'kpop Demon Hunters' Makes Oscars History After Dominating Awards Season

"Kpop Demon Hunters" is ending awards play connected top.

The Netflix film, which follows 2 fictional K-pop bands, HUNTR/X and Saja Boys, took location an Oscar for champion animated characteristic Sunday.

Co-director and writer Maggie Kang and producer Michelle Wong became nan first group of South Korean descent to ever triumph successful nan animated characteristic category. They accepted nan grant pinch co-director Chris Appelhans.

"To each nan fans who sewage america present and for each of those who look for illustration me, sorry that it took america truthful agelong to spot america successful a movie for illustration this. But it is here, and that intends that nan adjacent generations don't person to spell longing," Kang said successful her acceptance reside astir making a movie successful which different Korean group could spot themselves in. "This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere."

Appelhans besides said to nan powerfulness of euphony and storytelling to “connect america arsenic humans crossed cultures and borders.”

“So I conscionable want to return a infinitesimal to opportunity to each nan young filmmakers, artists, musicians successful each corners of nan globe: Tell your story, singing successful your voice,” Appelhans said. “I committedness you nan world is waiting.”

The movie swept awards season, taking location 2 Golden Globes (for champion animated mobility image and champion original opus successful a mobility picture) and 2 wins astatine nan Critics’ Choice Awards. It besides made history astatine nan Grammy Awards, giving nan K-pop genre its first-ever triumph astatine nan coveted euphony show.

The animated blockbuster, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released by Netflix successful June, gave nan streaming level its first No. 1 box-office title erstwhile it besides rolled retired to theaters past year. Its people became Billboard’s highest-charting soundtrack of 2025, and deed songs from nan movie — specified arsenic “Golden” and “Your Idol” — likewise topped nan U.S. Spotify charts.

Its crippled follows HUNTR/X members Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong) and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), who must support demons retired of nan quality world done their music.

Fan fervor astir “KPop Demon Hunters” was truthful wide that characters from nan movie became celebrated choices for Halloween costumes. And nan vocalists down characters’ singing voices — including HUNTR/X singers Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — person gained monolithic instrumentality bases.