KPop Demon Hunters has burst onto the scene of the 2026 awards season, mirroring its triumphant run in 2025 by securing two prestigious accolades at the Critics Choice Awards. This animated feature, a collaboration between Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation, has taken home awards for both Best Original Song and Best Animated Feature.
The talented EJAE, who lends her voice to the main character Rumi and co-wrote several of the film's songs, accepted the award for Best Original Song alongside her collaborator Mark Sonnenblick for their hit track "Golden." They were joined on stage by Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, who provide vocals for the fictional K-pop girl group Huntrix featured in the film. The directors, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, also proudly accompanied the ensemble to accept the award for Best Animated Feature.
During her acceptance speech for the song, EJAE shared an emotional connection to her character, stating, "While writing this song, I felt as if I was experiencing life through Rumi. Her journey resonated with me on a personal level. The song serves as a beacon of hope, encouraging her to dream big and pursue her aspirations. It has similarly inspired me, but most importantly, being able to inspire hope in countless people around the globe is truly the greatest honor I could wish for."
KPop Demon Hunters has made history as Netflix's most successful title to date. The film follows the exploits of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group consisting of three members who also take on the thrilling challenge of battling creatures from the underworld. Not only has the film topped Netflix's charts, but its soundtrack has also achieved remarkable success, maintaining a spot in the Billboard 200's top ten for several weeks. Furthermore, the single "Golden" reached the coveted number one position on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
In an exciting development, The Hollywood Reporter initially revealed in August that discussions were underway for a sequel to this beloved film. Subsequent confirmations indicated that the directors and studio have successfully finalized their agreements with the streaming giant for the next exciting chapter.
