The animated musical fantasy film KPop Demon Hunters was released on Netflix on June 20,2025. The film follows the fictional K-pop girl group Huntr/x,consisting of members Rumi,Mira,and Zoey,whose singing voices are performed by Ejae,Audrey Nuna,and Rei Ami,respectively.[1] "Takedown" is performed by Huntr/x during the movie,while a remix by Twice members Jeongyeon,Jihyo,and Chaeyoung plays over the end credits alongside live-action footage of the cast and musical talent recording for the film. The film's accompanying soundtrack album was released on June 20,featuring both versions of the song.[2] The Twice version of "Takedown" was released as the album's lead single on the same day.[3] On June 27,a 7-inch vinyl for the song was released.[4] In July 2025,"Takedown" was also released on the deluxe edition of Twice's new album This Is For.[5]
Live performances
Twice debuted the song live during their headlining set at Lollapalooza 2025.[6][7] The performance was accompanied by a drone show that displayed the message "The honmoon is sealed",a reference to Huntr/x's mission in KPop Demon Hunters.[6]
Lyrics and composition
"Takedown" was considered as a "warrior anthem" expressing Huntr/x's rage and vengeance against the Saja Boys. In the song,the half-demon Rumi struggles to sing the song as she loses her inner voice. She tries to rewrite the lyrics making it a bit softer version,but demons disguised as Mira and Zoey reject Rumi's alternative version and decide to perform their version,leading them to reveal her demon marks. The song was written and recorded as a standalone record before being incorporated into the film.[8]
The soundtrack album's executive music producer Ian Eisendrath shared that getting a co-sign from real-life K-pop artists Jeongyeon,Jihyo,and Chaeyoung of Twice lent the project "much-needed street cred" among K-pop fans,stating "to have the real thing authenticate it gave me faith in what we were doing –that they were interested,that they were willing."[9] The end credits version of "Takedown" by Jeongyeon,Jihyo,and Chaeyoung serves as the centerpiece of their TikTok dance challenge. Chaeyoung initially felt the song was too intense for them to pull off but ended up enjoying working on a new style,while Jeongyeon noted that it was a "special experience" as the trio's first song together on their own.[8]
Critical reception
Debashree Dutta of Rolling Stone India praised the song's "marked ferocity" as it reveals Huntr/x's fury against the Saja Boys which culminates in a chorus reiterating their desire to take the demons down.[10] Sarah Carey of That Hashtag Show described it as "pure adrenaline",both in the "aggressive" Huntr/x version and the "polished" Twice version. She noted that the song "proves that you can craft a high-energy hit and deliver real emotional weight",delivering both a strong message alongside "beat drops and power vocals."[11] Crystal Bell of Mashable expressed that "Golden" and "Takedown" would not "feel out of place on a real idol group's comeback album,with propulsive beats,dynamic hooks,and lyrics that tap into both the emotional highs and warrior-like tenacity of being an idol."[12] Similarly,Trent Cannon of PopVerse described "Takedown" as fast and aggressive and opined that it leans on "hip-hop influences" common throughout K-pop and "wouldn't feel out of place on a Twice record itself."[13]
Track listing
7-inch vinyl single
"Takedown" (Twice version) –3:01
"Takedown" (Huntr/x version) –3:02
Charts
Weekly charts
Weekly chart performance for "Takedown" by Huntr/x
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 34. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 34. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
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