Netflix Anime “KPop Demon Hunters” OST Dominates Billboard and Wins Critic’s Choice Award

The original soundtrack for Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” is sweeping major U.S. music charts, achieving global success.

The film’s main theme song, “Golden,” held the top spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for 8 weeks—an exceptionally long run for an OST. It rose 23 places from the previous week to finish in second place, remaining on the chart for 28 consecutive weeks. Although it dropped in rank due to holiday carols dominating the charts, it rebounded once those songs left the chart after Christmas.

Along with this, three other OST tracks that had fallen off the charts reentered the rankings, bringing “KPop Demon Hunters” to have a total of 4 songs on the singles chart this week. “Soda Pop” reached position 35, while “Your Idol” and “How It's Done” landed at 41st and 45th respectively. On Billboard’s main album chart, the “KPop Demon Hunters” OST album secured third place.

“The Golden”’s success was amplified by its use in key scenes of the film, where the fictional girl group HUNTRIX achieves their goals. Along with its worldwide popularity, it topped music charts both domestically and internationally. Notably, it won the Best Song award at the “2026 Critic’s Choice Awards” held in Santa Monica, California. Critic’s Choice is a highly respected ceremony organized by the Critics’ Choice Association, comprising 600 film and television critics and journalists from the United States and Canada.

“The Golden” has also been nominated for Best Original Song at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, set to take place on the 11th, with its victory attracting significant attention. Its creation involved producers who spearhead K-pop trends such as TEDDY from The Black Label, IDO, and 24, adding further buzz to the track. The producers from The Black Label also handled the production of the other 3 OST tracks for “KPop Demon Hunters,” driving the film’s success and contributing to the global expansion of K-content beyond K-pop itself.