KPop Demon Hunters Included in 2026 Oscars Best Animated Feature Contenders

Post by : Mina Rahman

The animated feature “KPop Demon Hunters” has officially entered the Oscars race. This Netflix sensation is now one of the 35 films competing for the Best Animated Feature accolade at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has published the eligibility list, which includes categories for animated films, documentaries, and international features.

Although it gained significant traction on Netflix, the film also completed a qualifying theatrical run in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco during June, fulfilling the Academy’s eligibility criteria. However, its screenings in the UK did not qualify for other international awards.

Other notable animated films vying for this year’s Oscar include Disney’s Elio and Zootopia 2, Neon’s Arco, GKids’ Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, as well as Netflix's In Your Dreams, and the Crunchyroll/Sony films Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. The Chinese film Ne Zha 2 is not included in this list.

To date, “KPop Demon Hunters” is Netflix's most-viewed film with over 541 million hours streamed globally. Its soundtrack has dominated the 2025 charts, featuring eight tracks on the Billboard Hot 100. The film's limited theatrical release in August garnered an impressive $18 million, followed by a Halloween weekend re-release. Netflix secured the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2022 for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.

Along with animated features, 201 documentary films and 86 international movies are also in contention. This includes titles like Sentimental Value (Norway), Sirât (Spain), The Secret Agent (Brazil), It Was Just an Accident (France), The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia), and My Father’s Shadow (UK). The co-production 2000 Meters to Andriivka is eligible in both documentary and international categories. Shortlists are set to be revealed on December 16.

Fans of “KPop Demon Hunters” will have to wait until January 22 for the Oscar nominations to see if it secures a spot in the animated feature category. The film is also favored to contend for Original Song with the hit single “Golden” submitted for consideration.