KPop Demon Hunters Dominates Animation and Music
Netflix-Sony Pictures Animation’s “KPop Demon Hunters” claimed two major victories, cementing its position as a frontrunner for the upcoming Academy Awards.
Wins Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song
The animated sensation triumphed in the Best Animated Feature category, outshining competitors including “Arco,” “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle,” “Elio,” “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain,” and “Zootopia 2”. This victory came just one week after securing the same honor at the Critics Choice Awards, establishing a clear pattern of recognition heading into Oscar season.
Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans accepted the award alongside producer Michelle Wong. Kang, who became the first Asian woman to win this category, expressed gratitude to “everyone who believed that a movie so deeply rooted in Korean culture would resonate with global audiences”.
Simultaneously, the film’s breakout hit “Golden” secured the Best Original Song award, marking the first time a song from an animated film has won at the Globes since Prince’s “The Song of the Heart” from Happy Feet in 2007. The chart-topping anthem spent eight weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and reigned over the Billboard Global 200 for 14 consecutive weeks.
Ejae’s Emotional Speech Resonates with Global Audience
Singer-songwriter EJAE (Kim Eun-Jae), who co-wrote “Golden” and voiced the character Rumi, delivered a tearful acceptance speech that quickly resonated across social media platforms. “When I was a little girl, I worked tirelessly for 10 years to fulfill one dream, to become a K-pop idol, and I was rejected and disappointed that my voice wasn’t good enough,” she revealed.
EJAE continued, “So I leaned on songs and music to get through it. Now I’m here as a singer and songwriter”. Her journey from rejection to international acclaim struck a chord with viewers worldwide as she dedicated the award “to people who have had doors closed on them”.
The speech reached its emotional peak with a powerful message: “I can confidently say rejection is redirection. So never give up, it’s never too late to shine like you were born to be”.
Beyond its Golden Globe triumphs, “KPop Demon Hunters” has earned unprecedented success. It became Netflix’s most-watched film of all time and has secured 10 nominations at the upcoming Annie Awards. The film chronicles the adventures of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group whose members fight monsters from the underworld, offering themes of self-acceptance and empowerment that have resonated globally.
As director Chris Appelhans noted in his acceptance speech, the film stands as “a love letter to music and the power it has to connect us, to make us see some kind of shared humanity”.
Adolescence Sweeps Limited Series Categories
Netflix’s limited series “Adolescence” dominated the television categories, claiming an impressive sweep of four major awards. The British drama about a teenage boy accused of murder cemented its status as an awards powerhouse after previously securing multiple Emmy wins.
Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, and Erin Doherty Win Acting Awards
Stephen Graham claimed Best Actor in a Limited Series for his portrayal of Eddie, father to a troubled teen. During his acceptance speech, Graham expressed gratitude to his fellow nominees, noting their “outstanding performances across the board”. He dedicated the award to his cast and crew, specifically thanking Christine Tremarco who played his wife, calling her “the most beautiful dance partner”. Graham’s emotional moment came when he acknowledged his wife Hannah Walters, stating, “You’ve saved my life”.
Sixteen-year-old Owen Cooper made history as the second youngest star ever to win a Golden Globe. His victory in the Supporting Actor category continued his record-breaking awards season run. In his heartfelt acceptance speech, Cooper reflected on his journey, saying, “I took a risk, and I went to drama classes. I was the only boy there. It was embarrassing, but I got through it”. He added, “I’m still very much an apprentice. I’m still learning every day”.
Erin Doherty completed the acting sweep by winning Supporting Actress. Accordingly, her speech resonated with many as she highlighted mental health awareness, remarking, “Life can be tough, mental health is everything, so thank you therapists”.
Jack Thorne’s Speech Highlights Youth and Social Responsibility
The series creator Jack Thorne delivered a powerful acceptance speech upon winning Best Limited Series that addressed misconceptions about the show. “Some think our show is about how we should be frightened of young people. It’s not. It’s about the filth and the debris we have laid in their path,” Thorne declared.
Thorne emphasized that “Adolescence” aims to confront how toxic online culture affects teenagers rather than criticizing youth themselves. Throughout his speech, he praised the young cast including Cooper, Amari Bacchus, Amélie Pease, Fatima Bojang, and Kaine Davis as “proof the world can be better”.
Consequently, Thorne concluded with a call for societal responsibility: “Removing hate is our generation’s responsibility. It requires thought from the top down”. This message reinforced the series’ exploration of serious themes like incel culture, social media’s impact on teenagers, and young men’s attitudes toward women.
Sinners and The Secret Agent Surprise with Major Wins
Two unexpected triumphs emerged in major categories as “The Secret Agent” and “Sinners” secured significant wins against formidable competition.
Wagner Moura Becomes First Brazilian to Win Best Actor – Drama
History unfolded as Wagner Moura claimed Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for “The Secret Agent,” becoming the first Brazilian man to win a Golden Globe for acting. The 49-year-old actor triumphed over high-profile nominees including Oscar Isaac, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B. Jordan, Jeremy Allen White, and Joel Edgerton.
In his powerful acceptance speech, Moura reflected on the film’s themes: “The Secret Agent is a film about memory — or the lack of memory — and generational trauma. I think if trauma can be passed along generations, values can too”. In the political thriller directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, Moura portrays Armando, a former professor hiding while protecting his young son during Brazil’s military dictatorship of the 1970s.
Ludwig Göransson Wins Best Score for Sinners
In addition, composer Ludwig Göransson secured his second Golden Globe with a Best Original Score win for “Sinners”. The victory marked his sixth nomination overall, as he prevailed over acclaimed composers Alexandre Desplat, Jonny Greenwood, Max Richter, Hans Zimmer, and Kangding Ray.
Göransson’s blues-influenced score for the Ryan Coogler-directed vampire film complemented the story set in 1932 Mississippi. The award was not presented during the live broadcast—a decision that prompted criticism from industry figures. As noted by Hans Zimmer, “The composer has such an important role in making films… Our first job is to remind him [the director] why he did this film in the first place”.
The film itself, which collected $368.20 million globally, also won the cinematic and box office achievement award at the ceremony.
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