The New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) has named KPop Demon Hunters the year’s best animated feature. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the Netflix original feature, produced by Sony Pictures Animation, has emerged as one of 2025’s standout animated titles, rising above several big-studio contenders to claim the critics group’s top animation honor.
The NYFCC, the oldest film critics organization in the United States, has long been a strong bellwether for Academy Award nominations. Historically, the majority of NYFCC-recognized animated features have gone on to secure Oscar nods, and in recent years, the group has aligned with the Academy roughly half the time on the eventual winner; last year, the NYFCC picked Flow. The selection of KPop Demon Hunters immediately positions it as a serious contender as awards season accelerates.
Released globally on Netflix in June before receiving a limited theatrical sing-along rollout this fall, KPop Demon Hunters went on to become Netflix’s most watched original of all time and its highest-grossing film at the box office. The film follows HUNTR/X, a chart-topping K-pop girl group who secretly battle demonic forces between concert appearances.
The film’s original music has earned high praise, anchored by the hit single “Golden.” The KPDH soundtrack shattered multiple records and is the first animated feature OST to chart four singles in the Hot 100’s Top 10 simultaneously. With the NYFCC win now propelling it forward, the film enters the coming months with significant momentum in both the animated feature race and the music categories, where its soundtrack continues to draw acclaim.