In the end, everything was truly golden for “KPop Demon Hunters.” The Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation phenomenon took home the Animated Feature Oscar at the 2026 Academy Awards after dominating the precursor awards for months. “Hunters” is the second win for Netflix in the past four years, following “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” in 2023.
Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, “KPop Demon Hunters” was named Best Animated Feature by over 15 critics’ groups, including the New York Film Critics Circle. It took the Golden Globe, the Critics’ Choice Award, and the PGA Award. It did not qualify for the BAFTA Awards, but dominated the Annie Awards, taking 10 trophies from its peers in the animation industry.
Despite positive reviews, the animated film dropped on the streaming service with somewhat little fanfare outside of marketing targeted to its specific Netflix audience. Within days, the title track, “Golden,” became a streaming monster, and “Demon Hunters” topped Netflix’s global film chart. In fact, by August 26, the service reported that “Demon Hunters” was the most-watched Netflix film of all time. As of March 15, 2026, Netflix reports the movie has been viewed 325 million times.
The music from “Kpop Demon Hunters” was a
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