'Papa Zola' and the economics of everyday sacrifice and growth

A scene from 'Papa Zola The Movie', which grossed more than RM26mil in just 11 days in local cinemas. — Handout

I WATCHED Papa Zola The Movie with my family because it has become one of the most talked about local films of 2025, and perhaps because it was the school holidays and everyone needed to get of the house. What I did not expect, however, was how the film would linger with me long after the credits rolled. 

The Malaysian animated feature has emerged as a box office phenomenon, earning RM26.6mil in just 11 days of screening and overtaking major international titles such as Avatar: Fire and Ash and Zootopia 2 on local charts.