Malaysian films have gone from strength to strength in the past year: a handful have made a name for themselves at festival circuits overseas, while some have held their own in the local box office and on Netflix’s top 10 charts among international titles.
In the spirit of national pride, check out this selection of Malaysian films on the streamer to add to your Merdeka and Malaysia Day watchlists.
1. ‘Sheriff: Narko Integriti’
This cop action thriller follows a seasoned police officer (Zul Ariffin) in the Integrity Department, who teams up with an idealistic rookie (Syafiq Kyle) to take down a merciless drug kingpin (Aaron Aziz) and uncover the mystery of the so-called “meth killer” who has been targeting corrupt officers.
A box-office hit in Malaysian cinemas, “Sheriff: Narko Integriti” secured its place as the second-highest-grossing local film of all time by the end of its theatrical run earlier this year.
2. ‘Dough’
Showing a different side of his range in “Dough” (or “Doh”), rising star Syafiq Kyle plays Faiz, who returns to his hometown after his father’s death to keep the family bakery from losing customers to a modern competitor without turning their backs on tradition.
Shot entirely in Ipoh, this heartwarming film brings viewers through Faiz’s nostalgic memories and what it means to be happy as he struggles to find his footing and decide on the future of the family business.
The down-to-earth movie has certainly resonated with viewers: it spent five weeks on the Top 10 Films in Malaysia chart upon its release on Netflix.
Psst: if you’re in the mood for another reminder about familial bonds, “How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” – the much-talked-about family drama that brought viewers to tears – is also set to hit Netflix (and your feels) on Sept 12.
3. ‘La Luna’
Where “Dough” taps into how a city boy rediscovers the old world charm of a historical city he grew up in, “La Luna” explores what happens when a bold city girl opens an underwear shop in a conservative village.
Shot entirely in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, Perak, the film features a stellar cast that includes Sharifah Amani, Shaheizy Sam, Wan Hanafi Su, Namron, and Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin.
“La Luna” has also made its rounds in the festival circuit, namely the Tokyo International Film Festival and the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival in Indonesia. Find out why FMT Lifestyle called this a “surprisingly deep kampung comedy” about life and lingerie!
4. ‘Geng Kubur (Dead Boys Club)’
Firhan and his friends have a rather strange hobby: in their free time, they hang out at random cemeteries and tell one another stories about what they imagine the people buried there were like.
But Firhan has been plagued by troubling visions about the strange forest where his mother died. And as the 10th anniversary of her death approaches, he convinces his friends to return to the forest.
Little do they know that their deepest, darkest fears are about to come alive the farther they venture into the woods!
Read more about Iron Hill Media‘s comedy-horror flick and find out what FMT Lifestyle thought here.
5. ‘Tiger Stripes’
Last but by no means the least on this list is this directorial debut by Amanda Nell Eu. “Tiger Stripes” premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Critics’ Week Grand Prize – no small feat indeed!
This coming-of-age body horror film was also selected as Malaysia’s entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
In “Tiger Stripes”, newcomer Zafreen Zairizal plays 12-year-old Zaffan, a carefree and rebellious girl who starts to experience horrifying physical changes to her body.
This sets off an escalating chain of events that ultimately forces her to finally reveal her true self – wrath, rage, and beauty – to everyone. Roar!