Best Malaysian history movies

Get ready to binge. We've found a collection of must-watch history films from Malaysia, now streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!

  • Poster for Paskal

    Paskal 2018

    The true events of Lieutenant Commander Arman Anwar of PASKAL, an elite unit in the Royal Malaysian Navy, and his team's mission to rescue the MV Bunga Laurel, a tanker which was hijacked by Somalian Pirates in 2011.

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  • Poster for Mat Kilau

    Mat Kilau 2022

    The rise of a Malay warrior named Mat Kilau and his friends against the British colonialists who came to Pahang in 1892. The greed of British officials and policies, which have imposed excessive taxes, confiscated land belonging to the Malays to reap the treasures of Pahang and disrupted the Islamic way in Pahang has caused dissatisfaction among the rulers and the Malays. The patriotic spirit of Mat Kilau and his friends who rose up against British violence had caused Captain Syers to launch an attack on Mat Kilau. Witness the heroic spirit of Mat Kilau, Tok Gajah and Mat Kilau's best friends use their wisdom to fight in the jungle against the British soldiers. Did Mat Kilau and his friends succeed in driving out the barbaric and greedy British army to reap gold and tin in Pahang?

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  • Poster for Ola Bola

    Ola Bola 2016

    Set in the 1970s, a multicultural team of Malaysian football players struggle to overcome personal and collective hardships as a team. Together they create the most triumphant zero to hero story and gain a place at the Asian Games.

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  • Poster for Malbatt: Misi Bakara

    Malbatt: Misi Bakara 2023

    In 1993, 19 soldiers from the Royal Malay Soldier Regiment (RAMD), the most senior regiment within the Malaysian army, are sent on a dangerous mission to save 70 US Rangers trapped in the Bakara Market in Somalia during the civil war.

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  • Poster for Conquer: Lahad Datu

    Conquer: Lahad Datu 2024

    When hundreds of militants invade eastern Sabah, the Royal Malaysia Police sends in an elite force to respond to the incursion.

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  • Poster for Princess of Mount Ledang

    Princess of Mount Ledang 2004

    In the late 15th century, a forbidden romance blossoms between Gusti Putri, a Javanese Hindu princess and Hang Tuah, a Malay Muslim warrior from Melaka, against a backdrop of war and mysticism.

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  • Poster for Once Upon A Time - Reach for the Stars

    Once Upon A Time - Reach for the Stars 2019

    His medical condition doesn't stop a 12-year-old village boy from working hard with a school gardener to form a ragtag team of soccer players, in order to compete in the JG Davidson Cup tournament. They will have to go up against the reigning champion, St. James, a highly privileged British school.

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  • Poster for Leftenan Adnan

    Leftenan Adnan 2000

    This is a film about a Malaysian soldier, Lt. Adnan, who gave his life in defending Malaya from the Japanese invasion during World War II. It exemplifies an example of the patriotic spirit that should be in every Malaysian. Lt. Adnan was a courageous individual who was willing to give everything, including his life, for the people and nation. He also succeeded in destroying the widely held myth that Malays were good only as rebels and pirates. He believed that no matter what, as a patriotic citizen, one had to fight until the last drop of blood to defend the nation.

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  • Saloma (Part 2) 2014

    This is the continuation of Saloma (Part1). Part 2 depicts Saloma's love for P. Ramlee and also her life after his death.

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  • Poster for Ten Years before Independence

    Ten Years before Independence 2007

    October 20th, 1947 was a historical day in the Malayan people's constitutional struggle for independence from British colonialism. This documentary chronicles the events that culminated in the Malaya-wide 'Hartal' day of protest against the undemocratic Federation of Malaya Constitutional Proposals devised by the British Colonial Government, and the rise of the people's democratic movement in Malaya, ten years before independence.

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  • Poster for Memoir Seorang Guru

    Memoir Seorang Guru 2024

    Teacher Suman is adamant in not allowing his daughter Kamariah to follow in his footsteps as the field did not bring him blessings.

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  • Poster for Rurouni Kenshin -Kyoto Disturbance-

    Rurouni Kenshin -Kyoto Disturbance- 2024

    A phantom of the Bakumatsu must be taken down. All the answers you desire are in Kyoto! A special theatrical screening of Rurouni Kenshin -Kyoto Disturbance-.

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  • Saloma (Part 1) 2014

    In remembrance of the legendary Singaporean-Malaysian songstress that came to prominence in the late 50s until the early 80s, Salmah binti Ismail, better known as Saloma, comes a four-hour long biopic with a star-studded cast including Nabila Huda, Azhan Rani, Tony Eusoff, Sazzy Falak, Sharifah Amani, Julia Ziegler, Amerul Affendi and many others. Part 1 covers her early years and her attempt at becoming a singer, as well as her marriage to her first husband, AR Tompel.

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  • Poster for 1957 Hati Malaya

    1957 Hati Malaya 2007

    Four young Malaysians, Salmi, Razak, Ani and Angee have been assigned to do a picture book of ‘1957’. While two of them grudgingly carry out the request made by the publisher, Zahari, one of them takes on the role enthusiastically. Along the way, they find themselves immersed in the characters, emotional moments, identifying with and finding meaning in the struggle of ‘1957’. They weave the story of independence by transporting themselves back to the past. Ordinary Malaysians who fell in love, and found their love for the country override their personal emotions. The present characters find new meaning to ‘Merdeka’

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  • Poster for Finding Ramlee

    Finding Ramlee 2025

    To pay his debts, a small-time actor is forced to impersonate screen icon P. Ramlee.

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  • Poster for Headhunter

    Headhunter 2023

    A young warrior decides to prove himself by harvesting the heads of ruthless opponents of his longhouse community.

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  • Poster for Tanda Putera

    Tanda Putera 2013

    The film is about the close friendship between the second Malaysian prime minister, Tun Abdul Razak and his deputy, Tun Dr Ismail. They were secretive about their health problems as they had the task of restore the peace in their country following the events of 13 May, 1969. Tun Razak was suffering from leukemia and he had to keep it a secret from his family. They both seek the services of Dr. Macpherson. The reading room of Tun Dr Ismail became a secret clinic for their treatment.

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  • Poster for Pagari Bulan

    Pagari Bulan 2023

    In 1941-1945 Women who were taken from their families to be used to satisfy the lust of the soldiers during the Japanese colonial era in Malaya. The story of Bulan, her younger sister Kasih and Sui Li were kidnapped by the Japanese army to be made victims of the gluttony of the soldiers in their Camp. Can they continue to live or die in the hands of Japan.

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  • Poster for Bukit Kepong

    Bukit Kepong 1981

    The dramatisation of a Communist Terrorist assault on a rural Federation of Malaya Police station at Bukit Kepong, Muar, Johor, of then Malaya, on February 23, 1950, during the height of the First Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960.

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  • Poster for Raja Bersiong

    Raja Bersiong 1968

    Raja Bersiong, the Fanged King, is a cannibal monarch in the Kedah epic literature Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa (HMM). A king with an intense appetite for human blood that over time he grew fangs and began attacking his own people to feast on them.

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  • Poster for Warrior Awang and Master Tok Gajah

    Warrior Awang and Master Tok Gajah 2024

    The story revolves around the British finding out that Tok Gajah intends to go to Terengganu to seek support from the Sultan and Malay heroes of Terengganu. The British ordered the capture and elimination of Tok Gajah and his followers. Awang is forced to rescue Haji Sulong and ensure that Tok Gajah safely leaves Pahang for Terengganu. Awang faces various obstacles and battles with British soldiers led by Captain Syers. Does Awang succeed in defeating Captain Syers this time?

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  • Poster for Snow in Midsummer

    Snow in Midsummer 2023

    For 49 years, Ah Eng and Dou E were trapped in the "513" timeline. In 1969, post-election tensions gripped Kuala Lumpur when the Cantonese street opera "Snow in June" showcased Dou E, portrayed by the troupe master. Amid a riot, Ah Eng and her mother sought refuge with the troupe, losing contact with her brother and father. In 2018, Ah Eng returned to Kuala Lumpur and unexpectedly encountered "Dou E" at the cemetery.

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  • Poster for Silat Legenda

    Silat Legenda 1998

    This fictional film tells the story of the adventures of five young people who finally discover the weapon of wisdom. Set against the backdrop of a futuristic erain Malacca, the film brought a new perspective to the story of Hang Tuah and his five brothers.

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  • Poster for Tribesman: The Last Red Hunter

    Tribesman: The Last Red Hunter 2023

    When Azhar mysteriously emerges in a foreign land, he is captured by the natives and imprisoned for being considered a bringer of calamity to them. One night, he is set free by a native girl. Confused and exhausted, he runs until he passes out. A mute native youth saves him and he integrates into the tribe. But he must find his way back to his reality and his time.

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  • Poster for China Wife

    China Wife 1957

    Ah-gau (Keung Chung-ping) leaves his wife Sou Jing, and son in Macau for Nanyang to join his cousin (Patrick Tse Yin) in search of employment. A series of events propel Ah-gau into high society and he falls in love with a tycoon’s daughter, Ming-zyu, (Patsy Kar Ling). Abandoned by Ah-gau, Sou Jing suffers in utter poverty and journeys to Singapore in search of her husband.

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  • Poster for Hang Jebat

    Hang Jebat 1961

    Inspired by a Malay legend about two friends whose relationship is tested by conflicting loyalties.

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  • Poster for The Rape of Malaya

    The Rape of Malaya 1959

    'Mata Hari' was Malay Film Productions’ second war movie based on the Japanese invasion of Malaya/Singapore in 1941-42, released a few months after the resounding success of Lamberto Avellana and P. Ramlee’s 'Sergeant Hassan'. Written by Abdul Razak (who did the scripts for the 'Pontianak' film series) and directed by the prolific Ramon Estella, the movie stars beauty queen Maria Menado (of Pontianak fame) as ‘Matahari’, the daughter of a kampong headman who is captured by the Japanese. She witnesses the atrocities committed by the invaders, who tortured her father to death and rounded up innocent women to become prostitutes and mistresses for their commanders. Not wanting to cower to the enemy, Matahari (which means the sun in Malay and was also the name of a real-life WWI German spy) decides to form and lead a guerrilla force to fight the Japanese.

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  • Poster for Sultan Mahmood Mangkat Di-Julang

    Sultan Mahmood Mangkat Di-Julang 1961

    Based on the royal and political events during the heyday of the Malacca Sultanate. A member of the Sultanate, Megat Datuk Seri Rama, successfully defeats a group of pirates, and rescues a local beautiful woman in the process. The king, Sultan Mahmud, was delighted with his victory for his kingdom and promotes Megat Datuk Seri Rama to Rear Admiral Datuk. This leads to resentment and jealousy from another member of the court, Bija Tun Ali, especially after Rear Admiral Megat Datuk Seri Rama marries the woman he rescued. Bija Tun Ali then leads a conspiracy against him which ultimately leads to tragedy and upheaval in the kingdom. Written by mahajanssen

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  • Poster for Siti Zubaidah

    Siti Zubaidah 1962

    Siti Zubaidah is based upon the 19th century poem 'Syair Siti Zubaidah Perang Cina'. It centers on Siti Zubaidah, the wife of Sultan Zainal Abidin, who is left defenseless after her husband is taken hostage by a Chinese empress. She eventually allies herself with Princess Rukia of Yunnan, who had fled her own palace under threats of sexual assault. Taking matters into their own hands, they adopt male identities and lead a military conquest across China to rescue the Sultan. Directed by B. N. Rao and starring Maria Menado, the Cathay production borrowed from both of its niches at the time: the film language and costume styles of Malay cinema and Chinese wuxia films, resulting in an imagined reality fusing both visual cultures. At the core of the myriad garbs, armour, accessories and makeup donned by the characters, the tale chronicles the adoption of transformative identities to overcome adversity, enact justice and revenge.

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