“KPop Demon Hunters” Wins Big at the Golden Globes With Emotional Triumph

“KPop Demon Hunters” emerged as one of the biggest winners at the Golden Globe Awards, taking home best animated feature and best original song for its breakout hit, “Golden.” The Netflix phenomenon continues its remarkable awards-season run, blending pop spectacle with deeply personal storytelling.

Accepting the award for best original song were songwriters EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, and Lee Hee-joon. An emotional EJAE shared her personal journey with the audience, revealing that she spent a decade chasing her dream of becoming a K-pop idol before facing repeated rejection.

“When I was a little girl, I worked tirelessly for 10 years to fill one dream, to become a K-pop idol, and I was rejected,” she said through tears. “I was disappointed that my voice wasn’t good enough.” EJAE added that she is proud to now be part of a song that helps people of all ages embrace who they are and push through hardship.

After Sonnenblick thanked the teams at Netflix and Sony Animation, EJAE dedicated the award to those who have faced rejection, calling it “redirection.” She closed by quoting lyrics from “Golden,” saying, “It’s never too late to shine like you were born to be.”

In the category, “Golden” beat out strong competition including “Dream as One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash, “I Lied to You” from Sinners, two songs from Wicked: For Good, and “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams.

In animation, KPop Demon Hunters triumphed over Arco, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, Elio, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, and Zootopia 2.

Co-director Maggie Kang, who shared directing duties with Chris Appelhans, made history as the first Asian woman to win the Golden Globe for best animated feature. During her acceptance speech, Kang thanked those who believed in a film “so deeply rooted in Korean culture.” She explained that the creative team wanted to portray women as they truly know them—strong, bold, silly, strange, and unapologetically human.

The previous Asian winner in the category was Hayao Miyazaki, who won in 2023 for The Boy and the Heron.

The Golden Globe wins come just a week after KPop Demon Hunters was named best animated feature at the Critics Choice Awards, where it also won best song for “Golden.” EJAE has previously said that being bilingual was a key strength she brought to the project, allowing Korean lyrics to be woven naturally into the music.

Last year, Rei Ami, the singing voice of Zoey in the film, spoke about the movie’s impact, noting how women of color and Korean women often feel they must work twice as hard for the same recognition. She described the film as a powerful example of individual struggles coming together to create something that resonates worldwide.

“KPop Demon Hunters” received three Golden Globe nominations in total, including cinematic and box office achievement. Since debuting on Netflix in June, the film has become the streamer’s most popular movie of all time, holding the No. 1 spot for weeks. Three of its songs—“Golden,” “Your Idol,” and “Soda Pop”—have also enjoyed extended runs on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

The success has extended beyond streaming. Netflix, typically cautious about theatrical releases, brought sing-along versions of the film to theaters for special fan events. The first release earned around $18 million in just two days, with a later Halloween run adding another $5 million to $6 million—an impressive feat for a movie already widely available online.

With Golden Globe wins, Grammy nominations, chart-topping music, and box office success, “KPop Demon Hunters” has cemented itself as more than just an animated hit—it’s a cultural moment built on resilience, representation, and the belief that rejection can lead to something even greater.