Forget the Idol Awards. KPop Demon Hunters is in the running at the Oscars. 

Netflix’s most popular film of all time has officially earned two nominations for the 98th Academy Awards. It’s up for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden.” 

The filmmakers received the news in the early hours of the day, and while co-director Maggie Kang says she kept her “happy scream” at a low volume to avoid waking up her family, fellow co-director Chris Appelhans couldn’t keep his excitement to himself. “I did not scream quietly,” Appelhans told Tudum. “My five-year-old son came in to figure out what was going on, and I tried to explain to him what the Oscars were, but he didn’t really care. He said, ‘Do you get a trophy?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know!’” 

For Kang, seeing a story so deeply rooted in Korean culture received and celebrated in this way has meant the most. “To see how proud Koreans are of this film as this beacon of representation for them … it just makes me so happy that there’s validation from the motherland.” 

For nominee EJAE, who co-wrote and performs “Golden” as the singing voice of protagonist Rumi, the latest nomination is another reminder of the journey the film has taken her on. “This whole thing has changed my life 180 [degrees] — and that feels like an understatement,” she said. “I moved here to the States and my dream was to have a [Billboard] Hot 100 hit song. To have it be a K-pop song with Korean lyrics in it, it means so much.” 

Since its release in June 2025, KPop Demon Hunters has received numerous accolades in addition to becoming Netflix’s most-watched movie of all time. The film won Best Animated Feature and Best Song at the 31st Critics Choice Awards ceremony on Jan. 4, as well as Best Motion Picture - Animated and Best Original Song - Motion Picture at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 11. It has also been nominated for 10 Annie Awards and five Grammys, including Song of the Year for “Golden” and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI as HUNTR/X. Read more about the nominations and wins the film has received below. 

Wins

CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS

Best Animated Feature

Best Song, “Golden”

GOLDEN GLOBES

Best Motion Picture - Animated

Best Original Song - Motion Picture, “Golden”

Nominations

ACADEMY AWARDS

Animated Feature

Music (Original Song), “Golden”

ART DIRECTORS GUILD AWARDS

Animated Feature Film

ANNIE AWARDS

Best Character Animation - Feature

Best Character Design - Feature

Best Direction - Feature

Best Editorial - Feature

Best FX - Feature

Best Music - Feature

Best Production Design - Feature

Best Voice Acting - Feature, Arden Cho

Best Writing - Feature

CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS

Best Animated Feature

Best Song, “Golden”

GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

Best Motion Picture - Animated

Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

GRAMMY AWARDS

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

Best Song Written for Visual Media

Song of the Year

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

MOTION PICTURE SOUND EDITORS GOLDEN REEL AWARDS

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing - Feature Animation

Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing - Feature Motion Picture

PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA AWARDS

Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures

SOCIETY OF COMPOSERS & LYRICISTS AWARDS

Best Original Song for a Comedy or Musical Visual Media Production

VISUAL EFFECTS SOCIETY AWARDS

Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature

Outstanding Cinematography

Outstanding Character in an Animated Feature, Rumi

Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature

Outstanding Environment in an Animated Feature