KPop Demon Hunters is the favourite to win two Academy Awards at this 12 months’s Oscars ceremony, however there are two movies that might doubtlessly upset the Netflix hit. Since debuting on the streaming service final 12 months, KPop Demon Hunters has develop into a serious hit with broader audiences and critics alike, incomes two Academy Award nominations.
That success might assist carry extra eyes to the Oscars, the place the movie is up for “Greatest Music” and “Greatest Animated Characteristic.” Nonetheless, whereas it is the closely favored winner, large upsets aren’t extraordinary on the Oscars. In actual fact, there are two essential darlings (together with one of many 12 months’s largest movies) that might snag these awards as a substitute.
Arco May Fly Away With The Greatest Animated Characteristic Oscar
In every other 12 months, Arco can be a possible frontrunner for the Greatest Animated Characteristic prize on the Academy Awards, however KPop Demon Hunters modified the equation this 12 months. After a prolonged profitable streak by Disney and Pixar within the 2010s (damaged up solely twice throughout your complete decade), the class has been way more aggressive in recent times.
That is per two of the critically acclaimed entries this 12 months, Arco and Zootopia 2. In that race, Arco‘s Hollywood backing, Studio Ghibli’s influenced visuals, and highly effective storytelling would have possible given it an edge over the enjoyable thriller narrative from Disney. Nonetheless, KPop Demon Hunters was too large of a success to disregard.
Particularly after it so completely dominated the popular culture dialog, KPop Demon Hunters looks like a pure winner. It helps that the movie can also be extremely well-made and a whole blast, setting itself as much as be a worthy winner. If something goes to upset it (and would arguably deserve the award simply as a lot), it will be Arco.
It is a terrific story that may match KPop Demon Hunters‘ musical attraction and stylized strategy with emotional depth and visible wonders, however even then, it appears like an extended shot. KPop Demon Hunters has been a dominant pressure in popular culture all 12 months, and that can possible carry it to the end line for Greatest Animated Characteristic.
Sinners May Pull A Big Upset By Successful Over “Golden”
It has been unimaginable to flee KPop Demon Hunters for the reason that summer season, with the movie’s debut on Netflix turning the soundtrack right into a sequence of radio hits. “Golden” was a real Billboard chart topper, serving as illustration of the soundtrack as a complete whereas additionally being only a nice music by itself deserves.
For a lot of the build-up to the nominations, it appeared like “Golden” was going to possible profit from a three-pronged race with “I Lied To You” from Sinners and one of many unique songs from Depraved: For Good. Nonetheless, the musical sequel struggled with critics compared to the earlier 12 months.
Whereas the musical sequel was a blockbuster success for Common, the sturdy competitors edged it out of the nominations. Because of this, “I Lied To You” has seen a surge in its probabilities. That is earlier than even moving into the truth that Sinners‘ nomination on this class is only one of many who the movie earned.
If Sinners retains choosing up steam at different awards ceremonies, it might develop into a juggernaut on Oscar evening. Provided that Sinners dominated the awards with a record-setting 16 nominations, it would not be unimaginable for “I Lied To You,” a genuinely transcendent second in the most effective films of 2025, to snag the win.
It might even come as a part of a tidal wave of assist for the film, which is predicted to do effectively. Nonetheless, that momentum has been blunted considerably by One Battle After One other, which continues to be anticipated by many to be the frontrunner for loads of awards. This would possibly undercut momentum spilling into each different class.
“I Lied To You” solely suffers due to the competitors. “Golden” grew to become greater than a fantastic scene in a incredible movie. Regardless of how good “I Lied To You” is — and it’s actually good — it is onerous to compete with the music of the summer season. A Sinners win on the Oscars, whereas doable, can be an upset for the ages.
8/10
- Location
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Los Angeles, CA
- Dates
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March 15, 2026
- Web site
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https://www.oscars.org/