KPop Demon Hunters star says chart success doesn't feel real

A track from animated movie KPop Demon Hunters has topped the UK singles charts.

The film, about a fictional girl band who live a double life defending humanity from a supernatural threat, has become Netflix's most-watched animated film ever since its release in June.

Upbeat anthem Golden, one of the standout songs from its soundtrack, leapt three places to take the number one spot from Justin Bieber in this week's top 40.

According to the Official Charts Company, it's the first K-pop single to top the UK chart since PSY's Gangnam Style in 2012.

Carl Smith, editor of the official charts, tells BBC Newsbeat it's a "sign of how popular K-pop is right now".

Golden is performed in the film by girl band HUNTR/X, consisting of Rumi, Mira and Zoey.

They face off against demon boy band the Saja Boys - whose single Your Idol climbed to number 10 in this week's chart.

Carl says both songs are "amazing pop songs with great melodies" and the film also allows fans to "visualise their new favourite band".

The last time an animated film soundtrack reached number one was when single We Don't Talk About Bruno, from Disney's Encanto, held the top spot for seven weeks in early 2022.

Carl thinks Golden could have similar staying power.

"It could possibly be the song of the summer," he says.

"I think its popularity transcends generations."

Katy, who runs K-pop site Hallyu Doing tells Newsbeat the success of KPop Demon Hunters is exciting for UK fans.

"I'm seeing people who are not K-pop fans that have seen the movie and are now looking into K-pop artists for real that they want to go and see, " she says.

She credits the movie's popularity to its creative songs and the soundtrack's strong link to the storyline.

"Since it came out it's just been going up and up in both the movie and music charts," she says.

Elsewhere in the charts, Drake and Central Cee scored the week's highest new entry with their collab Which One landing at number four.

And music from Ozzy Osbourne, whose funeral was held in Birmingham this week, continued to climb the charts after his death.

Black Sabbath's Paranoid climbed 12 places to the top 20, while Ozzy's solo track Crazy Train hit number 25 - its highest-ever position in the UK.