Report Finds Indonesia’s Film Industry Ready for Regional Expansion, According to JAFF Market–Cinepoint

A recent study by JAFF MarketCinepoint identifies Indonesias screen industry as entering a pivotal stage, driven by strong domestic productions, growing investor confidence, and a market outperforming its Southeast Asian neighbors. The Film Industry Report 2025 ranks the country as the fastest-growing theatrical market in the region and one of the most vibrant worldwide.

Highlighted Projects

• Eddie Cahyonos My Mother tackles the migrant worker crisis at JAFF Future Project.
• The psychological horror The Most Mysterious Man gains Malaysian co-financing at JAFF Market.
• Luhki Herwanayogis Our Son explores unconventional family dynamics at JAFF Future Project.

Box Office Growth and Domestic Success

In 2024, Indonesian films attracted 82 million admissions, projected to exceed 100 million within five years. Annual production is expected to reach 200 theatrical releases by 2028. Local films captured 65% of the national box office, with the top 10 domestic titles accounting for 33.5 million admissions, outpacing imported films 20.1 million.

The report notes a rapid post-pandemic recovery: box office revenue jumped from under $75 million in 2020 to $392 million in 2024, surpassing Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand. Globally, Indonesia ranked ninth in both cinema attendance (127 million) and feature production (241) in 2024, despite major markets seeing only modest growth or declines.

Structural Challenges

Despite growth, Indonesia remains underscreened, with only 7.7 screens per million people, far below South Korea, Japan, China, and Malaysia. While the country had 6,600 screens in the 1980s, only 2,354 remain today, concentrated mainly in Java. Cinema XXI alone operates roughly 60% of national screens, creating a highly centralized system. The absence of a distributor layer forces producers to negotiate directly with exhibitors, bear marketing and commercial risks, and rely on opening-day performance, disadvantaging films that build slowly through word of mouth.

Emerging Producers and Genre Trends

Production is experiencing a generational shift. Established studios like MD Pictures, Starvision Plus, and Falcon remain influential, but new leaders are rising. The report identifies top production companies between 20222025: Legacy Pictures, Falcon, MVP Pictures, Starvision Plus, RAPI Films, Pichouse Films, MD Pictures, Visinema 786, and IDN Media. Many are growing via co-production and co-financing models. Recent hits such as Agak Laen, Sore, Siksa Kubur, and Pengepungan di Bukit Duri show increased creative confidence and audience interest in hybrid genres.

Horror now dominates Indonesias box office. Half of the top 10 domestic films since 2011 are horror, often blending comedy or drama, reflecting global trends and expanding commercial appeal.

Cultural and Economic Significance

Cinema remains a core cultural institution in Indonesia, with moviegoing habits historically tied to creative cycles. However, affordability is a significant barrier. When measured against GDP per capita, Indonesia ranks as the least affordable market among its peers, despite average tickets costing around $3.

The screen sector contributes $5.1 billion to GDP and supports nearly 400,000 jobs. Each trillion rupiah in new investment can generate almost $900 million in economic output and nearly 4,000 skilled jobs, demonstrating films cultural and economic multiplier effect.

Recommended Reforms

To secure long-term growth, the report recommends three priorities: modernizing film policies (shifting from censorship to classification and ensuring data transparency), improving market access through equitable screen allocation and regional commissions, and attracting smart capital via tax incentives and production-based support.

Author: Sophia Brooks