Best Singaporean movies

A freak tsunami traps shoppers at a coastal Australian supermarket inside the building ... along with a 12-foot great white shark.

Dante journeys through the nine circles of Hell -- limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery -- in search of his true love, Beatrice. An animated version of the video game of the same name.

Follow three professional video game players as they overcome personal adversity, family pressures, and the realities of life to compete in a $1,000,000 tournament that could change their lives forever.

In 1992, teenager Sandi Tan shot Singapore's first indie road movie with her enigmatic American mentor Georges – who then vanished with all the footage. Twenty years later, the 16mm film is recovered, sending Tan, now a novelist in Los Angeles, on a personal odyssey in search of Georges' vanishing footprints.

Following a deadly viral outbreak, private military soldier Max Gatling leads a handful of survivors and a ragtag band of robots against an army of the infected.

During the late 1990s, a busy working-class Singaporean couple hires a Filipino woman as a maid and nanny to their young son.

Masato is a young ramen chef in Japan. When he finds his late mother's journal after the sudden death of his emotionally distant father, he takes it with him to her native country, Singapore, hoping to piece together the story of his family and his life.

Pregnant Joey teeters on the brink of madness after several fruitless suicide attempts. She's the unwilling recipient of an influx of shadowy images that haunt her pervasively. In an attempt to quell this disturbing phenomenon, she looks up with her secretive ex-lover Sam, who may be able to shed some light upon the mysterious twilight world descending upon Joey.

Coral Reef Adventure follows the real-life expedition of ocean explorers and underwater filmmakers Howard and Michele Hall. Using large-format cameras, the Halls guide us to the islands and sun-drenched waters of the South Pacific to document the health and beauty of coral reefs. Featuring songs written and recorded by Crosby, Stills & Nash.

This sensitive and sensual film draws together several narratives spanning several decades, all of them transpiring in the same room of the same Singaporean hotel — and all of them involving sex.

American tattoo artist Jake Sawyer wanders the world, exploring and exploiting ethnic themes in his tattoo designs. At a tattoo expo in Singapore, he gets his first glimpse at the exotic world of traditional Samoan tattoo (tatau), and, in a thoughtless act, unwittingly unleashes a powerful angry spirit. In his devastating journey into Pacific mysticism, Jake must find a way to save his new love, Sina and recover his own soul.

A cop in Singapore investigates the disappearance of a Chinese migrant construction worker who spent sleepless nights playing a mysterious video game.

After a Vietnamese woman dies in a car crash in Saigon, her brother-in-law and her young son transport her body back to the former’s hometown in rural Vietnam, where they plan to give her a funeral.

An aspiring violinist and a professional translator live parallel lives and appear to be perfect for each other, but somehow fate seems to keep them apart. Living in different units of the same apartment building, they never meet, because when they leave, one turns left, and one turns right.

Animated film based on the life and stories of Manga writer Yoshihiro Tatsumi who revolutionised the art form with darker, more adult stories. The film animates several of his stories.

A privileged and impulsive young man attempts to escape mandatory service in his nation's army so he could study abroad with his girlfriend.

A series of intertwining tales involve "pleasure seekers and pleasure providers" during the course of one night in Geylang, Singapore's red-light district. There are three distinct stories, united only by the presence of characters from all the stories in a streetside eatery:

After realising his foolishness in malingering, Ken returns to Tekong to continue his Basic Military Training, and reforms himself as a model recruit. However, this draws dislike and mockery from his section mates, led by the street-smart Lobang.

Five troubled teens, abandoned by society and family, form a bond in a world of violence, drugs, and self-destruction, facing harsh realities of modern Singapore.

The Authority presents its first ever fashion film: a journey of discovery through Jeju Island, and ultimately love.

UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie (also known as UFC on ESPN+ 83) is a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on August 26, 2023, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.

In an alternate timeline, Ken, Lobang and Wayang King are transferred to the Naval Diving Unit (NDU) and have to overcome obstacles and personal issues to grow as people.

A doctor suspects black magic on his hospital after experiencing some bizarre incidents and sends for two doctors (who are a couple) from Hong Kong. The wife is very skeptical and places volunteer for a spell. It became obvious that here is an evil wizard who stay young by including drinking human breast milk. A Shaw Brothers production.

In the near future in the Asian city-state Sintawan, everyone's identity is recorded in the vast CyberLink. The only way around this is using illegal simulated identity implants (sims). A young bounty hunter who makes her living tracking sims, finds herself the unlikely ally of a police detective who suspects the CyberLink is being perverted for an insidious and deadly purpose.

Merlion sells rojak at a local hawker center. All his life confused by his mixed identity of fish and lion, he seeks to find an answer within himself.

Dai Hung is the head chef of Ah Yong Cafe who is unable to get along with the owner's daughter, Rosemary. When trouble starts brewing at their workplace, Dai Hung and Rosemary have to set their differences aside to save the cafe.

After his cancer diagnosis, an old man is given six months to live. His granddaughter’s camera gently captures his sense of belonging in China — the place he left behind but never forgot — and the story of his family in Singapore.

Marred with her delinquent past, 'Lin' hopes to turn over a new leaf as she graduates from a juvenile rehabilitation centre with stellar scores in the national exam. However, it seems that her streak of unfortunate circumstances trails behind like a spectre lurking in her shadows.

A movie based on a series of school based videos from Singaporean YouTuber, JianHao Tan. The series started with simple school themed videos that later became the Class T1T5 series with a continuing storyline.

This documentary follows four people living with Harlequin ichthyosis, a rare genetic skin disorder, in Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Based on a true story, "Pid pokati mai" is a reflection on human life during the Covid-19 pandemic and, also, under the Emergency Decree. "Pid pokati mai" follows many characters from different scenarios who share the same awkward situation.

A mainland Chinese filmmaker, exiled to Hong Kong for her politically-charged work, reunites with her mother on a trip to Taiwan.

The story spans from 1965 to the early 1970s. Heavily pregnant Zhao Di, the unwanted second wife of an older man, was chased out by her husband's family and forced to return to her own family. She gave birth to a pair of twins, Shun Fatt and Su-mei. As Su-mei had two moles on her face, which was said to be bad luck, she decided to give her up due to the pressure of wanting to build a better life for the rest of her family.

Ah Huang, Ah Qiang and Ah Hui have been friends for as long as they can remember. When Ah Huang's mounting debts drive him to desperate measures, Ah Qiang and Ah Hui agree to lend him money. He uses the money to build an illegal business. Even after the business become successful, he refuses to repay the money to his friends. However, when the business collapses, Ah Huang is forced to question everything as his family, friendships, and remaining money are all threatened.

Sarah, raised in New York, visits Malaysia for the first time and learns why her grandfather, Gen, and mother, Sophia, have not seen each other since she was born, and why they care so much about their cultural traditions.

T is a legendary killer operating in Singapore. His victims enter his life via a small red envelope in his mailbox. T is a professional killer: calm and cold-blooded, he is capable of all the violence necessary for his job. T's life is turned upside down when an important businessman hires him to kill all the criminals involved in his son's kidnapping.

Mia, an ex-prostitute, is trapped in a loveless marriage with the abusive Quan (Sunny Pang, who also stars in Headshot in this year’s Festival lineup), a butcher who runs a roast meat shop. When she meets sensitive funeral director Wu, their passion for one another escalates into an affair. But the path to true love is fraught with jealousy, forcing someone to make a deadly move.

Inspired by true events, Solos explores relationships among three individuals who are struggling to open up their feelings towards each other. Filmmakers Kan Lume and Loo Zihan co-directed this pathos that dramatizes the selfishness of love and its tragic outcomes. Set in contemporary Singapore, Solos follows the endeavors of Boy, Man and Mother. Having been in a relationship with Man (Lim Yu Beng) for years, Boy (Loo Zihan) eventually grows up and wishes to quit the relationship. Conversely, Man still wants to be with Boy and for them to settle together. Meanwhile, Mother (Goh Guat Kian) is devastated that her son (Boy) has abandoned her and has been in relationship with Man. As the three characters fight their own demons, Solos juxtaposes reality and surreal scenes in order to give clues of each character’s inner desires. The film has minimum conversation to give freedom to the audience's individual interpretation of the film.

Ah Ma is lying in the hospital, her life hanging by a thread. Her family gathers by her deathbed to send her off. Overwhelmed by sadness, they struggle to find their own way of coming to terms with the impending end.

Jiahao, a drag queen estranged from his conservative family, returns home after his father's passing to help his brother, Jia Qiang, to care for their mother, Ju Hua, who has been diagnosed with dementia. As Ju Hua's condition worsens, she becomes increasingly reliant on Jiahao – reigniting past wounds and emotional strains. One night, a tired Jiahao returns home still in drag, met with panic and confusion from his mother who threatens to call the police. In a moment of quick thinking, he calms her by pretending to be her daughter instead.

A glamorous Hong Kong performer struggles to make a home in suburban 1960s Australia.

When uniformed high-rise housing began sprouting in post-independence Singapore, a local architect to bring the “kampong spirit” back into the city sky by coming up with the Pearl Bank Apartment.

At the end of the day, the moon dominates any picture than includes the night sky.

Six-year-old Stanley has a year left to be Disney's Queen Elsa to his heart's content, before formal education starts.

The fourth addition to the franchise sees the return of the army boys including Sergeant Ong, Lobang, Ken Chow and Aloysius, joined by a new female officer, as they are called back for in-camp training under the Armoured Formation of the Singapore Armed Forces. Hilarious situations happen when they are back training together and their military roles reversed. Their brotherhood is also put to the test when new enemy threats arise.

On the last day for the residents to vacate a high-rise apartment before its demolishment, a young girl, Iris, and her mother are moving out. On a tight deadline, her boyfriend and his friend are also present to help. Iris inevitably gets distracted exploring the vacant spaces of her neighbours, relishing the moment. As they pull away in the rental truck for the last time, Iris sits in the back with her boyfriend, surrounded by her furniture. She allows a small ray of light to penetrate the darkness of the truck. The images of the outside world appear on the interior of the truck; they watch the inverted building before it eventually disappears forever.

An aspiring filmmaker, who is also down on luck, goes to Singapore to meet a producer, but what follows is misadventure after misadventure, with a dash of romance thrown in.

Trapped in the underground train tunnel system, a single mother’s resolve to protect her son is tested to the extreme as both of them are the few remaining survivors of an attack by a monster. Meanwhile in the control room, duty engineers fight desperately to rescue the trapped survivors.

Hock, a Bruce Lee-worshipping grocery boy, falls in love with disco after a screening of his favorite kung fu film is replaced with a "Saturday Night Fever" clone. Partnering up with his friend Mei, he signs up for dancing lessons to prepare for a contest, in order to make some extra cash and buy a new motorcycle.

Only after an ambitious property agent, Charlie, joins a successful agency run by a rich couple, Gordon and Lucy, did he realise the horrific secret behind the company's success. They make a high profit by buying properties for cheap after someone has died or been murdered there and then selling them back with exorbitant prices without mentioning the truth to the buyers. Charlie is caught in an ethical dilemma where he continues on selling these properties but is constantly haunted by the supernatural beings there.

Jobless and penniless, the happy-go-crazy trio Ramli, Aziz, and Sudin decide to try their luck as movie stars while navigating the daily challenges of living in a crowded boarding house. The studio manager promises them a break if they can prove their talent in a screen test, but their naivety and inexperience lead to hilarious results. With their ongoing antics, will fame in showbiz change them in any way? The fourth installment of the 'Bujang Lapok' series. This film chronicles the misadventures of the three bachelors as they embark on their quest for stardom. Along the way, they also contend with their eccentric neighbors and Ramli’s budding romance with one of them.

A technician and a senior manager swap bodies after an accident and soon experience each other's struggles within a strictly rule-abiding bureaucracy.

A musical, all-singing, all-dancing, attack on censorship in Singaporean movies

A personal, unwavering documentary of a dialogue between mother and son regarding his sexuality.

Longing for human contact Xiao Wu tries all he can to make a connection through physical and metaphorical walls in that hour between night and day.

Charlie has always had a secret crush on Gabriel, but he’s not great with his emotions. Sparks fly when the two spend the night putting together the perfect recipe for a Valentine’s Day TV special.

Disappointed by his failed dreams, Loh Poh Huat visits his frustrations on his family. So when he wins the lottery, everyone believes the money will deliver them from their struggles. However, Loh dies abruptly and his elaborate and surreal Taoist funeral pitches the family into a battle where the stakes are the very meaning of life itself. Singapore Dreaming is a poignant yet darkly humorous story which follows the lives of six individuals as they navigate the rapidly changing conditions experienced in today’s modern South-East Asian cities.

This film is a tale about a young girl who grew up in the slave caste group and how she came to be immortalized as their locality, Maadathy.

Disillusioned government worker, Ryan, is stuck in a soulless job at the local town council. While tracking down a missing recycling bin, he encounters a homeless man, Peng, who claims to be an extraterrestrial. As Ryan begrudgingly teams up with Peng to hunt for the latter's doomsday device, they embark on a madcap adventure through Singapore: running into a rabid doomsday cult hot on their heels, dodging top-secret government agents, yet finding surprising allies who join their cause. Sometimes by simply helping the person next to you — even if they are a crazy-looking homeless man who's really an alien — you can Save The World!!!

A wondrous, utterly engaging ballet of shapes, incredible creatures and pure, joyous animated movement.

A boy returns to Singapore from his studies in Europe, two days before he is enlisted into the army. A sensitive depiction of an 18-year-old’s struggle between national duties and personal liberty.

Two weeks after a tutor loses his phone, he receives pictures of him and his lover, as well as a mysterious package. As he races to save his lover, he unravels a sinister plan against him.

A group of film students burn paper effigy cameras for the wandering spirits during the ghost month in Singapore and receive a collection of horror movies in return.

A geeky young man prepares for his upcoming driving test by driving his father’s taxi around in the neighbourhood nightly.

It is an unwelcome homecoming for Siva, a Singaporean-Indian ex-convict, haunted by a tragedy in his past. Released after eight years behind bars and dejected by his mother’s coldness, he leaves home in search of his ex-wife and daughter. His old friend denies any knowledge of their whereabouts and instead leads him back into crime. Finding him sheltering in ‘void decks’ (the open public access corridors found beneath government-built residential housing in Singapore), the police force him to meet with a social worker; a woman also dealing with her own fears.