Netflix’s #1 Rule Price KPop Demon Hunters’ Eligibility For One Main Movie Awards

KPop Demon Hunters is making ready to comb animated function classes throughout this awards season, however regardless of Netflix’s greatest efforts, it should sit out one main ceremony. The animated fantasy musical, following a trio of Ok-pop stars/demon hunters, remodeled Netflix this summer season, breaking the all-time viewership document and dominating music charts with its beloved soundtrack.

KPop Demon Hunters is presumed to be the winner of the 2026 Oscar for Greatest Animated Function, miles forward of Disney’s Zootopia 2 and quieter releases similar to Neon’s forthcoming Arco. The Netflix movie’s hit single “Golden” can be a contender for Greatest Authentic Music, which is a uniquely aggressive class this 12 months with submissions from Depraved: For Good and Sinners.

Whereas it additionally has a transparent path to successful Greatest Animated Function on the 2026 Golden Globes, KPop Demon Hunters is now formally ineligible for the BAFTAs. Like within the U.S., movies must have a qualifying theatrical launch within the UK to be eligible for the highest British movie awards. KPop Demon Hunters had a restricted launch earlier than its Netflix debut within the U.S., however went on to streaming elsewhere.

After sticking to its regular launch plan, Deadline stories that Netflix sought an exemption from the British Academy, as the foundations do permit for some “distinctive circumstances.” Nonetheless, Netflix’s formal attraction was rejected due to the brief length of the film’s time in theaters on the finish of August and for the Halloween weekend, which included places within the UK.

Resulting from its two weekend releases since changing into a worldwide phenomenon on streaming, KPop Demon Hunters has grossed $24.6 million worldwide. Netflix can be aiming to launch KPop Demon Hunters 2 someday in 2029, and could also be planning a much bigger theatrical launch forward of its streaming debut this time round, guaranteeing its eligibility for all of the awards.

This 12 months, the BAFTAs might be contemplating different animated entries, similar to Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, In Your Goals, and Ne Zha 2. And what candidate wins right here may present perception into how awards season might need gone for animation if KPop Demon Hunters hadn’t secured its win early with large viewers help.

It is probably not getting the BAFTA for Greatest Animated Movie, nevertheless it’s exhausting to really feel like this can be a enormous loss for KPop Demon Hunters when it’s seeing such record-breaking success elsewhere. It’s adored by critics and audiences, will win many different awards, and is seeking to be the beginning of a extremely profitable franchise that could possibly be equally lauded for years to return.