‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Lands Two Oscar Nominations, Including Best Song for ‘Golden’ and Animated Feature

Netflix's animated hit "KPop Demon Hunters" has made Oscar history, securing nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for its track "Golden." This caps a remarkable awards season run, having already won the same categories at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. The film, which premiered in June, shattered Netflix viewing records to become its most-watched movie ever, maintaining a dominant presence on the global top 10 charts for weeks and demonstrating sustained popularity.

The nominated song "Golden" is performed by the film's fictional girl group Huntr/x, voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami. Its creation involved a team of songwriters including EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, DO, and 24, under the guidance of legendary producer Teddy Park. Park is a pivotal figure in K-pop, having crafted numerous chart-toppers for global phenomenon BLACKPINK, a group he helped shape as the main producer at YG Entertainment. In the film's narrative, "Golden" scores a pivotal scene where the group activates a magical seal called the "Golden Honmoon" to defeat demons, with the song's emotional peak aligning with a key revelation about protagonist Rumi. This deep integration of music and plot underscores the film's innovative storytelling, a likely factor in its critical acclaim.

Competition at the Oscars is intense. The Best Animated Feature category sees "KPop Demon Hunters" up against contenders like "Arco," "Elio," "Little Amélie or the Character of Rain," and Disney's awaited sequel "Zootopia 2." For Best Original Song, "Golden" contends with entries from major projects including "Dear Me" from the documentary "Diane Warren: Relentless" and "I Lied to You" from the drama "Sinners." The diversity of these nominees—spanning documentaries, musicals, and dramas—highlights the eclectic artistic range recognized this year. This breadth suggests that voter appeal may hinge not just on a song's popularity but on its narrative indispensability within its film.

The movie's unique premise, which follows the members of Huntr/x as they balance worldwide pop stardom with a covert war against soul-consuming demons, has fueled its global appeal. Its success extends far beyond streaming metrics; the official soundtrack has achieved significant commercial performance. Tracks like "Golden," "Your Idol," and "Soda Pop" have enjoyed prolonged stays on the Billboard Hot 100, proving their dual function as effective storytelling tools and legitimate chart hits. This Oscar recognition builds upon prior industry validation, including three Grammy nominations for the film's music. As media analyst James Kim noted, "The film's trajectory from a streaming record-breaker to an awards heavyweight signals a shift. It proves platform-native content can achieve the highest echelons of cinematic prestige, which will inevitably influence how streamers develop and campaign for their flagship projects in the future."