Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” Soundtrack “Golden” Sets Historic Chart Records

The soundtrack for Netflix’s original animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” has dominated the global music market, achieving unprecedented success. Shortly after its release in June 2025, the film accumulated over 230 million views, becoming Netflix’s most-watched movie in history. The title track “Golden,” performed by the group Huntr/x (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI), stayed at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive weeks. This represents the longest reign at the top for a film soundtrack in the past decade, surpassing the five-week record held by “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from the 2022 film “Encanto.” It is also the longest-running number-one song by an animated group in Billboard history. After entering the singles chart in July, “Golden” remained on the chart for 13 weeks in total, holding the top spot for nine weeks in streaming rankings and in other categories such as sales. In the UK’s official charts, “Golden” stayed at number one for seven consecutive weeks during the week of September 19–25, setting a record as the longest-running K-pop song at the top there since Psy’s “Gangnam Style” in 2012. Other songs from the same film also achieved success, reaching historic milestones. “Soda Pop” by Saja Boys reached number three, while “Your Idol” reached number five. The fact that all three songs simultaneously entered the UK chart’s Top 5 is an unprecedented achievement in soundtrack history. On the Billboard Hot 100 as well, four tracks from the “Demon Hunters” soundtrack made it into the Top 10 at the same time. “Soda Pop” reached number five, “Your Idol” reached number six, and “How It's Done” reached number 10, marking the first time a single film’s music has had four tracks inside the Top 10 simultaneously. This success demonstrated the global potential of new content that combines K-pop with animation. The film’s director, Maggie Kang, stated at the Busan International Film Festival that seamlessly integrating Korean traditional elements with K-pop was key to its success. She explained, “It seems we were loved because we included a lot of Korean culture and explored universal themes like friendship and identity,” adding that K-pop was the film’s main selling point. Regarding a sequel, she hinted at future productions by saying, “There will definitely be more stories to tell.” The film created a new formula for success that spans streaming and theaters. Following its explosive success on streaming platforms, it brought fans together in theaters through a new format called “sing-along screenings,” offering a hybrid experience that combines digital and offline formats. This serves as an example of how content can go beyond being merely something to watch and become a space for participation.