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The juggernaut that is “KPop Demon Hunters” is the final BuzzMeter consensus pick, and several panelists have volunteered it should be “Golden” in the original song category as well. The only mild surprise here is the inclusion of box-office bomb “Elio” over “Ne Zha 2,” the highest-grossing animated feature, highest-grossing Chinese film and highest-grossing non-English-language film ever. The panel had the two neck-and-neck in Round 3; “Elio” prevailed with the academy.
“No category is so completely over like animated feature,” says Robert Daniels. “ ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is sealing that Honmoon on Oscar night,” sings Katie Walsh. Amy Nicholson didn’t love the field of nominees, but says, “I don’t mind toasting a populist victory.” “Go with the one playing in the background in the house of every academy member with kids — or grandchildren,” advises Glenn Whipp.
Follow along throughout the season as our expert panel predicts the nominees and then the winners of the 2026 Oscars.
1. “KPop Demon Hunters”
2. “Arco”
3. “Zootopia 2”
4. “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain”
5. “Elio”
RogerEbert.com
Robert Daniels
1. “KPop Demon Hunters”
2. “Arco”
3. “Zootopia 2”
4. “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain”
5. “Elio”
“No category is so completely over like animated feature. It’s so over, the makers of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ don’t even need to wait until the envelope is opened. We should come back from commercial to find them already standing onstage, holding their Oscars.”
Turner Classic Movies
Dave Karger
1. “KPop Demon Hunters”
2. “Zootopia 2”
3. “Arco”
4. “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain”
5. “Elio”
“This is a formidable group of five films, including strong entries from Disney and Pixar and two beautiful European films. But the juggernaut that is ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ seems undeniable here and could also score a win for original song. (It’s between that and ‘Sinners’ ’ ‘I Lied to You’.)”
Los Angeles Times
Amy Nicholson
1. “KPop Demon Hunters”
2. “Arco”
3. “Zootopia 2”
4. “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain”
5. “Elio”
“Did ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ win animated feature, or did every other entry lose? Whether you see that soju glass as half full or half empty, I don’t mind toasting a populist victory.”
IndieWire
Anne Thompson
1. “KPop Demon Hunters”
2. “Zootopia 2”
3. “Arco”
4. “Elio”
5. “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain”
“Nothing is going to beat Netflix’s runaway musical phenomenon ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ not even Disney’s blockbuster sequel ‘Zootopia 2.’ ‘KPop’ should also win original song for ‘Golden.’ ”
Tribune News Service
Katie Walsh
1. “KPop Demon Hunters”
2. “Arco”
3. “Zootopia 2”
4. “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain”
5. “Elio”
“ ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is sealing that Honmoon on Oscar night.”
Los Angeles Times
Glenn Whipp
1. “KPop Demon Hunters”
2. “Zootopia 2”
3. “Arco”
4. “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain”
5. “Elio”
“Go with the one playing in the background in the house of every academy member with kids — or grandchildren.”
