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Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters set to conquer toy aisles as Mattel & Hasbro get on board licensing bandwagon
LOS ANGELES: Netflix has pulled off something rare: getting Mattel and Hasbro—bitter rivals in the toy wars—to share the spoils of its cultural juggernaut, KPop Demon Hunters. Both companies will serve as global co-master toy licensees, carving up a merchandise empire to satisfy fans who have turned the film into the streaming giant’s most-watched movie ever.
Released in June 2025, the film has obliterated records with 325m views in 91 days. Its soundtrack hit number one on Billboard’s 200 Albums chart and has been streamed 8.3bn times. The single Golden became the longest-running number one by a girl group on the Billboard Hot 100 this century. All five main characters dominated Halloween costume searches, proving the frenzy extends well beyond the screen.
“KPop Demon Hunters unleashed a global fan frenzy—we’re talking dancing, singing, and more screaming than anyone was emotionally prepared for,” said Netflix chief marketing officer Marian Lee. The partnership, she added, means fans can finally get their hands on merchandise “they’ve been not-so-subtly demanding on every social platform known to humanity.”
Mattel will unleash dolls, action figures, playsets and collectibles starting in 2026, with a presale three-pack of Huntr/X dolls available on Mattel Creations from 12 November. Mattel, chief global brand officer Roberto Stanichi promises to harness the company’s “world-class design, creative and marketing expertise” to delight fans worldwide.
Hasbro is taking a different tack, leveraging its arsenal of brands—Monopoly, Nerf, Furby and Wizards of the Coast—for collaborations. Its first salvo is Monopoly Deal: KPop Demon Hunters, available for pre-order from 21 October and shipping on 1 January 2026. The full lineup, including plush toys, youth electronics and role-play gear, arrives in spring 2026.
Hasbro president of toy, licensing and entertainment Tim Kilpin called the film “a powerful pop culture phenomenon with global resonance” that fits seamlessly with the company’s commitment to innovation.
The film follows K-pop superstars Huntr/X, who moonlight as demon hunters protecting fans from supernatural threats—until they face off against a rival boy band of demons. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, it is produced in partnership with Sony Pictures Animation.
Products from both toy titans will flood retail shelves from spring 2026 through the holiday season and beyond.
For Netflix, Mattel and Hasbro, the bet is simple: why fight over market share when there is enough screaming fandom to go around
eNews
Paisabazaar launches Credit Premier League 2.0
Nationwide campaign rewards highest credit scores with Rs 1 lakh top prize.
MUMBAI: When credit scores become a national league, even your CIBIL report starts feeling like it’s playing in the IPL and Paisabazaar has just kicked off the second season. Paisabazaar, India’s leading marketplace for financial products and the country’s largest free credit score platform, has announced the return of the Credit Premier League (CPL) 2.0, a fun, nationwide initiative to recognise and reward individuals with the highest credit scores.
Building on the success of the first edition, CPL 2.0 introduces higher rewards and broader participation. The individual(s) with the highest credit score in the country will win Rs 1 lakh, while state champions will each receive Rs 10,000. Additionally, all participants from the winning state, the one with the highest average credit score will also be rewarded.
All winnings will be credited directly to winners’ PB Wallet, allowing them to pay credit card bills, recharge mobiles, or settle utility bills seamlessly on the Paisabazaar platform.
Paisabazaar CEO Santosh Agarwal said the campaign aims to make credit awareness more engaging and mainstream. “With CPL, we are bringing together engagement, gamification and rewards to make conversations around credit scores more mainstream,” he noted. “Our focus remains on building a financially aware and credit-healthy Bharat.”
The first edition of CPL saw over 5.5 million participants, with the highest individual score touching 861. Delhi recorded the highest average credit score of 746.
Consumers can participate simply by checking their free credit score on the Paisabazaar platform or app. The CPL leaderboard and rankings will be available exclusively on the Paisabazaar App.
In a country where financial dreams are serious business, Paisabazaar has found a smart way to turn credit scores into an exciting game – because when your financial health gets rewarded, everyone wants to play.
