Shocking! Indonesian cinemas dominated by local films, Hollywood and others sidelined

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — The national film industry is showing its mettle at home. Amid pressure on purchasing power and the onslaught of imported films, Indonesian cinema has dominated throughout 2025.

Suprayitno, General Chairman of the Indonesian Cinema Entrepreneurs Association (GPBSI), revealed that, based on data released by the government and compiled from GPBSI members, the number of national film spectators last year reached a significant figure.

‘Throughout 2025, the audience for national films has already reached 80.27 million. That is a very large figure,’ he told CNBC Indonesia on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.

This achievement is not merely a number but a reflection of a shift in the landscape of competition on the big screen. National films are no longer just accessories amid the dominance of imported films.

‘The market share of national films has reached around 60%. That means they have dominated compared with imported films,’ he said.

This dominance is felt not only in big cities but also in the regions. Public enthusiasm for domestic works is said to be increasingly widespread. This trend proves that Indonesian audiences are growing more confident in domestic productions, both in terms of story quality and technical aspects.

He highlighted how several titles were able to draw large audiences despite challenging macroeconomic conditions.

‘Two times in 2025, audience records were broken. This shows that the films are attractive, and people still come to the cinema,’ he explained.

One film that drew attention was Agak Laen, which managed to attract more than 11 million viewers and became a phenomenon in the industry. The success of such films signals a strong signal that national cinema has entered a new phase, where production quality can compete commercially.

‘National films are now extraordinary; they have become the host in their own country,’ asserted Suprayitno.

This momentum must be maintained with consistent quality and a bold exploration of genres so that this dominance is not merely temporary.

‘If the quality is maintained and the stories are close to the community, national films will remain superior in their own market,’ he concluded.