As the curtain closes on a monumental 2025, the Asia Pacific region has firmly established itself as a global cultural engine. From Squid Game shattering records again to the earworm success of KPop Demon Hunter, the influence of Asian content reached unparalleled heights. However, at Entertainlens, we believe this is just the beginning. Looking ahead, we have identified six critical Asia Pacific Entertainment Trends 2026 that will reshape the global TV and film business.
Japan’s Cultural Superpower Moment
To call 2025 a “moment” for Japan might be an understatement. The country has long been a tastemaker, but recent figures suggest a seismic shift. The Oscar contender Kokuho set a domestic live-action record grossing ¥18.2B ($117M), while Crunchyroll’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle became the biggest Japanese film ever, earning nearly $780M globally.
Entertainlens notes that this surge is changing the industry’s IP hierarchy. Keith Le Goy, an executive at Sony (Crunchyroll’s parent company), has predicted that anime will replace Marvel and D.C. as the primary source of IP for future films and TV shows. The influence is already visible in Western cinema, such as Neon’s Oscar hopeful Arco. Furthermore, keep an eye on Toho’s new UK outpost; their expansion signals a direct move into Western markets.
The Webnovel Revolution
While comic books fueled the last decade of blockbusters, the next global breakouts will likely emerge from the region’s flourishing webnovels. Platforms like Wattpad—part of the South Korean-American giant Webtoon—allow users to consume highly stylized stories on mobile devices.
This medium is proving to be fertile ground for adaptation. Prime Video’s successful Culpables movie trilogy originated on Wattpad, and author Mercedes Ron has secured a major deal with Amazon. Expect aggressive marketing of these digital titles in 2026 as studios mine this sector for the next big hit.
The ‘KPop Demon’ Effect and Transmedia
The cultural mega-hit for kids in 2025 was undoubtedly KPop Demon Hunters. The Netflix film amassed 500 million streaming views, becoming the streamer’s most-watched original title, while its hit song “Golden” surpassed 950 million views on YouTube.
Although a sequel is planned for 2029, Sony and Netflix face the challenge of filling the four-year gap to maintain momentum. Entertainlens anticipates spinoffs or even a musical to bridge this period. Beyond this specific franchise, K-Pop continues to inspire Hollywood, with projects at Paramount and indie films like Perfect Girl capitalizing on the genre’s global popularity.
Australia’s Streaming Market Transformation
A major shift is occurring Down Under. New content quotas now mandate global streamers to spend 10% of their Australian expenditure—or 7.5% of revenues—on local originals. While producers hope this guarantees business, it remains to be seen if giants like Netflix and HBO Max will embrace the spirit of the law or pull back.
Despite the uncertainty, Australia remains a powerhouse for talent. Local hits like The Artful Dodger and Amazon’s Golden Globe-nominated The Narrow Road To The Deep North highlight the region’s quality. Emerging filmmakers such as the Philippou brothers (Talk To Me) and Kiah Roache-Turner are leading the next generation of creative talent.
The Great Social Media Block
Australia is also at the forefront of digital regulation. A law blocking social media access for those under 16 came into effect in December 2025. While parents may rejoice, the “Digital Freedom Project” and teenagers are suing the government, claiming the ban is unconstitutional.
Major platforms have largely complied, though Reddit and Google are pushing back legally. Entertainlens believes this is a bellwether event; if Australia’s law proves successful, other governments concerned about social media’s impact on youth will likely replicate these measures.
New Animation Powerhouses
Finally, 2025 proved that Asian animation extends far beyond Japan and Korea. Indonesia’s Jumbo became the highest-grossing Southeast Asian animation of all time, signaling a new era. Alongside China’s Ne Zha 2—which grossed over $2 billion globally—these hits demonstrate a diversifying market.
The producers of Jumbo, Visinema Studios, aim to use the film as a springboard for the region. With Indonesia’s government exploring new incentives and film financing mechanisms to strengthen the creative economy, the country, with its population of nearly 300 million, is poised to become a major player.
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