February 2, 2026, 12:32 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Few films have shaped Netflix in 2025 like “KPop Demon Hunters”—and simultaneously brought the streaming service so much success. Anyone who thought the boom ended in 2025 has been proven wrong. The production has once again won a prestigious award.
“KPop Demon Hunters” stayed in Netflix’s global top 10 for weeks last summer. It is the only animated film among the most-watched Netflix movies ever and now stands unchallenged at No. 1. Months after its streaming debut, the film even hit theaters and garnered attention there.
A reason for the success of “KPop Demon Hunters” was not only the story and its artistic execution, but especially the soundtrack. Almost three months after the film’s release, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while four songs simultaneously appeared in the Billboard Top 10. Particularly, the single “Golden” by Huntr/x broke a 56-year-old record for fictional animated bands with six weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Now, this very song has been honored with a Grammy.
Historic Grammy Win for “Golden”
The award for best song for visual media at the 68th Grammy Awards is considered a historic moment in the music industry. It marks the first time a K-pop title has won in a Grammy category, as reported by “Variety.” Honored were not only the three singers, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, and lead singer and songwriter EJAE, but also Teddy, 24, and Ido, who also contributed to the song.
Overall, “Golden” from the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” was nominated in four categories, including Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo or Group Performance. However, “Golden” did not prevail in these categories. The win is still considered a milestone for K-pop, as the genre has remained without an award at the Grammys despite numerous nominations in recent years.
This Netflix Film Has Broken a 56-Year-Old Record
Most Successful Netflix Film Receives Special Honor
Netflix Hit with Record Numbers
“KPop Demon Hunters” is a production of Sony Pictures Animation. Since its release in June 2025, the film has become the biggest film success in Netflix’s history. Despite its late start in the year, it led the streaming charts for months.
According to the market research company Nielsen, it reached 20.5 billion minutes of viewing time in the U.S. alone, making it the most-streamed film of 2025. This equates to approximately 207 million complete film views with a runtime of 99 minutes. Netflix itself reports more than 325 million views.
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Soundtrack and International Significance
The film’s soundtrack also achieved great success. Besides “Golden,” the songs “Your Idol” and “Soda Pop” made it onto the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. “Golden” itself reached top positions in international charts multiple times and was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song.
EJAE also made history with this success. She is the first Korean-American songwriter to be nominated for a Grammy in the Song of the Year category. The success of “Golden” is seen as a symbol of the growing global significance of K-pop and its increasing recognition in the international music industry.