The animated Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters has received Oscar nominations for best animated feature and best original song for 'Golden,' marking the first K-pop track nominated in the category. The fictional group Huntr/x, voiced by real singers Audrey Nuna, Ejae, and Rei Ami, has achieved massive global success with the soundtrack topping charts worldwide. The film's story follows the group battling a rival demon boyband, blending K-pop culture with animation.
Released in June 2025, KPop Demon Hunters has become Netflix's most-watched film of all time, amassing over 236 million views. The soundtrack, featuring the fictional K-pop group Huntr/x, was the third best-selling album worldwide in 2025 according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). It topped the Billboard 200 for two weeks and spent 35 weeks in the top 10, while 'Golden' held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and the UK singles chart for 10 weeks.
The film's voices are provided by Audrey Nuna as Mira, Ejae as Rumi, and Rei Ami as Zoey. Ejae, who also co-wrote 'Golden' with six others including Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park, trained for 12 years at SM Entertainment from 2003 to 2015 before becoming a songwriter for groups like Red Velvet, Aespa, Twice, and Le Sserafim. She described the project's impact: “This whole thing has changed my life 180 — and that feels like an understatement. I moved here to the States and my dream was to have a (Billboard) Hot 100 hit song. To have it be a K-pop song with Korean lyrics in it, it means so much.”
Co-director Maggie Kang reacted to the nominations by keeping her “happy scream” low to avoid waking her family, noting the pride among Koreans for the film's representation. Co-director Chris Appelhans said he “did not scream quietly,” adding that his five-year-old son asked if they get a trophy. The film competes for best animated feature against Zootopia 2, Little Amelie Or The Character Of Rain, Elio, and Arco. For best original song, 'Golden' faces 'Dear Me' from Diane Warren: Relentless, 'I Lied To You' from Sinners, 'Sweet Dreams Of Joy' from Viva Verdi!, and 'Train Dreams' from Train Dreams.
Previously, 'Golden' won best song at the Critics’ Choice Awards and Golden Globes, and a Grammy for best song written for visual media on February 1, 2026, becoming the first K-pop song to do so. The Oscar ceremony is set for March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, hosted by Conan O’Brien.
Success has led to merchandise including toys from Lego and Mattel, Hasbro games, and clothing lines. K-pop, originating in the 1990s, involves rigorous training programs teaching skills like languages, singing, and dance.
