Two of 2025’s biggest Netflix hits just earned film world prestige as they join the Criterion Collection ahead of the Oscars.
In a year filled with streaming milestones and awards buzz, two very different Netflix films just reached the same cinematic summit.
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and the animated phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters are officially joining the prestigious Criterion Collection — a move that signals both pop culture dominance and lasting artistic impact.
For del Toro, the honor is deeply personal. The Oscar-winning filmmaker spent decades trying to bring his vision of Frankenstein to life. His lush, emotional retelling finally arrived this year, earning nine Academy Awards nominations, including Best Picture.
Jacob Elordi scored a supporting actor nod for his portrayal of the misunderstood Creature, while Oscar Isaac, Christoph Waltz and Mia Goth round out the cast.
Del Toro has long found beauty in monsters, and his Frankenstein continues that theme — presenting the Creature as tragic and tender, while humans reveal darker instincts.
On the other end of the genre spectrum, KPop Demon Hunters became a full-blown cultural event. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the film exploded on Netflix last summer, becoming the streamer’s most-watched movie ever.
Its hit song “Golden” made history as the first K-pop track to win a Grammy and helped the film land nominations for Best Animated Feature and Original Song at the upcoming Oscars.
Criterion is known for spotlighting films that shape the conversation — past Netflix titles in its collection include Roma, The Irishman, The Power of the Dog, Marriage Story and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.
By adding a gothic monster epic and a neon-soaked K-pop fantasy in the same breath, Criterion is making one thing clear: prestige cinema now wears many faces — and sometimes, it sings.
