‘K-Pop Demon Hunters Golden Weekend’ kicks off at the Empire State Building

The cast of “K-Pop Demon Hunters” made a “Golden” entrance at the Empire State Building Friday as they lit up the iconic staple in preparation for a sunset celebration of the Netflix hit movie.

Dubbed “K-Pop Demon Hunters Golden weekend,” theaters throughout the United States will screen a sing-along for a limited time from Aug. 22 to Aug. 23. What has been heralded as one of the most popular animations to hit the silver screen, Sony Pictures Animation’s “K-Pop Demon Hunters” infuses Korean lore with K-Pop culture in an animated film where a girl group, HUNTR/X, battles creatures from the underworld.

“The film has been praised for its unique blend of Korean mythology, K-Pop culture and vibrant animation inspired by anime and concert visuals. ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ is the most watched Netflix Animated Original film of all time, and HUNTR/X has made history as the first female K-Pop artist to reach the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart with their song ’Golden,’” Susanne Lieu said, Senior Vice President, Chief Counsel, Real Estate, for Empire State Realty Trust.

REI AMI , Arden Cho, and May Hong of “K-Pop Demon Hunters” at the Empire State Building.Photo by Amanda Moses

Producer Michelle WongPhoto by Amanda Moses

While the celebration began with a sunrise lighting ceremony in the Empire State Building with HUNTR/X actresses Arden Cho (Rumi,) May Hong (Mira), and Rei Ami (Zoey), Co-Director Chris Applehans, and Producer Michelle Wong, the festivities will really be showcased at sunset when the building will light up in gold.

Additionally, the Empire State Building will have a Music-to-Light Spectacular that will be synced to the film’s song, “Golden.” Fans can take part in the festivities by listening to iHeartMedia New York’s Z100 at 9 pm so they can hear the famed song while watching the light display.

REI AMI , Arden Cho, and May Hong of “K-Pop Demon Hunters” at the Empire State Building.Photo by Amanda Moses

Chris Applehans, co-director of “K-Pop Demon Hunters.”Photo by Amanda Moses

“Animation is a truly collaborative medium, and it’s their voices, literally, their voices, that have brought Rumi and Mira and Zoey to life and put these songs on top of the charts. I’m so grateful for the fans and for these wonderful, talented women who made this movie such a beacon of connection and joy in the last few months. I think it’s really awesome to have a symbol like the Empire State Building lit golden, just to kind of bring everybody in the city together and have a moment with music connecting us all, because it does do that. And really, really happy and proud that the movies sort of played on most of that,” Chris Applehans said.

“K-Pop Demon Hunters” partnered with Coalition of Asian Pacific in Entertainment (CAPE) USA—a non-profit set on creating opportunities and uplifting Asian and Pacific Islanders in the entertainment industry— to host this unique lighting ceremony at the Empire State Building. Producer Michelle Wong emphasized that CAPE played a significant role in her journey in the industry and thanked them for being a driving force for representation in Hollywood for the Asian community.

May Hong, Arden Cho and REI AMI. Photo by Amanda Moses