Kpop Demon Hunters Bags 2 Critics Choice Awards, Wins Best Music

The 2026 awards season has officially kicked off, and Netflix’s Kpop Demon Hunters is already stealing the spotlight. In its first awards showing of the year, the musical action-fantasy film secured two prestigious trophies at the 31st Critics' Choice Awards held in Santa Monica on Sunday night. The Sony Pictures Animation production was named Best Animated Feature, while its global smash hit Golden took home the prize for Best Original Song. 

The film’s triumph in the Best Animated Feature category was no small feat. It faced stiff competition from industry giants, beating out Disney’s Zootopia 2, Pixar’s Elio, and other acclaimed titles like In Your Dreams and Arco. Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans accepted the award alongside the voice cast, celebrating the project's unique fusion of high-energy K-pop culture and monster-hunting action. The win cements the film's status not just as a fan favorite, but as a critical darling in the animation world.

In the music category, the film’s chart-topping anthem Golden defeated tracks from major blockbusters like Wicked: For Good and Sinners. Songwriter and voice actress Ejae, who provides the singing voice for the lead character Rumi, accepted the award with co-writer Mark Sonnenblick. 

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In a touching moment during her acceptance speech, Ejae revealed a personal connection to the character. She told the crowd that she found herself "living vicariously" through Rumi, noting that the song was written as an expression of hope, convincing both the character and herself that they could reach for their dreams.

Beyond the awards stage, Kpop Demon Hunters has proven to be a commercial juggernaut. It currently ranks as Netflix’s most-watched original animated film of all time. The film’s influence extends to the music charts as well; the soundtrack spent several weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200, while Golden hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter. The story follows Huntrix, a world-famous girl group that balances the pressures of stardom with a secret life fighting underworld demons.

Looking ahead, the momentum shows no signs of slowing down. The film is eyeing further success at the Astra Film Awards. Additionally, the soundtrack has earned multiple Grammy nominations. Excitement for the franchise is already building for the future, as a sequel has been confirmed with Netflix and Sony Animation, promising more adventures for the demon-slaying pop stars.