REVIEW: ‘Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience’ Is A Dream Come True

Stray Kids The dominATE Experience is truly a culmination of everything this group has been working towards. Taking footage captured from their performances at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles from their tour and splicing it with behind-the-scenes moments focusing on every single member of Stray Kids, this is the concert film for the Stays of all levels. And, even more importantly, it reminds us of how films like these open up a space of accessibility for those of us unable to attend concerts in person.

Admittedly, I’ve been following the Stray Kids since 2017, ever since I caught their appearance on M Countdown when they performed ‘District 9’. These were the early days, long before Woojin’s departure, and they were all just laying down the groundwork for who Stray Kids might become as a band. You could see the seeds of their sound being planted, but their identity wasn’t set in stone just yet. Seven years later, Stray Kids The dominATE Experience shows us that they know exactly who they are in their music and what they hope to do for their Stays. 

It’s no surprise then that as Stray Kids The dominATE Experience opens with the first song, the camera cuts to numerous crowd shots. It is through their love of their fans, the Stays, that the band has ascended to such heights. Selling sold-out stadiums like SoFi is no easy feat, and as the camera sweeps over the crowd, zooming in on the cheering fans filling out every single section, you can’t help but feel energized for Stray Kids. 

Stray Kids The dominATE Experience shows the Stray Kids at their peak.

As much as the camerawork illuminates the fans and Stray Kids in kind, it also takes in the broad scope of SoFi Stadium. It could honestly be used as part of the Stadium’s pitch deck for future performers, given how it highlights the space and its use throughout the film’s two hours and twenty-five minutes. And unlike their DC show on the same tour, there doesn’t appear to be any danger of anyone passing out from extreme heat (a win for SoFi and their management here).

The only quibble with the camerawork and editing is the timing of the cuts between Stray Kids and the audience during the opening number of Stray Kids: The Dominant Experience. Generally, for something that relies heavily on music, you want to time the edits to sync with the song’s beat. A couple of cuts made during that opening sequence were just off the beat, making the overall execution a little choppy. However, this is a minor criticism, as the issue resolves later in the film.

Every time we break away from Stray Kids The dominATE Experience, we focus on behind-the-scenes interviews. Each break focuses on one member, giving us a look into their headspace and desires, and all remark on the journey they’ve each taken to get to this point. It is in these moments that you really see the members get vulnerable, particularly Bang Chan, who doesn’t shy away from emotion (nor do the clips of him shown while he talks about his issues with internalizing his emotions before they bubble over).

Stray Kids has come so far and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.

These behind-the-scenes clips also show us a snippet of what the Stray Kids experience on tour. However, for those looking for a deeper dive into the band or the broader scope of the K-pop industry as a whole, this film is not that. At its core, it is a concert film. After each segment on one of the members, Stray Kids The dominATE Experience takes us immediately back to the concert experience, with costume and set changes fully implemented during these breaks.

Whether you’ve been a fan since the beginning or are newly experiencing the experimentally fun musicality of Stray Kids, Stray Kids The dominATE Experience lets us experience a Stray Kids concert from home. While I cannot vouch for whether the concert captures the entirety of the performances at SoFi due to the edits, it doesn’t really matter. Stray Kids have delivered a concert film for current and future Stays, allowing for their reach to expand further on the screen.

All of the passion, hard work, and dedication culminate in this high-intensity concert experience that will get you jumping in your seat. Knowing where the band started, watching Stray Kids The dominATE Experience shows how far they’ve come and how much more they have to give to the world. And honestly, I can’t wait to see where their music goes next.

Stray Kids The dominATE Experience is available On Demand March 3, 2026.