4 Minutes
Netflix animation turns cultural milestone
KPop Demon Hunters, the Netflix-produced animated feature from Sony Pictures Animation, has crossed another threshold: its original song "Golden" just won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Beyond a single trophy, the win signals a bigger moment for K-pop’s presence in global cinema and streaming-driven pop culture.
The film was already a streaming phenomenon. In 2025 it became Netflix’s most-watched title, registering 20.5 billion minutes viewed. At a runtime of 99 minutes, that equates to roughly 207 million complete viewings — a staggering level of audience engagement for an animated feature rooted in K-pop aesthetics and action-comedy storytelling.
Who wrote and performed "Golden"?
"Golden" is performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Ri Amy, and its songwriting credits include EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Do, 24 and Teddy. The track was nominated in four Grammy categories and emerged victorious in the visual media songwriting category — the first time a K-pop song has ever taken that prize. That historic edge is part industry recognition, part cultural validation.
Although the trio did not perform live on the Grammy stage, Audrey Nuna — who voices the character Mira in the film — has spoken publicly about what the nomination meant. She emphasized representation: seeing three Korean artists acknowledged on a major awards platform can reshape how young people imagine their own creative possibilities.
Industry context and comparisons
This moment mirrors a larger industry trend where streaming hits translate into awards buzz and even limited theatrical releases. Netflix opted for a short cinema run for KPop Demon Hunters after its streaming surge, a strategy previously used for high-profile streaming properties like the Stranger Things finale and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. In that sense, the film joins a new class of digitally launched titles that cross over into traditional theatrical exhibition.
Musically and tonally, KPop Demon Hunters sits alongside recent animated films that push beyond family fare — think Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in how it blends cutting-edge music with bold visual design and a genre-bending narrative. But its direct connection to K-pop culture gives it a distinct identity different from Western pop-driven animated musicals.
Critical and fan reaction
Critics have praised the film’s kinetic animation and high-energy soundtrack, while fans have created viral choreography, fan art and online deep dives into the film’s sound design. The Grammy win amplified that buzz, turning social media celebration into mainstream headlines and reinforcing K-pop’s influence over global pop soundscapes.
Trivia: Golden’s multiple nominations marked one of the rare occasions in Grammy history where a song from a streaming-first animated film contended directly with veteran songwriters and bands such as Elton John & Brandi Carlile and Nine Inch Nails.
"KPop Demon Hunters isn’t just a streaming success — it’s a cultural bridge," says film critic Anna Kovacs. "The Grammy win for 'Golden' confirms that soundtracks anchored in global pop traditions can compete with, and even outshine, more conventional film music. It’s a win for hybrid storytelling."
Whether you follow K-pop, animation, or streaming trends, the film’s trajectory — from Netflix record-setter to Grammy winner and limited theatrical release — is a useful case study in how modern franchises are built across platforms and cultures. The win for "Golden" is more than a trophy: it’s a sign of changing tastes and new pathways for international artists in cinema.
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