2026 Golden Globes: KPop Demon Hunters strikes gold with Best Animated Motion Picture win

KPop Demon Hunters

• KPop Demon Hunters wins Best Animated Motion Picture at the Golden Globes
• The film is Netflix's most-watched ever with over 325 million viewers worldwide
• A sequel to KPop Demon Hunters is in development, set for release in 2029

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Netflix’s global sensation KPop Demon Hunters has added another trophy to its growing cabinet. Fresh off its victory at the Critics Choice Awards, the animated musical adventure has now won Best Animated Motion Picture at the Golden Globes.

The Sony Pictures Animation-backed film beat a formidable lineup that included Arco, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle, Pixar’s Elio, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, and Disney’s billion-dollar juggernaut Zootopia 2. With this win, KPop Demon Hunters has emerged as a strong frontrunner in the animated feature race heading into the Oscars.

The film’s success story began long before its release. First pitched in 2018 by co-director and co-writer Maggie Kang, the project was inspired by her love for K-pop and her desire to showcase Korean culture through animation. Developed as a Sony–Netflix co-production, the film evolved into a vibrant, genre-blending spectacle that fused idol culture with supernatural action.

Released in June, KPop Demon Hunters became a surprise summer phenomenon. It quickly turned into Netflix’s most-watched film of all time, amassing over 325 million viewers worldwide. This was nearly 100 million more than the platform’s previous record-holder, Red Notice. The soundtrack proved equally historic, going platinum and becoming the first soundtrack ever to place four songs simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100.

At the heart of the film is fictional K-pop trio HUNTR/X—Rumi, Mira, and Zoey—voiced by Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo, with singing performances by Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, all of whom have since earned Grammy nominations. The story follows the idol-demon-hunters as they face off against the sinister Saja Boys, a rival group secretly working to destabilize the human world.

With voice contributions from Ahn Hyo-seop, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun, the film boasts a powerhouse cast. A sequel is already in development, though it is slated for a 2029 release.