The global K-pop phenomenon continues its unstoppable run with three massive Golden Globe nominations, chart dominance, and a historic milestone for EJAE.
In a year full of cinematic surprises, box-office shocks, and streaming wars, one animated musical continues to dominate the cultural conversation like no other — KPop Demon Hunters. And now, the global blockbuster has added another jewel to its crown: three major Golden Globe nominations, including Best Animated Film, Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, and Best Original Song for the chart-smashing anthem “Golden.”
But the biggest headline of all?
EJAE has officially become the first Korean-American nominee in Golden Globe history for Best Original Song — a milestone sending shockwaves across Hollywood, the K-pop industry, and global fanbases.
The song, performed by Huntr/x (EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami) and crafted by an international powerhouse team including EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, DO, 24 and Teddy, has now cemented itself as a cultural landmark.
And trust us — the entertainment world is buzzing like never before.
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A Historic Musical Moment: EJAE’s Emotional Milestone
Just hours after the nominations dropped, EJAE spoke to Variety, her voice filled with excitement, disbelief and overwhelming gratitude.
“It feels incredible,” she said, describing the flood of fan love and historic recognition. “Just being able to be recognized by literally everyone has been such an honor. It’s surreal.”
Songwriter Mark Sonnenblick echoed the sentiment, calling the moment “overwhelming,” adding that crafting a K-pop musical for a global audience was a creative challenge that paid off beyond their wildest dreams.
“This was a story that had never been seen before,” Sonnenblick said. “How do we tell a musical story with K-pop? That’s what made this journey special.”
If early buzz is any indication, “Golden” is emerging as a front-runner in the Best Original Song category — but the competition is fierce. Joining the category are:
- “Dream as One” – Avatar: Fire and Ash
- “I Lied to You” – Sinners
- “No Place Like Home” – Wicked: For Good
- “The Girl in the Bubble” – Wicked: For Good
- “Train Dreams” – Train Dreams
Still, industry insiders say the emotional power, cultural resonance and chart-topping impact of “Golden” give it a major advantage.
KPop Demon Hunters: The Global Wave That Won’t Slow Down
When KPop Demon Hunters premiered on Netflix in June, audiences knew they were getting something special — but no one predicted just how massive it would become.
The animated blockbuster quickly became Netflix’s most-watched film of all time, spending weeks at No. 1 globally and launching multiple songs onto the Billboard Hot 100, including “Golden,” “Your Idol” and “Soda Pop.”
The film’s popularity even forced Netflix — a platform notorious for skipping theatrical releases — to do something unprecedented: a sing-along theatrical re-release.
And the numbers? Eye-popping.
- August Sing-Along Release: ₹150+ crore equivalent worldwide (approx. $18M)
- Halloween Special Release: ₹40–50 crore equivalent (approx. $5–6M)
The kicker? This all happened months after the movie was already streaming.
Fans screamed. Theatres roared. And the film proved that animated musicals powered by K-pop are not just a trend — they are a global cinematic revolution.
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From Grammys to Globes: A Rare Awards Season Sweep
Just weeks after becoming a multiple Grammy nominee, including a historic Song of the Year nod, KPop Demon Hunters is now a Golden Globes heavyweight too.
In the Best Animated Film category, it faces strong contenders like:
- Arco
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle
- Elio
- Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
- Zootopia 2
But critics, analysts and fans all agree: KPop Demon Hunters is the one to beat.
Awards pundits say the film’s hybrid of global cultures, its explosive soundtrack, and the K-pop industry’s massive fanbase give it a winning edge.
How “Golden” Became the Heartbeat of the Global Phenomenon
While the film is packed with bangers, “Golden” has clearly become the anthem fans cannot let go of.
EJAE even revealed that it was the last song written for the film — and ironically, the first one she felt truly confident about.
“There were so many revisions,” she said with a laugh. “‘Golden’ was the first one where everything clicked. The chemistry was perfect.”
She joked that performing it live wasn’t originally part of the plan: “When I was figuring out the melody with Mark, I was like, ‘I hope I never sing it live.’”
But judging by the millions of streams and fan covers, audiences worldwide wouldn’t mind hearing her sing it live every day.
Huntr/x: A Global Beat That Broke Every Rule
Huntr/x — the fictional K-pop girl group created for the film — has now become a real-world phenomenon.
They are:
- One of the highest-charting K-pop acts in U.S. Spotify history
- Performers on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
- Featured at the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Stars at multiple I Heart Radio concerts
Not bad for a group that technically doesn’t “exist.”
Their popularity further proves the global reach of K-pop, and how seamlessly it blends into mainstream Western award circuits.
Cinematic and Box Office Achievement: A New Era for Animation
One of the biggest surprises this year was KPop Demon Hunters landing in the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement category — usually dominated by Hollywood giants.
Other nominees include:
- Avatar: Fire and Ash
- F1: The Movie
- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
- Sinners
- Wicked: For Good
- Weapons
- Zootopia 2
But the biggest difference is that KPop Demon Hunters is the only nominee born from a streaming-first studio — yet it still smashed theatrical records.
A complete disruption of the system? Absolutely.
A warning to traditional studios? Definitely.
A sign of what the next decade of cinema looks like? Without question.
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