McDonald’s release on March 31 of two KPop Demon Hunters themed meals represents a massive cultural collision where brand investment meets a record-breaking streaming fandom. While its recent double Oscar® win for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song—a historic first for K-pop—and its Grammy for “Golden” have captured global headlines, Nielsen’s media intelligence highlighted the growing momentum well in advance.
As the most-streamed movie of 2025 for adults 18-34 and 35-49, the data from last year offered an early signal that this film had transcended the screen, providing the real-world intelligence behind why an adult fandom-targeted meal was the savvy, strategic move.
The numbers tell a bigger story
It is no surprise that 48% of the movie’s audience were ages 2–11; however, kids weren’t the only ones watching.
A viewing phenomenon
Since its release by Netflix in June 2025, KPop Demon Hunters has racked up a commanding following.
The streaming dominance of KPop Demon Hunters earned Netflix a coveted Artey Award for the Top Streaming Kid’s movie in 2025, and its popularity continues to resonate with audiences in 2026—logging 2.7 billion additional viewing minutes so far this year and remaining in Nielsen’s Top 10 for streaming movies.
While the viewership minutes and rankings may have generated initial interest, Nielsen’s deeper intelligence around audience trends revealed an opportunity to engage with a larger market through adult meal offerings.
Connection drives sales
When a brand becomes part of the fandom’s world, fans become customers. The results from Nielsen’s 2025 Advanced Audience Attitudes Study are proof.
Understanding the trends behind the hits is critical for advertisers and brands looking to engage audiences in today’s multi-platform media ecosystem, and Nielsen helps companies like McDonald’s leverage the opportunities that may not be obvious without deeper media intelligence.
Get the full picture of streaming audiences with Nielsen’s streaming measurement. Plus track and maximize your campaign performance with NielsenOne Ads and Outcomes.
