Just being nominated makes a hero film a headline. Especially in the case of Best Picture, that effect was even stronger. It also ant the Academy was extrely conservative.
No matter how many films poured out every year—
They still drew a hard line at films deed purely comrcial. An outright rejection to preserve the Academy’s traditions.
And now, that rejection—was on the verge of being broken.
“Costu Design — Murcielago!”
“Production Design — Murcielago.”
“Editing — Murcielago.”
“Cinematography... Murcielago.”
It was happening right now.
Including the earlier win for Best Supporting Actress, that made five awards.
“Five awards,” they called it—but honestly, every nomination was just turning into a win.
And then—
“Best Screenplay... Murcielago.”
Among the categories where storytelling mattered the most—Murcielago took the Screenplay award too, making it six.
‘Wait, is this really happening?’
‘No way, they’re just throwing so awards at it to shut it up, right?’
‘Co on, the Academy giving a hero film this many wins? That’s ridiculous.’
So of the actors watching in real ti were visibly flustered. Sure, hero films were massively popular now and earned great reviews. But back in the day, no one even looked their way.
It was a genre rooted in spandex costus and goofy action scenes. A genre with that kind of past.
At most, they’d get a token nomination for Best Picture and that was it. People around the industry thought that was how it should be.
Because really, even without hero films, there were plenty of works that managed to be comrcially successful and artistic at the sa ti.
But—
‘Is there any film right now greater than Murcielago?’
‘Fourth highest-grossing film in history. This thing’s insane.’
‘It’s not just money—it has presence. It hits differently.’
The tis had changed a lot since then. And so had the circumstances.
All those stairs built up by countless hero films. The wall they could never break through, no matter how great the film. Murcielago was smashing right through it.
It had everyone’s attention.
Step by step, it climbed toward the dragon’s eye—devouring awards along the way.
“...Best Actor — Murcielago, Donghu Kim.”
And the one holding the brush to pierce that dragon’s eye—was that man.
Everyone at the Academy Awards raised their heads the mont Donghu Kim’s na was called.
Ask anyone, “Who’s the hottest actor right now?”
His na always ca up. Even when multiple nas were ntioned, his never got left out.
Kim Donghu.
Clap clap clap clap clap.
Clap clap clap clap clap.
Clap clap clap clap clap.
As the entire crowd stood and applauded in celebration, the actors who saw him as a rival had dead-cold eyes.
‘Why did a giant like him co out of that tiny country?’
‘Why him... Why did it have to be soone from a non-English-speaking country?’
That weird little sense of entitlent they’d carried since childhood was getting obliterated—by just one man.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Step by step—
Kim Donghu walked to the winner’s spot, accepted the trophy, and began his speech.
“Thank you. I was only able to receive this award because of everyone who made into who I am...”
He paused briefly.
“...and because I’m just that talented.”
He threw in a bit of a joke. The whole room laughed. But viewers at ho were practically overdosing on dopamine.
ㄴHe seriously said that
ㄴㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴComplinting everyone himself = legend
ㄴAnd he’s not even wrong, which makes it hilarious
ㄴYes king, always aim for the peak
ㄴIs that you again, Donghu Kim
ㄴCarbon-based GOAT
Everyone knew it, but no one dared say it out loud. And yet—he said it himself.
That boldness fired up not just the viewers but the whole atmosphere of the ceremony.
That feeling of a male. Like a beast growling as it speaks. That raw masculinity captivated everyone.
“You shouldn’t just drop lines like ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) that, damn... Kim Donghu, you’re crazy!”
Soone started panting the mont they saw him.
‘Back off, he’s mine!’
‘And the roster’s already full!’
‘There’s five of us, including !’
In the middle of this wild energy— Kim Donghu dropped the hamr.
“I’ll continue my next line... at the next award.”
He declared it clearly, then stepped down. The next line. The next award.
He wasn’t talking about an award next year. He ant the very next award coming up right now.
The one that followed Best Actor. There was only one.
‘Murcielago... Best Picture!’
‘Does he seriously think they’ll give that to a hero film?’
‘That’s absurd. No way.’
‘It’s already won six awards, how greedy can you be?’
Saying sothing like that on the Best Actor stage? That wasn’t just confidence—
If he didn’t win it, he’d look like a fool. The dia would tear him to shreds for it. And yet, with that as his final line, Best Director was announced next.
“...Murcielago, Cristo Daran.”
That made seven awards.
“I haven’t felt this kind of thrill in so long. Is it because of the actor I work with? Haha... I have many people to thank, but without Donghu Kim, I never would have won this award.”
As Cristo Daran wrapped up his emotional speech—a hero film had accomplished sothing no one could ignore.
But the Academy didn’t move directly to Best Picture. They transitioned into the tribute video and musical performance segnts.
During that break, reporters and actors were whispering nonstop.
“What do you think’s gonna happen?”
“The film that won Best Actor and Best Director... doesn’t win Best Picture? That’s nonsense.”
“So everyone thinks it’s a lock?”
“Feels like it.”
“Still, I don’t think they’ll give it to them.”
“They might get the nomination, but... honestly, even getting this far is more than enough.”
So thought they would win it. Others thought there was no way.
While audiences hoped for a win, industry insiders remained cold and rational—leaning toward “they won’t.”
Best Picture nomination only.
That’s where the line had always been. They’d already won too much. For the Academy to give them Best Actor and Best Director was already monuntal.
That was the dominant sentint.
After the tribute video and performance ended, the ceremony, now running for three hours straight, moved without delay to listing the Best Picture nominees.
Nas that had lit up 2024 rolled across the screen. And the final entry—
Murcielago.
The film that had beco the new heart of DC took its place proudly as the last nominee.
The screen showed Batman and Joker—their faces pressed together.
Kim Donghu vs. Kim Donghu. Whatever they were thinking when they shot that—even watching it again, it was insane.
As the admiration settled in—the presenter, visibly shaken, announced the award.
“Perhaps... we’re witnessing a mont that will never co again.”
A aningful statent. And then, as if they lacked the courage to say the na themselves, they passed the envelope to their co-presenter.
“You’re right. This really does feel like a mont of glory. To be the one who gets to say this na... I’m truly honored.”
And with that—The winner of the 2025 Academy Award for Best Picture was—
Murcielago.
Just as Kim Donghu had predicted. Murcielago took it.
“Wh-what!”
“I-it’s real! We really won!”
“Let’s go! Get on stage! Hurry!”
The Murcielago team ran to the stage without hesitation. The cast and crew who carried the film gathered together, their faces overflowing with joy.
Hero films—long recognized for technicals but excluded from art. Only acknowledged through genre-blending—
‘Without any embellishnt... Without any genre fusion... A pure hero film just won Best Picture.’
They clutched their Oscar and stepped confidently up to the mic.
“Thank you so much. To be given a first that will never co again... We will never forget this mont.”
After Cristo Daran’s words—Kim Donghu stepped up to the mic.
“I’m happy I get to say the next line. I’ll always aim higher. Thank you.”
A short but powerful ssage. Unshaken, even after winning Best Picture. And declaring he would aim even higher.
Maybe it was that his skill backed it all up—but every face at the ceremony held nothing but awe.
His second Academy after Tarzan. Eight awards—including Best Picture.
Was it really okay to just call this “amazing”?
As if in response—
『Kim Donghu wins Best Picture with Murcielago.』
『A speech more valuable than Best Actor.』
『“I’ll always aim higher”—Is he declaring his intent to beco the greatest of all ti?』
『“I’ll be the king of actors!” Donghu Kim’s bold statent.』
『Unmatched skill, zero room for mockery—Taste just a sliver of K-gastardom Donghu Kim-style!』
Articles flooded the internet. And the afterparty that night, of course, was blazing hot.
On top of that—
“Isn’t it a bit greedy to monopolize both Harley Quinn and Catwoman?” “Harley, if you say that, what am I supposed to do? Catwoman’s already in my arms, you know...”
“Wha—what! That’s so unfair, Chisako!”
That night only got hotter.
***
“Mm... no matter how many tis I think about it— it really was the best.”
Savoring that mont again, never growing tired of it, I stared up at the Oscar trophy.
“D-Donghu!”
“Yes?”
Suddenly, Seokho-hyung rushed in. I got up.
“What’s going on?”
“U-unplay...! Unplay just started?!”
“Huh?”
Unplay? What’s that about?
He showed the article:
『Iron Core vs. Kim Donghu’s Iron Man? Out of nowhere, the rivalry gets ignited!』
A completely out-of-nowhere piece.
What rivalry? We’d only just finished the planning etings—how could this be?
And then—
“T-they... the Iron Core production team leaked it first. On Twitter! Saying they’re going head-to-head with us...!”
Seokho-hyung explained. And right then, it hit .
“These guys... are kinda scared of us, aren’t they?”
Leaking it like this to the press—
‘You’re scared I’ll actually make the real Iron Man successor, huh?’
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