KPop Demon Hunters has capped off the 2026 award season with a “Golden” prize. The Netflix animated feature took home best animated feature film at the 2026 Oscars on Sunday night.
Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans were among those who took the stage to accept the award. Kang began their acceptance in tears. “For those of you who look like me, I’m so sorry that it took us so long to see us in a movie like this,” Kang said. “This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere.”
The film is also nominated for best original song, which has yet to be announced. The nominated song, “Golden,” is a frontrunner in the category. EJAE, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna are expected to take the stage to the hit. The song became a breakout hit from the film and crossed over into mainstream music success. It hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 last year.
Demon Hunters has become Netflix’s most popular title ever. The project chronicles the adventures of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group made up of three members who also just happen to fight monsters from the underworld. In addition to topping the Netflix charts, its soundtrack spent several weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart.
The film has already made a splash during the 2026 award season; it scored two Golden Globes earlier this year, and it made history at the Grammys by scoring the first win for K-pop at the award show.
Kang and Appelhans previously told THR they’d be bringing the entire Demon Hunters team to the ceremony. “We got extra tickets, so we’re only inviting our crew to it; just as a reward and also so that we could all be there to celebrate, no matter what happens,” Kang said. “They all deserve to be there.”
The Hollywood Reporter first broke the news in August that a sequel film is in talks at Netflix and Sony Animation. Last week, Netflix closed deals with Kang and Appelhans for the sequel as part of a new, multi-year writing and directing pact. A confirmed sequel release date has yet to be announced.
The 98th edition of the Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien for the second year in a row, is airing live on ABC and Hulu from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Here is a complete list of this year’s winners, and see the star-studded Oscars red carpet 2026 arrivals.