“KPop Demon Hunters” Strikes Gold Again at the 98th Academy Awards
“KPop Demon Hunters” continued its winning streak by taking home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday. The film’s smash hit song, “Golden,” is also nominated for Best Original Song later in the evening.
“For those of you who look like me, I’m so sorry that it took so long to see us in a movie like this, but it is here. That means the next generations don’t have to go longing,” said Maggie Kang, the film’s co-writer and co-director. “This is for Korea and Koreans everywhere.”
Emotional Moment for the Cast
Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, who provide the singing voices in the film, were moved to tears as the Oscar for Best Animated Feature was announced. They are set to take the stage Sunday to perform “Golden,” one of only two live performances scheduled in the Original Song category. The performance will uniquely blend traditional Korean instrumentalists and dance.
A Record-Breaking Phenomenon
Though not new to breaking records, “KPop Demon Hunters” has truly become a cultural phenomenon. After premiering on Netflix in June, the film became the streaming giant’s most-watched movie, amassing over 480 million views by January.
The Oscar win is the culmination of a highly successful awards season. The song “Golden” made history as the first K-pop song to win a Grammy, taking home the award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. It also earned a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, while the film won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Motion Picture.
In addition, the movie received a Producers Guild Award for Outstanding Animated Theatrical Motion Picture.
About the Film
“KPop Demon Hunters” follows the story of the fictional girl group Huntr/x as they combat evil forces through their dynamic K-pop beats and performances. The film has dominated streaming charts worldwide, with “Golden” topping the Billboard Hot 100 for more than eight consecutive weeks.
This latest recognition solidifies “KPop Demon Hunters” as a groundbreaking cultural and musical success, inspiring audiences everywhere.
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2026-03-15/golden-kpop-demon-hunters-oscars-2026-performance