Malaysian Film Industry Records Impressive Growth, Attracts 14.83 Million Viewers in 2025 – Teo
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s film industry continued to record impressive growth, with local films attracting 14.83 million viewers in 2025, an increase of 107.7 per cent compared with 7.14 million viewers the previous year.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the positive development also saw local films achieve a record-high box office collection of RM247.95 million in 2025, compared with RM166.57 million the previous year.
“The success of films such as Blood Brothers: Bara Naga (RM73.64 million), Papa Zola The Movie (RM63.88 million) and Ejen Ali The Movie 2 (RM58.40 million), each generating tens of millions of ringgit in box office revenue in 2025, proves that Malaysian films are capable of producing quality, entertaining works that appeal to audiences from all walks of life,” she said.
She said this while delivering her speech at the opening ceremony and Top 5 announcement of the 35th Malaysia Film Festival (FFM35) at the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) Tower here on Saturday night.
Also present were Communications Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah; Deputy Secretary-General (Strategic Communications and Creative Industry) Datuk Bahria Mohd Tamil; FINAS Chairman Datuk Dr Hans Isaac; and FINAS Chief Executive Officer Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib.
Teo said Malaysian films continued to show highly encouraging progress, with audience support remaining consistent.
As of July 2026, local films had recorded 6.10 million viewers, while six films had surpassed RM10 million in box office collections, namely Ah Beng vs Liang Po Po, Malaikat Malam, Libang Libu, Tarung Unforgiven, Polong and Chelot.
She also encouraged other state and territorial governments to follow the Federal Government’s initiative announced under Budget 2027 regarding the entertainment duty exemption for tickets to local film screenings and theatre performances.
“As Deputy Communications Minister, I also hope that other states and territories will consider exempting entertainment duty on tickets for local films and theatre performances so that we can collectively support the local creative industry,” she said.
Teo said FFM35, themed “Spectrum of Cinema”, aptly reflects the Malaysian film landscape today, featuring stories from diverse communities, languages and life experiences.
“Some films make us laugh, others encourage us to think, while some help us understand the lives of others.
“That diversity is our strength. We do not need to choose just one type of story to represent Malaysia,” she said.
The FFM35 Awards Night is scheduled to take place on November 21 at Istana Budaya.
BERNAMA