KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's film industry experienced a remarkable boom in 2025, recording a 107.7 per cent surge in cinema attendance to 14.83 million viewers compared to 7.14 million the previous year.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching revealed that local box office collections also hit a record high of RM247.95 million in 2025, up significantly from RM166.57 million in 2024.
Speaking at the launch ceremony and Top 5 announcement for the 35th Malaysia Film Festival (FFM35) at the Finas headquarters on Oct 10, Teo highlighted the strong performance of major local blockbusters.
"The success of films such as Blood Brothers: Bara Naga (RM73.64 million), Papa Zola The Movie (RM63.88 million) and Ejen Ali The Movie 2 (RM58.40 million), which each grossed tens of millions of ringgit in 2025, proves that Malaysian films can produce quality, entertaining works that appeal to audiences from all walks of life," she said.
To build on this momentum, Teo announced that the RM1 million Creative Content Fund prize will be maintained for the upcoming FFM35 Best Film winner.
"I hope this support helps recipients develop their next project and bring Malaysian stories to a wider audience," she said.
The strong appetite for local cinema has continued into this year, with domestic films drawing 6.10 million viewers up to July 2026 and six titles already surpassing the RM10 million threshold in box office collections.
Addressing broader industry growth, Teo urged state governments and federal territories to mirror the Federal Government's initiative under Budget 2027 regarding entertainment duty exemptions for local screenings and theatre performances.
"I hope other states and territories will consider exempting entertainment duty on local film and theatre tickets so that we can collectively support the local creative industry," she said.
Reflecting on this year's festival theme, Spectrum Of Cinema, Teo noted that it perfectly captures the rich tapestry of modern Malaysian film—spanning diverse communities, languages, and lived experiences.
"Some films make us laugh, some make us think, and others help us understand the lives of others. Diversity is our strength, and we do not need to rely on just one form of storytelling to represent Malaysia," she added.
The FFM35 Awards Night is set to take place on Nov 21 at Istana Budaya.
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