Netflix’s 'KPop Demon Hunters' Wins Best Animated Feature | Oscars 2026

2 weeks ago 13

Published Mar 15, 2026, 7:33 PM EDT

Chris is a Senior News Writer for Collider. He can be found in an IMAX screen, with his eyes watering and his ears bleeding for his own pleasure. He joined the news team in 2022 and accidentally fell upwards into a senior position despite his best efforts.

For reasons unknown, he enjoys analyzing box office receipts, giant sharks, and has become known as the go-to man for all things Bosch, Mission: Impossible and Christopher Nolan in Collider's news division. Recently, he found himself yeehawing along to the Dutton saga on the Yellowstone Ranch.

He is proficient in sarcasm, wit, Photoshop and working unfeasibly long hours. Amongst his passions sit the likes of the history of the Walt Disney Company, the construction of theme parks, steam trains and binge-watching Gilmore Girls with a coffee that is just hot enough to scald him.

His obsession with the Apple TV+ series Silo is the subject of mockery within the Senior News channel, where his feelings about Taylor Sheridan's work are enough to make his fellow writers roll their eyes.

Especially at the Oscars, HUNTR/X don't miss. For a movie that already felt like a phenomenon long before Oscar night even began, KPop Demon Hunters just made the leap from breakout hit to full-blown Academy Award winner. Netflix’s animated juggernaut has officially won Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Oscars, giving the streamer one of its biggest animation victories ever and cementing KPop Demon Hunters as one of the defining movie success stories of the past year. The film had already been officially nominated in the category by the Academy, alongside a Best Original Song nod for “Golden.”

The film was directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan, from a story by Kang. The voice cast is led by Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun. And honestly, this may only be the beginning. Netflix has already confirmed a sequel, with Kang and Appelhans returning to direct as part of a new multiyear writing and directing partnership across animation.

Strap on Your Hockey Masks; It's Friday the 13th — The Collider Movie Quiz!

Because today is Friday the 13th, let's march our way through the iconic slasher franchise. Ch-ch-ch-ch. Ha-ha-ha-ha.

How Good Is 'KPop Demon Hunters'?

Collider’s review stated that KPop Demon Hunters embraces one of entertainment’s most delightfully ridiculous traditions: the idea that music can literally save the world. Following in the footsteps of stories like Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and Studio 666, the animated film blends pop stardom with supernatural warfare, delivering a colorful, energetic adventure where catchy songs and demon-slaying go hand in hand. Jeff Ewing felt that the movie leans into its absurd premise with confidence, creating a fantasy-action story that feels both playful and surprisingly heartfelt.

"At the end of the day, KPop Demon Hunters is a simple story about a trio of demon-hunting pop songstresses combating an evil boy band through the power of song and weaponry. It's a beautifully bonkers fantasy premise that works, thanks to gorgeous animation and choreography, fun lore, a set of talented voice performances, and catchy tunes. There are questions left unanswered that do actually matter, and elements that could be explored with greater depth. That said, there's plenty of open space for future world-building and exploration, and it's a charming ode to the magic of music."

KPop Demon Hunters is streaming now on Netflix.