Netflix is looking to capitalize on the popularity of its animated movie “KPop Demon Hunters” — and continue its foray into the retail space.
Netflix on Tuesday announced a licensing deal with toy makers Mattel Inc. and Hasbro Inc. to make dolls, action figures, plushies, youth electronics and other items based on “KPop Demon Hunters,” a movie about a trio of powerful singers and demon hunters who protect the world from dangerous demons.
“KPop Demon Hunters” has been a worldwide hit since its release in June, becoming Netflix’s most-watched film with more than 325 million views in its first 91 days on the streaming service.
The licensing deals come as Netflix has been aggressively partnering with brands to expand the fandom of its shows and movies.
Next month, Netflix will open the first of several planned physical locations called Netflix House where it will host experiences based on its programs and sell food and merchandise.
“KPop Demon Hunters unleashed a global fan frenzy,” said Marian Lee, Netflix’s chief marketing officer, in a statement. “Netflix, Mattel and Hasbro joining forces on this first-of-its-kind collaboration means fans can finally get their hands on the best dolls, games, and merchandise they’ve been not-so-subtly demanding on every social platform known to humanity.”
Under the partnership, Hasbro and Mattel will both become global co-master toy licensee to “KPop Demon Hunters.”
Netflix has had other partnerships with other toy makers, including Squishmallows for shows like sci-fi series “Stranger Things” and Lego sets based on pirates tale “One Piece.”
The Los Gatos, Calif., company has also launched in-person experiences such as balls based on the Regency era romance series “Bridgerton.”
“KPop Demon Hunters is a powerful pop culture phenomenon with global resonance—one that aligns seamlessly with our portfolio of iconic brands and our commitment to innovation,” said Tim Kilpin, Hasbro’s president of toy, licensing, and entertainment, in a statement.
Toy Story graced the movie screens all the way back in 1995, but people are only just realising one hidden detail in the first film which shaped the entire Pixar universe
Christine Younan Deputy Editor Social Newsdesk
09:54, 19 Oct 2025
The first Toy Story was released 30 years ago
It’s been 30 years since the first Toy Story movie was released back in 1995. The adventure comedy, which features the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and more, follows a group of toys who prepare to move into a new house with their young owner Andy.
But trouble arises when Sheriff Woody, the leader of the pack, fears Andy will soon replace him when he receives a new toy, Buzz Lightyear, on his sixth birthday. Then things escalate further during a family trip for dinner at Pizza Planet where Woody accidentally knocks Buzz out of the window, making the others believe he killed him.
Buzz confronts Woody leading to a brawl and a fall out of the car where the two are left behind, fending for themselves. Since the first iconic instalment in the 90s, Toy Story returned for four sequels with the fifth set for release in 2026.
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Now one movie fan couldn’t help but notice a tiny detail in the first film which shaped the rest of the sequels and even the entire Pixar universe.
Ivan Mars, known as the ‘Movie Detective’, boasts 962,000 followers on Instagram where he spots hidden details in films. And most recently, he was mind-blown after noticing one Toy Story detail.
He said: “It took me 20 years to notice something hidden in Pixar movies… something that started in Pixar’s very first work: Toy Story. In that movie, Woody and Buzz are lost and their only chance to get back to Andy is to the Pizza Planet truck.
“Without it, the story might have ended right there and because of this, the Pizza Planet truck became a symbol appearing in every Pixar movie from Ratatouille to Cars.
“In Wall-E, it’s the only abandoned vehicle on Earth. And more recently in Elio, it appears in a blink and you’ll miss it scene. So this means it actually became Pixar’s secret thread because it saved the very first characters giving birth to the entire Pixar universe. Mind-blowing…”
People were equally floored by the revelation as the post garnered a lot of attention pretty quickly. One said: “WHAAATTTT!” Another added: “Omg so cool.” A third pointed out: “Yes it’s one of the common Easter egg of Pixar movies!”
Others claimed there were other hidden details as someone commented: “The Pixar lamp is in every movie also I believe.”
Toy Story 5 is set to be released on June 19, 2026. Buzz, Woody and the rest of the gang’s job will get harder when they go head-to-head with a new threat to playtime.
A NICE guy doing bad things isn’t an original premise for a comedy drama.
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But base it on the true story of an escaped felon hiding out in a toy shop and things get more interesting.
Channing Tatum plays Jeffrey Manchester, the charismatic convict from North Carolina with the ‘you couldn’t make it up’ life storyCredit: AlamyFor six months Jeffrey sleeps undetected, surviving on stolen M&M’s, while watching jobsworth boss Mitch (Peter Dinklage), above, on CCTV for entertainmentCredit: Alamy
Channing Tatum plays Jeffrey Manchester, the charismatic convict from North Carolina with the “you couldn’t make it up” life story.
An ex-military man, Manchester has been struggling financially since being decommissioned.
So to support his family he turns to a professional life of crime.
His first attempt at dropping through the ceiling of a McDonald’s and emptying their tills is such a success he repeats this style of heist 45 more times.
As a non-violent robber who offers people his coat while holding them up at gunpoint, he soon earns himself the local moniker of “Roofman”.
As police put it, he’s a genius, but also an idiot.
When eventually caught and sentenced to four decades behind bars, Manchester swiftly escapes jail and goes on the run.
Looking for a place to take cover he lands on a Toys R Us store and sets up home in a crate under the eaves.
For six months he sleeps undetected, surviving on stolen M&M’s, while watching jobsworth boss Mitch (Peter Dinklage) on CCTV for entertainment and ultimately falling for employee Leigh (Kirsten Dunst), a divorced mum.
The tale of how their romance blossoms — as Manchester increasingly risks his chances outside the store’s four walls — would seem utterly far-fetched, if it wasn’t for the fact that in 2004 it all actually happened. The chemistry between the leads is convincing.
Dunst as Leigh, the church-going single mum falling in love while being unknowingly duped, reminds you that no matter how outwardly likeable Manchester seems, he continually hurt people with his odd mix of arrogance, immaturity and intelligence.
He wants it all to be real, while knowing that it can’t be.
Director Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine) periodically lightens things up with various meme-worthy set pieces involving Tatum barely clad in feather boas, or wearing roller blades or completely starkers with only a fan to protect his modesty.
But it is the pondering over how decent a person, or not, Manchester really was that will keep you gripped.
GOOD FORTUNE
(15) 97mins
★★★☆☆
Keanu Reeves stars as a bumbling guardian angel in a silly but funny comedy about life swaps, gig work and heavenly misadventuresCredit: Alamy
KEANU Reeves is at his Bill and Ted-esque best in this silly, but very funny, light-hearted bromance about a guardian angel who can’t quite get a grip on his heavenly duties.
Written by Aziz Ansari (Master Of None) Reeves is Gabriel, a rookie winged protector limited to saving people from “texting while driving” catastrophes.
He’d like to rescue lost souls too but his boss Martha (Sandra Oh) thinks he’s not ready to be promoted.
One of his celestial charges is Arj (Ansari) who despite being well qualified, can’t catch a break and is sleeping in his car while doing gig economy work in LA for an odd-jobs app.
A stint as assistant for billionaire Jeff (Seth Rogen) – who spends his days shopping for Rolexes and sitting in his sauna – only makes him feel more of a failure. So Gabriel steps in to help by facilitating a life swap between the two, which he hopes will make Arj appreciates what he already has.
The script lacks the substance it was probably aiming for, and there’s far too much chatting about chicken nuggets, but this comedy does deliver lots of laughs.
AFTER THE HUNT
(15) 139mins
★★☆☆☆
Julia Roberts plays Alma Imhoff, a Yale philosophy professor and feminist who is idolised by her students.Credit: Alamy
SET in the academic enclaves of a rarefied American Ivy League University, this affected campus tale from director Luca Guadagnino could do with a tutorial to discuss what its own discourse is.
Julia Roberts plays Alma Imhoff, a Yale philosophy professor and feminist who is idolised by her students.
Imhoff and husband Frederick (Michael Stuhlbarg) host bourgeois soirees in their art-filled pad where favourite students including Maggie (Ayo Edebiri), and Hank (Andrew Garfield) gather to muse and debate.
But when Maggie accuses Hank of sexual assault and turns to her tutor for guidance, beliefs, boundaries and loyalties blur for both women.
Roberts is exceptional as Imhoff but the pace is so laboured and the ostentatious dialogue so pleased with itself it feels like a dull self-congratulatory lecture.
A repetitive ticking pendulum only emphasises the plodding pace and a subplot about stomach ulcers adds little. Some valid social commentary around generational divides is quickly drowned out by more droning. The many lingering close-ups are stylistically credible yet still dull.
Laura Stott
FILM NEWS
JIM CARREY is rumoured to be looking at playing the lead in The Jetsons film.
SAOIRSE RONAN will play Linda McCartney in Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopic.
DISNEY will make a live action version of Tangled.
LOVE foreplay but have a lazy partner? Then Christmas has come early — ahem.
Meet The Poet by Smile Makers. Made with clever air-suction technology, this toy is no ordinary vibrator.
The Poet is “designed for earth-shattering clitoral orgasms”Credit: Olivia West
The Poet, £79.95 £55.95 from Smile Makers
It’s designed for earth-shattering clitoral orgasms. Add a bit of lube, and it practically mimics real oral sex — a godsend for those of us whose partners skip foreplay… or are single.
As a devoted fan of oral, I like to make it the main course — who needs guys anyway?
Its silky-smooth silicone material feels amazing against the skin, and with three interchangeable heads, you can find your perfect fit.
It’s already racking up glowing reviews and boasts a 4.7-star rating online — so guys, consider yourselves warned!
Who’s it best for? It’s been designed specifically for women, though you can use the clever tip on your partner’s nipples if you fancy spicing things up — trust me, men love it! That said, this toy really shines for women, solo play and anyone who loves oral sex.
What I loved: All Smile Makers products are made from silky-smooth silicone that moulds to your body. The clitoral suction vibrator comes with three interchangeable heads, so you can find your perfect fit for maximum pleasure. Plus, the clever air-suction technology keeps it whisper-quiet — ideal if you’re heading home for Christmas or staying with the in-laws.
What I didn’t: Honestly? It’s hard to find a flaw with this product. If anything, the packaging could be a little sexier — though perhaps that’s a clever marketing move to make it look more discreet.
How I tested The Poet
As The Sun’s Sexpert, I’ve tried my fair share of vibratorsCredit: Olivia West
The Poet, £79.95 £55.95 from Smile Makers
As The Sun’s Sexpert, I’ve tried my fair share of vibrators over the years — you can read my round-up of the best sex toys for women.
Where possible, I test the toys by myself, and then my partner is usually roped in for a test drive (not that he ever minds!).
The Nitty Gritty
First impressions
Okay, so the packaging could be a little more enticing, but once opened, the toy itself is very pretty and female-friendly.
Its purple-rose design is elegant enough to sit on your bedside table — no need to hide it away in a drawer.
The instructions are simple to follow, and the toy is easy to use.
Does it… Deliver?
This is one of the best suction toys I’ve triedCredit: Olivia West
The Poet, £79.95 £55.95 from Smile Makers
As someone who loves oral sex, I can honestly say this is one of the best air-suction toys I’ve tried.
I actually prefer it to toys from Womanizer, one of the first brands to use this kind of clitoral stimulation technology.
It’s more comfortable to use, gentler yet somehow more powerful, and much prettier too.
Add plenty of lube and it really can feel as good — if not better — than the real thing.
It really can feel as good — if not better — than the real thing.
And yes, lads, you might want to be a little worried about that!
It’s also waterproof, so you can elevate your bathroom game with a cheeky solo session in the shower or bath.
Plus, it’s rechargeable (no more faffing about with batteries) and comes with a cute satin bag to tuck it away in.
How much is The Poet?
At £79.95, it’s cheaper than its racy rival, the Womanizer, as well as Lelo’s Sona 2, which, until trying this, was the best I’d tried.
Plus, it’s currently on sale for £55.95.
Lelo’s Sona 2 is pricier at £100.62 (currently on sale).
So, while this toy is a little up there in price, it’s still more affordable than many other premium brands — and it comes with a two-year guarantee.
Orgasms that are insured — what’s not to love?
Where to buy The Poet
Thanks to the sale, the best place to buy The Poet is probably the Smile Makers website.
It also uses clever air-tech suction technology and is waterproof, but it’s not as comfortable to hold as The Poet, which seems to mould perfectly to the body.
Dodger Stadium won’t be empty Sunday, even though the next time the Dodgers play at home will be Tuesday in a National League Division Series opener.
But LA Card Show will make its Dodger Stadium debut that day with a Dodger blue-tinged format that includes a watch party of the team’s regular-season finale starting at 12:10 p.m. on DodgerVision.
Most of the time, however, attendees likely will have their heads down, studying the intricacies of trading cards and memorabilia of all stripes and types. More than 350 collectibles vendors will display, buy, sell and trade wares across sports, Pokémon, Disney and other trading card games along with comics, toys and art.
“It’s the perfect blend of card show and cultural experience, and Dodger Stadium provides the ultimate backdrop for us to lean in and create an extraordinary event,” said Chris Koenig, executive director of Dodgers 365, the program that brings outside events into Chavez Ravine.
The event begins at 10 a.m. and will include live DJ sets, food vendors, brand activations, giveaways and an autograph lounge with former Dodgers Ramón Martínez, Joe Kelly and Orel Hershiser, who owns a collectibles store in Claremont called Legends’ Attic.
