‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Stars Light Up ‘The Tonight Show’ With Dazzling Live Debut. Photo credit: NBC
The virtual girl group from Netflix’s breakout hit KPop Demon Hunters brought their animated magic to life on Tuesday night, taking center stage on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for their first-ever full live performance of the viral hit “Golden.”
The trio — EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami — who voice the film’s central characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, performed as Huntr/x, marking a milestone moment for both the film and its wildly popular soundtrack.
A Record-Breaking Film That Took Netflix by Storm
Released on June 20, KPop Demon Hunters quickly became a global sensation. By late August, the animated musical had shattered streaming records to become Netflix’s most-watched film of all time, surpassing Red Notice with a staggering 236 million views.
Directed by Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang, the movie follows a powerhouse K-pop girl group living a double life — adored pop idols by day, fearless demon hunters by night. The blend of vibrant music, stylish animation, and thrilling action has made it a cultural phenomenon among younger audiences worldwide.
Fallon Surprises the Trio With Big News
During their sit-down with host Jimmy Fallon, the Huntr/x singers received unexpected and thrilling news. Fallon revealed that the film’s soundtrack had officially gone platinum, dominating the latest Billboard 200 albums chart for a second non-consecutive week at No. 1.
According to chart data, the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack earned 102,000 equivalent album units in the most recent tracking week, fueled by an astonishing 117 million on-demand official streams.
Fallon congratulated the singers on stage, calling their achievement “a landmark for both K-pop and animation.”
“Golden” Breaks Chart History
The single “Golden” has proven to be unstoppable. In September, it made history by spending five consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 — the longest-running No. 1 song by any animated act in the chart’s history.
The upbeat anthem, praised for its empowering lyrics and dazzling choreography, has also inspired countless fan covers and dance challenges across social media.
But “Golden” isn’t the only track making waves. The soundtrack features four top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Your Idol” at No. 4, “Soda Pop” at No. 5, and “How It’s Done” at No. 8 — a rare feat for an animated soundtrack.
Huntr/x Take Over Late-Night TV
The Tonight Show performance isn’t the only late-night spotlight for the fictional superstars. On October 4, Huntr/x also made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live, performing an abbreviated version of “Golden.”
The segment featured Grammy-winning artist Bad Bunny as a starstruck superfan, adding a playful twist to the high-energy act. The skit quickly went viral, cementing Huntr/x’s growing cultural footprint beyond the screen.
A New Era of Pop and Animation
With the runaway success of KPop Demon Hunters and its record-breaking soundtrack, Huntr/x is proving that the boundary between fiction and reality in pop culture is fading fast.
Their stunning live debut on The Tonight Show marks another leap forward — turning animated icons into real-world pop sensations.
