Indonesian horror films spark cinema boom with local legends

Ghost stories and folklore help horror dominate Indonesia’s box office and capture global attention.

A man walks past posters for the horror film Past Midnight at the Usmar Ismail Film Center in Jakarta on April 11, 2025. Photo by Bay Ismoyo/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

As cinemas across the country fill with screams and the crunching of popcorn, Indonesian horror films are taking center stage in a remarkable revival of the nation’s film industry. Drawing heavily on centuries-old ghost stories and local legends, these homegrown horror hits are now dominating Indonesia’s box office while also catching the eyes of international audiences.

The genre’s phenomenal success has its roots deep in Indonesian culture. “Our parents and grandparents used these stories to scare us,” said Ekky Imanjaya, a film studies lecturer at Jakarta’s Bina Nusantara University. “These tales are very close to us.” That familiarity has helped make horror films the most popular genre in the country, leading a cinematic resurgence after years of decline.

Folklore meets the big screen

According to the Indonesian Film Board (BPI), horror dominated local productions in 2024, with 60 percent of the 258 films made falling under the genre. These Indonesian horror films attracted more than 54.6 million ticket buyers—about 70 percent of all cinema audiences for the year.

Fans are drawn to films that feel familiar yet thrilling. “They focus on local traditions and monsters,” said 25-year-old moviegoer Elang after leaving a screening. “That makes them feel more real, more frightening.”

Among the most popular supernatural characters are the Pocong, a ghost wrapped in a burial shroud; the Tuyul, a mischievous undead child; and the Kuntilanak, a spirit of a woman who died with a stillborn baby inside her. These figures, long whispered about in Indonesian households, are now haunting the country’s screens—and fueling its film boom.

A genre reborn from near-extinction

The rise of horror movies in Indonesia is particularly striking given the industry’s near collapse in the 1990s. The number of films produced plummeted due to lack of investment and waning audience interest. Sinematek Indonesia, the national film archive, counted just 456 films made between 1990 and 2000, of which only 37 were horror.

But that changed dramatically in the 2010s. A wave of new directors, led by influential names like Joko Anwar, began crafting high-quality independent horror films that resonated with audiences. “They changed everything,” said director Ismail Basbeth. “They brought back quality storytelling and a modern cinematic vision to a genre rooted in ancient beliefs.”

This new generation of filmmakers helped Indonesian horror films reach previously unimaginable heights. The 2022 release of KKN di Desa Penari—based on a supposedly true supernatural experience during a university community service program—sold a staggering 10 million tickets. Its success launched a wave of more realistic and grounded horror films that often claim to be inspired by real events.

Horror driving economic revival

The popularity of local horror films has translated into massive box office returns. In 2022, Indonesian cinemas grossed $136 million, according to Film Indonesia. PwC Indonesia projects that the industry will grow over six percent annually through 2027, citing horror as a key driver.

Cinema chain XXI reported that five of its top 10 movies last year were horror, generating 27.8 million in ticket sales. The momentum was strong enough that the 2023 Busan International Film Festival—Asia’s most prestigious cinema event—hosted a special program titled “The Renaissance of Indonesian Cinema” spotlighting the country’s booming genre.

Religious elements have also become central to Indonesia’s horror cinema. As the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia has seen films incorporate Islamic themes into their stories. Passages from the Quran are sometimes used to drive narratives or serve as spiritual counterweights to supernatural threats, adding cultural layers that resonate deeply with domestic viewers.

Streaming success and global reach

The resurgence of horror films in Indonesia isn’t limited to traditional theatres. The rise of streaming platforms has made these movies more accessible to global audiences. “Streaming gives us international reach without the need for massive budgets,” said director Ismail Basbeth.

Small production companies like Avantgarde Productions in Jakarta are seeing new opportunities. “Our latest films have been released in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei,” said producer Marianne Christianti Purnaawan. “And we’re in talks with distributors in Vietnam.”

These exports are proving to be more than just niche curiosities. International audiences are increasingly drawn to the unique storytelling of Indonesian ghost stories. “They’re exotic, unfamiliar, and grounded in rich traditions that make them both eerie and unforgettable,” said Imanjaya.

The horror renaissance is far from over

With both domestic and international appetite growing, experts say this golden age of Indonesian horror films is just beginning. The films are no longer seen as low-budget entertainment but as a legitimate and valuable expression of national identity and cultural heritage.

“The horror film audience seeks the unknown,” said Imanjaya. “And Indonesian cinema is uniquely positioned to deliver that.”

Thanks to the strength of local folklore, rising global interest in Southeast Asian media, and a new generation of daring storytellers, Indonesia’s horror cinema appears poised to haunt screens—and hearts—for many years to come.