This year, filmmakers like Adrian Teh and Tunku Mona Riza ventured beyond their comfort zones, delivering unique and bold cinematic works.
Known for his action films, Teh directed the drama Gold, based on the life of Cheah Liek Hou, a Malaysian badminton player and two-time Paralympic gold medallist. Starring Jack Tan (as Cheah) and Farid Kamil (as Rashid Sidek), the film earned a modest RM414,000 at the box office but remains a heartfelt and commendable piece worth watching.
Teh also explored new territory with the sci-fi romance Reversi, starring Beto Kusyairy, about a man with the ability to time travel.
Similarly, Tunku Mona helmed Rain Town, a Cantonese film despite not speaking the language. Her daring choice paid off, especially for lead actress Susan Lankester, who won the Best Actress prize at both the Malaysia Film Festival and the prestigious Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA) in Singapore.
While these films didn’t make it into the top 10 in terms of box office earnings, it’s inspiring to see filmmakers broadening their horizons to tell more Malaysian stories.
Encouragingly, the top five films of 2024 also reflected a departure from the norm, offering audiences fresh perspectives.
Leading the pack is the action-thriller Sheriff: Narko Integriti, directed by Syafiq Yusof.
The film highlights the issue of corruption within the police department – a topic that has never been tackled in a fictional work in Malaysian cinema. Not only does it depict police officers colluding with a drug lord, but it also has a rogue policeman who takes justice into his own hands.
Headlined by Zul Ariffin and Syafiq Kyle, the film, released in April, earned an impressive RM64mil at the box office.
This film is now the No.2 in the list of highest-grossing films in Malaysia. No.1 film remains Syamsul Yusof's Mat Kilau.
Another action film that resonated with audiences is Takluk: Lahad Datu, directed by Zulkarnain Azhar. Inspired by the very real 2013 Lahad Datu incursion in Sabah, the film chronicles the bravery and sacrifices of Malaysia’s armed forces.
Despite some restrictions on portraying certain details, Zulkarnain effectively conveyed the essence of the mission.
The film grossed RM26.3mil, and actor Eman Manan, who played the leader of the terrorist group, praised its timely storytelling.
“By recalling the story now, we can remind people that not too long ago, we were attacked. Also, the film can be a way to acknowledge our uniformed officers who were ever ready to defend the country,” the 66-year-old told the media in August when the film was released.
In third place is The Experts, co-directed by Andre Chiew (Polis Evo 2) and Nazim Shah (J2: Retribusi). This heist film revolves around a family of five siblings who are blackmailed into pulling off a dangerous heist. Only problem is, no one is really keen on the family reunion. It has earned RM13mil since its release in May.
Notably, actor Syafiq stars in all three of the top films, further establishing himself as a versatile actor and a rising star in the action genre.
At No.4 is the November release Kahar: Kapla High Council which has so far earned RM12mil.
It is a prequel to the hit 2023 TV series Projek: High Council, centring on the character Kahar.
Although actor Amir Ahnaf, 24, is reprising this role, he revealed that he needed to immerse himself deeply into the story, often putting himself in an emotionally vulnerable space, in order to embody the troubled teen.
Rounding out the top five is the Chinese New Year release All In, which earned RM7.1mil.
Starring Jack Lim and Namewee, the story follows a poker player with the ability to see through lies. After an accident transfers his talent to a naive, happy-go-lucky cafe assistant, they team up to take on a rival player in an ultimate showdown.
In an interview, Namewee said playing the part brought back memories of him working as a waiter at restaurants and even a fried chicken stall.
“Wearing the outfit, it was as if I was working in a restaurant all over again. I felt very comfortable in the role,” recalled the performer.
The five other films on the Top 10 Malaysian films of the year are historical drama Pendekar Awang: Darah Indera Gajah (RM5.8mil); comedy-horror Don Dukun (RM5mil); supernatural horror Anak Perjanjian Syaitan 2 (RM3.4mil); drama Babah (RM3mil) and Zim Zim Ala Kazim (RM3mil), also a comedy-horror.
As Malaysian filmmakers continue to embrace bold storytelling and explore diverse genres, the industry’s future looks promising.
