Netflix’s blockbuster animated hit Kpop Demon Hunters continues its impressive run, now landing on the Academy’s official list of 35 films eligible for consideration in the Best Animated Feature category at the 2026 Oscars. The final nominees will be revealed on January 22.
The film qualified after combining its record-breaking streaming performance with a limited theatrical release in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco last June. It later expanded to 1,750 theaters for sing-along screenings in August, earning 18 million dollars during that run.
Other films eligible for next year’s animated feature category include Arco, Elio, Zootopia 2, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, In Your Dreams, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle, and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.
Kpop Demon Hunters remains Netflix’s most-watched movie ever, surpassing 541 million hours viewed worldwide. Its soundtrack has also been one of the year’s major successes, with eight tracks reaching top positions on global music charts. Beyond the animated feature category, the film is also a strong contender for Best Original Song with “Golden,” performed by the fictional K-pop group HUNTR/X, which has spent multiple weeks leading international rankings.
Fans will learn whether the film secures a nomination when the Academy announces the official list on January 22. The 98th Academy Awards will air live on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET.
Fuente: Billboard
