underrated family animations on Netflix.

2. CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET

Great nostalgia helps the debut of CHICKEN RUN 2 (credit: IMDB)

CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET was released by Aardman Animations after a long 23-year hiatus from its original film. The nostalgia factor immediately helped the film garner around 11.9 million views in just the first three days. Many long-time fans are also curious to see the continuation of this legendary stop-motion franchise.

The film brings back characters Ginger and Rocky with a new adventure that now focuses on their daughter, Molly. The heist movie vibe also makes the sequel feel fresher compared to its predecessor. Aardman's signature humor remains strong throughout the film.

This big debut proves that Aardman's distinctive stop-motion style still has a strong appeal for both old audiences and new generations. Although it did not stay on the Netflix charts for too long, the film is still considered a streaming success.

3. SWAPPED

SWAPPED recorded a huge spike in the second week (credit: IMDB)

SWAPPED from Skydance Animation has become one of the biggest animated debuts for Netflix in 2026. The film garnered 15.5 million views within its first three days of release. Netflix even called it one of their best animated openings in recent years.

Directed by Nathan Greno, the film follows the story of Ollie and Ivy who are forced to swap bodies amid their long-standing interspecies conflict. The comedy body-swap concept received quite positive feedback from family audiences. The chemistry between the two main characters has also been one of the most praised aspects.

In its second week, SWAPPED even broke a new record with 38.7 million weekly views, making it one of Netflix's fastest-growing original animated films. This significant surge indicates that the film has a very strong audience retention.

4. THE SEA BEAST

THE SEA BEAST became one of Netflix's big hits (credit: IMDB)

THE SEA BEAST is directed by Chris Williams, who is previously known for BIG HERO 6 and MOANA. This sea adventure film debuted with around 17.5 million views in its first three days on Netflix. The scale of the adventure and its sea monster visuals immediately captured the attention of many viewers.

The story follows legendary sea monster hunter Jacob Holland, whose life changes after an orphan girl named Maisie secretly sails with him. Their relationship gradually alters their views on the monsters they have been hunting. The film has also been praised for its classic adventure feel that is quite emotional.

The film then garnered a total of around 165 million viewing hours in the first five months and even received an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. To this day, THE SEA BEAST is still regarded as one of Netflix's best original animated films.

5. LEO

LEO still holds the record for the biggest Netflix debut (credit: IMDB)

LEO, starring Adam Sandler, holds the record for the biggest debut for an original animated film on Netflix. The film garnered around 34.6 million views within just the first six days. This figure has yet to be surpassed by any other original animated film on Netflix to date.

The musical comedy follows an old lizard named Leo who begins to impart life lessons to elementary school students after thinking he doesn't have much time left. The theme of childhood anxiety combined with family humor makes the film easily relatable to many viewers. Adam Sandler's voice performance is also one of the main attractions of the film.

Netflix also benefited as the film was released right before the Thanksgiving holiday, a period typically filled with family viewing in the United States. That momentum helped LEO achieve a massive streaming debut.

(kpl/afd)