Discover the best of Indonesian cinema, film, and television
Discover the definitive list of popular and critically-acclaimed movies and TV shows from Indonesia. Find your next binge-watch, streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!
The cinema of Indonesia
Indonesian cinema exploded onto the world stage with a thunderclap of breathtaking action. It is a film culture of incredible energy, home to some of the most innovative genre filmmaking on the planet. The game-changer was a film that redefined action for the 21st century: The Raid. This masterpiece of controlled chaos introduced the world to the blistering martial art of pencak silat and turned its stars, like Iko Uwais, into global icons. This ushered in a new era of respect for the nation's high-octane filmmaking. But to only know its action is to miss its other, darker heart: a terrifyingly brilliant horror scene. Drawing on a rich well of local folklore and mythology, directors like the visionary Joko Anwar have reinvented the genre. His films, like the smash-hit Satan’s Slaves (Pengabdi Setan), are not just scary; they are atmospheric, stylish, and deeply Indonesian, and have become massive box office phenomena across Southeast Asia. This new golden age, built on the foundations of a celebrated post-reformasi revival in the early 2000s, is now fuelling an explosion in high-quality television. What makes Indonesian cinema so thrilling is this fearless embrace of genre. It’s a cinema that delivers punches and jump-scares with a confidence and style that is all its own.
Best Indonesian series
Joko Anwar's Nightmares and Daydreams 2024
Tales of supernatural sci-fi phenomena unfold in this collection of seven mind-bending, interconnected stories imagined by writer-director Joko Anwar.
63Cigarette Girl 2023
A gifted artisan's journey of love and self-discovery unfolds as she defies tradition within Indonesia's clove cigarette industry in the 1960s.
73Grisse 2018
Located in the middle of the 19th century, during the colonial era of Dutch India, the series "Grisse" follows a group of unusual characters who launch a rebellion against a brutal governor and finally have a chance to decide their fate.
70Halfworlds 2015
In the bustling streets and back alleys of Jakarta, a parallel world of bloodthirsty creatures from Indonesian mythology has lived alongside humans for generations. Taking on the appearance of humans themselves, the true identity of these "Demit" has been carefully concealed for centuries by a powerful family of mortals. The arrival of a mysterious supernatural event known only as the Gift will bring this hidden world to the surface. As the day of the Gift approaches, a young street artist named Sarah unexpectedly finds herself in the eye of the storm. Once the Demit realize who Sarah really is, and what she must do, humans and Demit are set on a collision course that could change the balance of their two worlds forever.
57Blood Curse 2023
A young woman witnessing black magic attack on her family which changes her view towards the world. Driven to protect them at any cost, the woman will go to the ends of the earth to find out who is responsible and hold them to account.
65Private Bodyguard Getaway 2024
The cast of Private Bodyguard reunite in reality show where they share memories and experiences from filming the series, and play games. Each episode explores their on and off-screen relationships, revealing genuine friendships and romantic connections. Enjoy personal anecdotes, behind-the-scenes stories, and special guests offering unique insights.
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Best Indonesian movies
The Raid 2012
Deep in the heart of Jakarta's slums lies an impenetrable safe house for the world's most dangerous killers and gangsters. Until now, the run-down apartment block has been considered untouchable to even the bravest of police. Cloaked under the cover of pre-dawn darkness and silence, an elite swat team is tasked with raiding the safe house in order to take down the notorious drug lord that runs it. But when a chance encounter with a spotter blows their cover and news of their assault reaches the drug lord, the building's lights are cut and all the exits blocked. Stranded on the sixth floor with no way out, the unit must fight their way through the city's worst to survive their mission. Starring Indonesian martial arts sensation Iko Uwais.
76The Raid 2 2014
After fighting his way through an apartment building populated by an army of dangerous criminals and escaping with his life, SWAT team member Rama goes undercover, joining a powerful Indonesian crime syndicate to protect his family and uncover corrupt members of his own force.
77The Act of Killing 2012
In this chilling and groundbreaking documentary, former Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their real-life mass killings in the style of various film genres, from gangster epics to musicals. As they recreate their past atrocities, the line between reality and performance blurs, exposing the lingering impact of Indonesia’s 1965-66 anti-communist purge and the unsettling psychology of its perpetrators.
79Headshot 2016
A young man washes ashore, his memory gone - but his past comes back to haunt him after he is nursed back to health and his killing ability is needed when he takes on a powerful drug lord.
66The Shadow Strays 2024
Skilled in the art of killing, a young assassin defies her mentor to save a boy from a ruthless crime syndicate — and she'll destroy anyone in her path.
67Something in the Way 2013
Ahmad, a porn obsessed taxi driver from Jakarta, falls for the beautiful young prostitute Kinar and struggles with sexual frustration and misguided piety.
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