‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Soundtrack Tops Billboard 200 After 12 Weeks

The soundtrack for Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" has reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart, marking a significant achievement as the first soundtrack to top the chart in 2025 and the first animated film soundtrack to do so since Disney's "Encanto" in 2022. The album climbed steadily over 12 weeks, previously spending seven nonconsecutive weeks at No. 2, the longest wait for a runner-up position since 1977, before finally hitting No. 1 with 128,000 equivalent album units in its best sales week. The soundtrack also made history with four simultaneous top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including the No. 1 single "Golden," which has topped the Hot 100 for four weeks. Its success has been attributed to sing-along screening events, a deluxe album reissue, and a CD release, boosting both streaming and traditional album sales. Featuring collaborations from artists such as HUNTR/X, Andrew Choi, and others, the soundtrack's blend of cinematic production and pop hooks appeals across generations, reflecting the film's action-packed world. This achievement underscores the power of a story-driven, well-crafted soundtrack to captivate U.S. audiences and dominate mainstream music charts months after initial release.