The 10 Essential Indonesian Films You Need to Watch

Indonesian cinema has produced films that can stand alongside the best the world has to offer. This list draws from across eras and genres to highlight the movies that have defined, elevated, and exported Indonesian filmmaking. Whether you're a newcomer to Indonesian cinema or a longtime fan looking to fill in gaps, these ten films are essential.

The List

1. The Raid (2011) — Dir. Gareth Evans

The film that put Indonesian action cinema on the global map. A SWAT team becomes trapped in a Jakarta apartment block controlled by a ruthless crime lord. What follows is widely regarded as one of the greatest pure action films ever made. Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian's pencak silat choreography is breathtaking.

2. Perempuan Tanah Jahanam (2019) — Dir. Joko Anwar

A slow-burn horror masterpiece rooted in Javanese folklore. Indonesia's Oscar submission and Sundance hit remains one of the most atmospheric and emotionally devastating horror films in recent memory.

3. Ada Apa dengan Cinta? (2002) — Dir. Rudy Soedjarwo

The romantic drama that revitalized Indonesian cinema. The love story between Cinta and Rangga became a cultural phenomenon, launching a franchise and inspiring a generation of filmmakers. The 2016 sequel proved its enduring relevance.

4. Laskar Pelangi (2008) — Dir. Riri Riza

Based on Andrea Hirata's beloved novel, this story of schoolchildren on Belitung Island became one of the highest-grossing Indonesian films of its era. Deeply moving, beautifully shot, and genuinely inspirational.

5. Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts (2017) — Dir. Mouly Surya

Described as an Indonesian feminist Spaghetti Western, this film follows a widow on a journey of violent self-determination across the Sumba landscape. Internationally acclaimed and unlike anything else in Indonesian cinema.

6. Pengabdi Setan (2017) — Dir. Joko Anwar

Anwar's remake of the 1980 classic became a genre landmark. Expertly crafted tension, superb sound design, and a deeply unsettling atmosphere. The sequel in 2022 raised the stakes further.

7. The Raid 2 (2014) — Dir. Gareth Evans

A rare sequel that surpasses the original in ambition. Expanding from a building to the entire Jakarta underworld, it features some of the most technically accomplished action sequences ever filmed.

8. Yuni (2021) — Dir. Kamila Andini

A quiet, powerful portrait of a teenage girl in rural Java resisting social pressure to marry. Winner of multiple international awards and Indonesia's Oscar submission, Yuni is essential contemporary Indonesian cinema.

9. Autobiography (2022) — Dir. Makbul Mubarak

A political thriller that uses a tense relationship between a young caretaker and a retired general to explore Indonesia's authoritarian past. Venice award winner and one of the most critically praised Indonesian debuts in years.

10. Nanti Kita Cerita tentang Hari Ini (2020) — Dir. Angga Dwimas Sasongko

A deeply emotional family drama about three siblings and the secrets their parents kept from them. Beautifully acted and genuinely moving, it became a word-of-mouth hit that resonated with younger Indonesian audiences.

Honourable Mentions

  • KKN di Desa Penari (2022) — Box office phenomenon, folklore horror at its most crowd-pleasing.
  • Seperti Dendam, Rindu Harus Dibayar Tuntas (2021) — Edwin's Locarno-winning genre-bending drama.
  • Salawaku (2016) — A visually stunning coming-of-age road film set in Maluku.

Indonesian cinema is vast and varied. This list is a starting point — each of these films leads naturally to others, and the deeper you explore, the richer the experience becomes.