The awards season has barely begun, and KPop Demon Hunters is already setting the pace.

Netflix’s animated juggernaut stormed the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, clinching two early victories, Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, signaling that the film’s pop-cultural reign is far from over.

The song win went to “Golden,” the anthemic track that has become inseparable from the film’s identity. Accepting the award were EJAE, who both voices the singing of lead character Rumi and co-wrote the song, alongside collaborator Mark Sonnenblick. Joining them onstage were Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, whose vocals complete Huntrix, the fictional K-pop girl group at the heart of the film.

“When writing this song, I found myself living vicariously through my character Rumi,” EJAE told the audience. “Her life and journey in the movie felt deeply familiar to me. The song needed to be an expression of hope—to convince herself that she could reach for her dreams.” She added that seeing the song resonate globally was “truly the greatest honor.”

Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans took the stage for the animated feature win, bringing along members of the voice and singing cast, an on-brand celebration for a film built on teamwork, spectacle, and sound.

Released to enormous anticipation, KPop Demon Hunters follows Huntrix, a polished K-pop trio with a double life: chart-topping idols by day, demon slayers by night. The premise, equal parts fantasy, action, and music video fever dream, struck an immediate chord with audiences worldwide.

The film has since become Netflix’s most-watched title of all time, a milestone fueled not only by its animation but by its soundtrack’s dominance. The album spent weeks inside the Billboard 200’s top tier, while “Golden” climbed all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, an unusual feat for an animated feature and a testament to its crossover appeal.