(L-R) Jimin, Jungkook, RM, J-Hope, V, Jin and SUGA of BTS visited the ‘Today’ Show in 2020. (Photo … More
BTS fans are in for a treat. The feature-length documentary Forever We Are Young by award-winning directors Grace Lee and Patty Ahn will hit theaters on July 30. The film shines a spotlight on the BTS global fandom known as Army—currently at 90 million fans and growing. Army, an intergenerational, culturally savvy and socially active movement is as diverse as the world itself. The film captures the powerful spirit of activism and collectivity that make the fandom a symbol of hope and unity.
For more than a decade BTS has been recognized for delivering exceptional music and performances. The South Korean band, composed of RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook, have collected six No.1 Billboard Hot 100 singles since 2020 and performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world.
The film debuts on July 30.
The five-time Grammy nominees were named Time’s Entertainer of the Year in 2020 and earned recognition at the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the Year 2021) and MTV Video Music Award.
BTS is already the subject of a few films but Forever We Are Young is made by Army for Army, as the film centers on the fans themselves and celebrates their creativity, resilience and deep emotional connection to the group. Although rooted in fandom, the film explores universal themes of belonging, identity and self-love.
From Seoul to Los Angeles, Texas to Mexico City, BTS Army is everywhere. Forever We Are Young meets fans at locations as diverse as a BTS-focused ReactorCon in Lewisville, Texas, and a Seoul-based dance class that teaches BTS choreography, offering insight into the loyal fandom that helped the k-pop idols dominate the charts.
‘Forever We Are Young’ celebrates the BTS fandom.
“There is no BTS without Army and no Army without BTS,” said the film’s co-director and producer Grace Lee.
“We’re excited for audiences to go on an emotional journey and meet a fandom that made us laugh, cry and think,” said director and producer Patty Ahn. “We were constantly moved by the fans’ power, resilience, creativity and humor and hope audiences will be too”
Lee is a Peabody-winning filmmaker, whose directing and producing credits include the documentary series And She Could be Next, Asian Americans; and feature documentaries: American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs, The Grace Lee Project and fiction films Janeane from Des Moines and American Zombie. She is BTS One True 7.
Ahn is a filmmaker and professor in the communication department at the University of California, San Diego. Ahn’s research and teaching focus on k-pop’s growing global influence, especially in the U.S. Ahn’s favorite BTS member? It’s Jimin.
Forever We Are Young is being released by Trafalgar Releasing, which organizes cinema events. It’s not the first BTS concert or film they’ve released.
Dedicated BTS fans WatchaGot2Say enthusiastically review every BTS release.
“The global impact of BTS is undeniable, not just as artists, but as a cultural movement,” said Kymberli Frueh, senior vice-president of content acquisitions and programming at Trafalgar Releasing. “We are proud to bring this film to big screens across the globe to celebrate the impact of the fans themselves who have supported BTS every step of the way.”
Forever We Are Young had its world premiere at the 2025 SXSW in Austin, Texas, with a sold out audience, earning standing ovations and high praise from BTS fans and film lovers. The film then screened at select festivals across the globe including Copenhagen, Mexico, Hawaii and Los Angeles. Tickets for the limited theatrical release go on sale July 2. Select cinemas will offer film branded concessions and official movie posters will be available on the website.
