The Netflix sensation 'KPop Demon Hunters' has officially entered the race for Hollywood's highest honour, securing eligibility for the Best Animated Feature category at the 98th Academy Awards. This development positions the film among thirty-five other contenders vying for the prestigious Oscar.
The Path to Oscar Qualification
On Friday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled its official lists of films eligible across the animated, documentary, and international feature categories, setting the stage for the awards ceremony next year. Despite being primarily a streaming title, 'KPop Demon Hunters' met the Academy's rigorous criteria through a qualifying theatrical run in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco during June. Interestingly, its UK cinema release did not fulfil the requirements for BAFTA consideration.
Other notable animated films that qualified include Neon's 'Arco', Disney's 'Elio' and 'Zootopia 2', and the highly anticipated 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle' from Crunchyroll and Sony. The absence of the Chinese blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2' from the list of thirty-five eligible titles was particularly noteworthy.
A Record-Breaking Cultural Phenomenon
The film's Oscar campaign is bolstered by its staggering commercial success. Netflix has declared 'KPop Demon Hunters' its most-watched film of all time, with viewers clocking more than 541 million hours globally. Its cultural impact extends beyond streaming; the soundtrack is the highest-charting of 2025, placing eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
Furthermore, the film demonstrated its box office potential during a theatrical release in August, where it reportedly earned an estimated $18 million. This performance would have likely topped the charts had Netflix officially reported its theatrical earnings. The film received an additional cinema release over the Halloween weekend, capitalising on its popularity.
What Comes Next for the Demon Hunters?
Fans of the animated hit will have to wait until January 22 to learn if it has secured a nomination for Best Animated Feature. Industry experts also widely anticipate the film will be a strong contender in the Best Original Song category, with its track 'Golden' among the submitted entries.
This is not Netflix's first foray into the animated Oscar race; the streamer won its first Animated Feature Oscar in 2022 for Guillermo del Toro's 'Pinocchio'. The 98th Oscars ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET.
In other categories, the Academy has identified 201 documentaries and 86 international features as eligible. Shortlists for these categories will be revealed on December 16.
