Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters Breaks 8-Year Animation Record, Rules ARIA Charts for Third Week
Virtual K-pop groups from animated film achieve unprecedented chart success, surpassing real-world superstars
Netflix's animated sensation "KPop Demon Hunters" has shattered records, becoming the first animated film soundtrack to dominate Australia's ARIA Albums Chart for three consecutive weeks since "Trolls" in 2017.
The virtual K-pop phenomenon shows no signs of slowing down, with four tracks from the soundtrack currently sitting in the ARIA singles top 10: "Golden" at #2, "Your Idol" at #4, "Soda Pop" at #7, and "How It's Done" at #9.
What makes this achievement remarkable is that these chart-toppers come from fictional groups. The BBC highlighted that HUNTR/X and the Saja Boys topped the US Spotify chart, with HUNTR/X "surpassing Blackpink as the highest-charting female K-pop group" and the Saja Boys becoming "the highest charting male K-pop group in US Spotify history," surpassing BTS.
"Golden," performed by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X, has reached #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 and claimed the top spot on both the Global 200 and Global Excl. US charts, becoming the first fictional act to achieve this milestone.
The soundtrack's authenticity stems from its star-studded production team. Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans enlisted THEBLACKLABEL co-founder Teddy Park (Blackpink, Taeyang), Grammy winner Lindgren (BTS, TWICE), and Grammy-nominated Stephen Kirk (BTS, Tomorrow X Together).
Real artists voice the fictional groups: HUNTR/X is performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI, while the Saja Boys feature Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, and samUIL Lee. The soundtrack also includes contributions from TWICE members.
The soundtrack hit #2 on the Billboard 200, earning 75,000 equivalent album units and logging 96 million on-demand streams-the biggest streaming week for a soundtrack in over three years. Seven of the film's tracks appeared in the top 25 on Spotify's US daily chart, a feat never accomplished by virtual bands.
The success has caught the attention of real K-pop stars. BTS member Jung Kook revealed he had shed tears at the end of the film during a live broadcast on Weverse.
Released on June 20, 2025, the Sony Pictures Animation film directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans follows K-pop girl group HUNTR/X, who lead double lives as demon hunters while facing off against rival boy band Saja Boys, whose members are secretly demons.
The film made Netflix history as the first Netflix film ever to reach a new viewing peak in its fifth week of release. Netflix is promoting the film for Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Oscars, with "Golden" competing for Best Original Song.
Critics have praised the soundtrack's authenticity. PopVerse stated the music "feels like a great KPop album" that "showcases why Korea has become a focal point for pop music in recent years". The production team focused on bringing emotional depth to characters rather than simply mimicking K-pop, weaving in THEBLACKLABEL's signature elements organically.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos sees potential in integrating virtual artists with video-on-demand entertainment: "The mix of music and pop culture, getting it right matters... the storytelling matters, the innovation and animation itself matters".
As "KPop Demon Hunters" maintains its ARIA chart dominance, it has proven that high-quality virtual K-pop content can compete with-and even surpass-real-world superstars, setting new standards for animated soundtracks and virtual artist success in the streaming era.
