KPop Demon Hunters Receives Two 2026 Oscar Nominations

The momentum for KPop Demon Hunters shows no signs of slowing down. This visually stunning and addictive collaboration between Sony Animation and Netflix remains a cultural phenomenon well into 2026.

Fresh off victories at the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards, it comes as little surprise that the film has secured prestigious nods at the 98th Academy Awards. It is currently vying for Best Animated Feature, while its breakout track “Golden” has earned a nomination for Best Original Song.

The narrative centers on Huntr/x, an elite all-girl K-pop trio consisting of Rumi, Zoey, and Mira. While they spend their days as global superstars selling out stadiums, their nights are dedicated to a secret war against soul-stealing demons attempting to breach our reality. Their ultimate objective is to fortify the Honmoon—a mystical barrier designed to seal the spirit realm away forever. However, their mission is complicated when the underworld retaliates with its own musical weapon: a demonic boy band known as the Saja Boys.

Since its premiere last June, KPop Demon Hunters has reigned supreme across both Netflix and Spotify. While the initial frenzy has naturally stabilized, the franchise’s influence remains potent. Just recently, Ejae (Rumi), Rei Ami (Zoey), and Audrey Nuna (Mira)—the vocal powerhouses behind Huntr/x—reunited for a special performance of “Golden” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Even before the accolades began rolling in, the film was busy shattering historical milestones. It achieved the distinction of being the first all-female group to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 since Destiny’s Child’s “Bootylicious” dominated the charts in 2001. Beyond its musical triumphs, the movie’s mesmerizing animation style helped it surpass Red Notice to become the most-watched Netflix Original title of all time—no small feat in today’s streaming landscape.

In the Best Animated Feature category, KPop Demon Hunters faces formidable competition from major studio projects like Disney’s Zootopia 2 and Elio. In the original song category, “Golden” will go head-to-head with tracks like “I Lied to You” from Sinners.

The 98th Academy Awards will be broadcast on March 15 at 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT. We’ll be watching closely to see if Huntr/x can secure one more victory on the world’s biggest stage.

Source: Polygon