The 10 Most Successful Malaysian Films in History

Throughout the year, the entertainment industry in Malaysia has come up with hundreds of local films that feature great storylines and superb acting. Among all of these, we have narrowed down which of them are the most successful based on their box office collection.

Here are the 10 most successful Malaysian films in the history of the country:

1. Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan (2022)

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The movie Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan tops the list as the highest-grossing local movie in Malaysia with a whopping RM97.4 million at the box office.

Inspired by historical events during the British invasion in Pahang, this 2022 epic biographical action-adventure movie took the audience to the year 1892 when the British were colonising Pahang.

With its superb story-telling and impressive line of celebrities like Datuk Adi Putra (Mat Kilau), Beto Kusyairy (Wahid), Fattah Amin (Awang) and Indonesian action actor Yayan Ruhian (Toga), it's a no-brainer why this movie was such a huge hit when it first came out.

2. Sheriff: Narko Integriti

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This 2024 film by Syafiq Yusof made history after it managed to collect a whopping RM16.3 million in just four days of screening back in April 2024. As of now, Sheriff stands at the second spot of the top-grossing films in Malaysia with a box office collection of RM63.2 million.

This action thriller film revolves around Sheriffudin Hussein (played by Zul Ariffin), who was a cop that caught corrupt officers. He was later tasked with finding the ‘Meth Killer, who he believes to be hiding among the ranks of the Narcotics Department itself.

Aside from Zul Ariffin, Sheriff also features other glittering names such as Syafiq Kyle, Dato Aaron Aziz, Azira Shafinaz and Elizabeth Tan.

3. Polis Evo 3 (2023)

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Released for public viewing in May 2023, Police Evo3 is the last instalment in the Polis Evo film series. Directed by Syafiq Yusof, this film managed to collect RM54.1 million at the box office, making it the third most successful local film in the country.

Featuring a star-studded cast like Zizan Razak, Shaheizy Sam, Sharnaaz Ahmad and Nora Danish, this action comedy film tells the story of two credible policemen trying to solve a crime case. The case in this instalment is about an ex-police officer who’s looking to exact revenge on his wife's killer.

4. Munafik 2 (2018)

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A sequel to Munafik and the second instalment planned for the Munafik trilogy, this supernatural horror film managed to gain RM48 million in box office collection.

Directed and starred in by Syamsul Yusof, Munafik 2 continues the story of Ustaz Adam two years after the event of the first movie. This instalment tells the story of how Ustaz Adam tries to help a woman named Sakinah (played by Maya Karin) whose family was terrorised by the devil sent by a Muslim deviant cult leader, Abu Jar (played by Nasir Bilal Khan).

Following the success in Malaysia, Munafik 2 was also previewed in multiple Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam.

5. Hantu Kak Limah (2018)

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Directed by the late Mamat Khalid, this iconic horror comedy film was the third installment in the Hantu Kak Limah trilogy. Featuring stars like Awie, Zul Ariffin, Delimawati and Uqasha Senrose, this horror comedy film raked in RM36.4 million in box office collections.

Previously known as Hantu Kak Limah 3, this movie took place five years after the event of its second movie (Husin, Mon dan Jin Pakai Toncit). In this movie, Kak Limah, who has just got married, was found dead in gruesome circumstances in her garden. Problems arose when the villagers of Kampung Pisang still saw Kak Limah around even though she had passed away.

Aside from the silver screen, the movie also inspired a musical theatre which was staged at Movie Park Animation Studios (MAPS) in December 2018 before the facility closed its door for good in 2020.

6. Mechamato Movie (2022)

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Initially announced for a 2021 release, this animated superhero film by Animonsta Studios and Astro Shaw finally released for public viewing in September 2022. Mechamato Movie received mostly positive reviews, and it even charted in the top 10 of the most successful films in Malaysia with a box office collection of RM35.8 million.

The film follows Amato's journey as he first encounters MechaBot after a prison spaceship crashes and lands on Earth. Amato later becomes MechaBot's new master, and the duo went on to face antagonist Grakakus, who planned to capture MechaBot as part of his collection of armour-making Power Spheres.

7. MALLBATT: Misi Bakara (2023)

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Featuring a star-studded cast like Bront Palarae, Shaheizy Sam and Hairul Azreen, this military war action film managed to reach RM32.5 million in box office collection for its release in Malaysia and Singapore.

Directed and produced by Adrian Teh, this film involves a huge budget of RM20 million, making it one of the most expensive Malaysian movies to be made. MALLBATT: Misi Bakara was based on the true event back in 1993 called the Battle of Mogadishu. The event recalls how the Mechanised Royal Malay Soldier Regiment (RAMD) was sent to rescue US Rangers who were trapped in Bakara Market in Somalia during the civil war.

8. Ejen Ali: The Movie (2019)

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Yet another animated series that became one of the most successful movies in the country, Ejen Ali: The Movie earned RM32.5 million after its release in four different countries. In Malaysia alone, this film by WAU Animation reached over RM30 million in box office collection.

The movie was based on a local animation series with the same name. It follows the story of a 12-year old spy, Agent Ali, as he embraces his role in the secret agency MATA and works to uncover the secret technology that has threatened the city.

Aside from its booming success on the silver screen, Ejen Ali The Movie has also snagged the award for Best Box Office Film at the 31st Malaysia Film Festival ceremony (FFM31) and in the Best Sound Editing category.

9. Air Force The Movie: Selagi Bernyawa (2023)

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Air Force The Movie: Selagi Bernyawa tells the gripping story of a Royal Malaysian Air Force Special Forces (Paskau) team that was tasked with protecting humanitarians serving in the fictional war-torn country of Namburi. This blockbuster raked in RM30.6 million at the box office in 2023. Aside from Malaysia, this movie was also screened in Singapore, Brunei, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

Other big names that were involved in this patriotic movie include Nas-T, Johan As'ari, Sara Ali and Scha Alyahya.

10. PASKAL (2018)

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Also another movie that highlights the spirit of patriotism, PASKAL revolves around the story of an elite unit in the Royal Malaysian Navy as they embark on a mission to rescue a tanker that has been taken over by Somali pirates.

There's one scene in this movie that was inspired by an actual event back in 1998 that involved the Royal Malaysian Navy's Special Forces Team in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Angola.

Directed by Adrien Teh and starring local big names like Hairul Azreen, Ammar Alfian and Namron, this movie went on to become one of the most successful local films in the country, with a box office collection of RM30 million.

Featured Image Credit: MugenMilano, BASKL, IMDb