Fictional K-Pop Group HUNTR/X Breaks Real Music Records with 'Golden' Hit
Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" has created an unexpected music phenomenon. The fictional girl group HUNTR/X, voiced by real artists EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI, has achieved something unprecedented in music history with their song "Golden."
"Golden" reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, making HUNTR/X the first fictional act to achieve this milestone. The song has maintained its dominance with 98.5 million streams (up 20% week-over-week) and 8,000 copies sold worldwide during its peak week.
On the Billboard Hot 100, "Golden" peaked at No. 4, marking its fourth consecutive week on the chart. This makes HUNTR/X part of an exclusive group of fictional acts to reach the Hot 100's top 10, joining the ranks of Hannah Montana, the Partridge Family, and the Archies.
The song's success in Korea proves its authentic K-pop appeal. "Golden" became the third song to achieve a perfect all-kill in South Korea in 2025, following IVE's "REBEL HEART" and BIGBANG's G-Dragon's "TOO BAD." This rare achievement means the song dominated all major Korean music platforms simultaneously.
In South Korea, "Golden" charted at number one on the Digital Chart and debuted at number two on the weekly Global K-pop Chart. Korean netizens have embraced the track, with many praising its emotional depth and production quality on online forums.
"KPop Demon Hunters" premiered on Netflix on June 20, 2025, quickly becoming a global hit. The film reached Netflix's Top 10 in all 93 countries tracked and hit No. 1 in 33 countries including South Korea, Brazil, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.
The soundtrack's success extends beyond "Golden." All eight original songs from the film currently chart on the Billboard Hot 100, with four tracks in the top 40. The rivalry between HUNTR/X and the fictional boy band Saja Boys has created multiple chart hits, with Saja Boys' "Your Idol" and "Soda Pop" also performing strongly.
What sets "Golden" apart from typical movie songs is its genuine K-pop production. Executive music producer Ian Eisendrath explained that "this was a film that was made by Korean hit-makers, and the song couldn't be our approximation of the K-pop hit - it actually had to be one".
The track was co-written by EJAE, who also voices the lead character Rumi. Critics praised "Golden" for its "soaring melodies and chest-thumping inspiration," calling it the "unifying anthem for HUNTR/X" that works both as a narrative device and a standalone pop song.
The film's cultural authenticity has attracted attention from established K-pop stars. BTS's Jungkook was spotted watching the series online, prompting Netflix to change their header and bio to celebrate his viewership. This endorsement from one of K-pop's biggest names validated the film's respectful treatment of Korean culture.
The Korean diaspora has particularly embraced the film. Many Korean-Americans have expressed that it's rare to see Korean culture "centered and wildly celebrated in global media rather than watered down or made 'palatable.'"
Global Success:
- No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S.
- No. 1 in Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan
- Top 10 in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, and US
Streaming Milestones:
- First female K-pop group song to top the US Spotify daily chart
- First fictional act to reach top 10 on US Streaming Songs chart in its 12-year history
The "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200, becoming the highest-charting soundtrack of 2025. It earned 75,000 equivalent album units and logged 96 million on-demand streams - the biggest streaming week for a soundtrack in over three years.
The success has commercial implications beyond music. Netflix's online shop saw a 400% rise in new customers following the film's launch, with KPop Demon Hunters merchandise becoming top sellers.
"Golden" represents more than just a catchy song from an animated movie. It demonstrates how authentic cultural representation, combined with quality production and talented artists, can transcend the boundaries between fiction and reality.
The film's directors plan to submit "Golden" for Oscar consideration, potentially making it the first song from a fictional K-pop group to compete for an Academy Award.
As the phenomenon continues, "Golden" serves as proof that when creators approach cultural content with respect and authenticity, audiences worldwide will respond - even if the artists themselves are animated characters.
