The animated hit K-Pop Demon Hunters keeps topping charts and breaking records. Its lead single Golden just earned four Grammy nominations for the 2026 awards, marking a big win for the film’s fictional girl group Huntr/x. Released on Netflix in June 2025, the movie follows three K-pop stars who secretly hunt demons while performing sold-out shows. Now, with the soundtrack’s success and plans for a follow-up film, the story of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey shows no signs of slowing down.
The Rise of Huntr/x and Their Demon-Slaying Soundtrack
K-Pop Demon Hunters blends high-energy music with urban fantasy action. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the film stars Arden Cho as Rumi, May Hong as Mira, and Ji-young Yoo as Zoey. These characters form Huntr/x, a rising K-pop act whose songs create a protective barrier called the Honmoon against demons. The plot kicks off when a rival boy band, the Saja Boys, turns out to be demons in disguise, led by the villain Gwi-Ma voiced by Lee Byung-hun.
The soundtrack drives the film’s appeal. Produced by heavyweights like Teddy from The Black Label and Lindgren, it includes tracks performed by real artists. EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami provide vocals for Huntr/x, while TWICE members Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung sing Takedown. Other contributors like Andrew Choi, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, samUIL Lee, Neckwav, and Lea Salonga add to the Saja Boys’ side.
Golden, the standout track, spent eight weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It broke records as the first female K-pop group song to top the chart and hit number one on the Billboard Global 200. The full soundtrack debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and earned a Platinum certification from the RIAA in October 2025. Four songs from it—Golden, Your Idol, Soda Pop, and Takedown—landed in the Hot 100’s top ten at once, a first for any film soundtrack.
Fans streamed the album over three billion times globally by August 2025. Physical copies sold out fast on Netflix’s shop, boosting sales by 400 percent. Merch like band tees and plush toys of the mystical tiger became top sellers. The film’s popularity even led to themed zones at South Korea’s Everland amusement park, with games and snacks drawing long lines.
Grammy Breakthrough for Animated K-Pop
On November 7, 2025, the Recording Academy announced nominations for the 68th Grammy Awards, set for February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. Golden secured four nods: Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media, and a remix by David Guetta for Best Remixed Recording. The full soundtrack earned a nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
This marks history for K-pop. Golden and Rosé’s APT. from Blackpink became the first K-pop songs in the general field categories like Song of the Year. Huntr/x joins past animated acts like Gorillaz in the spotlight, but stands out as the first fictional K-pop group to compete here. EJAE and co-writer Mark Sonnenblick are credited for the songwriting wins.
The vocalists shared their excitement in interviews.
“It means we’re powerful… we’re killing it,” said Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, and EJAE during a call with Gold Derby right after the news broke.
EJAE told Rolling Stone the goal was simple:
“The main goal was, is this a song that can actually compete with other K-pop idols? Can it fit in?”
The nominations come after months of chart dominance. Golden tied TLC’s Waterfalls for the second-longest number one run by a girl group on the Hot 100, with seven weeks. Huntr/x topped Spotify’s US chart, surpassing Blackpink as the highest-charting female K-pop group there. The Saja Boys’ Your Idol even beat BTS for the top male K-pop spot on Spotify.
Critics praised the music’s blend of K-pop hooks and theater storytelling. Variety noted it feels like “a great K-pop album” with no skips. The BBC called Golden a perfect all-kill in South Korea, breaking hourly chart records. Three tracks—Golden, Your Idol, and Soda Pop—stayed on the Hot 100 for weeks.
The film’s cultural impact grew too. Google searches for character costumes spiked during Halloween 2025, selling out at stores like Spirit Halloween. Netflix hosted sing-along screenings in theaters across North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand in August and October. These events drew superfans for live performances of the songs.
Behind the Scenes: Voices, Demons, and Korean Roots
The voice cast brings depth to the characters. Ahn Hyo-seop voices Jinu, a demon with a charming side who sparks tension with Rumi. Yunjin Kim plays Celine, the group’s mentor and Rumi’s guardian. Daniel Dae Kim and Ken Jeong add humor and heart as supporting roles. Joel Kim Booster and Liza Koshy voice fun side characters.
Kang drew from her Korean heritage for the story. Demons pull from Korean mythology, like the Jeoseung Saja or Grim Reaper figures. Settings include real Seoul spots like Namsan Tower and Bukchon Hanok Village. Rumi’s arc explores mixed heritage and self-acceptance, with Kang saying it mirrors “coming out of the closet” to strict parents.
The animation style mixes 3D with anime influences, like exaggerated expressions during fights. Sony Pictures Animation used new tech for fluid dance sequences. Co-director Appelhans called it “bold” for family animation, pulling from K-dramas, concerts, and music videos.
The Saja Boys’ tracks hide dark lyrics under bubbly beats. Soda Pop sounds like puppy love but hints at soul-stealing. Producers aimed for real K-pop vibes, with Teddy noting they created “something new with its own sound.”
Chart-Topping Impact and Global Fandom
K-Pop Demon Hunters became Netflix’s most-watched English-language film ever, with over 325 million views by October 2025. It held the top spot on the English film chart for 15 straight weeks, the longest run ever. By November, it hit 20 weeks in the global top 10, peaking at 26.3 million views in its sixth week.
The success boosted K-pop stocks. Shares of HYBE, JYP, SM, and YG rose double digits in 2025, with YG up over 100 percent. Analysts say it could ease China’s bans on Korean content. Merch partnerships with Hasbro and Mattel brought dolls, action figures, and playsets to stores.
A short film, Debut: A K-Pop Demon Hunters Story, rated in September 2025, explores the group’s early days. Fortnite added a Demon Rush mode with Huntr/x skins in October, letting players fight demons to the beat.
The movie’s themes of friendship and identity resonated worldwide. Rumi’s line to Celine—”Why didn’t you love ALL of me?”—hit hard for many on identity struggles. Fans dressed as characters for Halloween, with costumes topping Google trends.
Eyes on a Sequel: Huntr/x Returns in 2029
Talks for K-Pop Demon Hunters 2 started in August 2025, with Sony and Netflix finalizing deals by November 5. The sequel aims for a 2029 release, giving time for the detailed animation. Kang and Appelhans are in advanced talks to return, focusing on unexplored backstories like Rumi’s parents.
The first film ends with a blue Honmoon, hinting at flaws that could let demons return. Gwi-Ma’s defeat feels temporary, setting up more battles. Netflix chairman Dan Lin said they want to “explore what could be the next adventure for Huntr/x” while keeping the original flair.
Plans include expanding the franchise with a stage musical and live-action ideas, though creators lean animated. A prequel short is in early stages. With the Grammy buzz, Oscar nods for Best Animated Feature and Original Song seem likely.
The cast and crew celebrated the nominations with excitement. Rei Ami joked about a chandelier performance at the Grammys. The vocalists performed Golden on The Tonight Show in October 2025, drawing huge crowds.
K-Pop Demon Hunters continues to stream on Netflix, with the sing-along version available since August 25, 2025. Its blend of catchy tunes and heartfelt stories keeps viewers coming back, proving music can fight demons—and top the world.
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