Indonesia's Horror Box Office Boom — 2026-10-26
Indonesia's cinema industry has hit an all-time high with 80.6 million admissions recorded by October 2026, driven largely by the dominance of local horror films. The week of October 19–25 saw horror titles like "Pirunduk" and "Lingsir Wengi" top the box office, while "Kuasa Gelap 2" crossed the 1 million viewer mark, reinforcing the genre's status as the industry's primary revenue engine.
Indonesia's Horror Box Office Boom — 2026-10-26
Top developments
Record-Breaking Annual Admissions
The Ministry of Culture reported that by October 2026, a total of 80.6 million people had attended cinemas across Indonesia. This figure represents a significant milestone for the local film industry, highlighting the sustained appetite for theatrical releases. The surge is heavily attributed to the consistent performance of Indonesian horror films, which have consistently outperformed other genres in recent months.
"Kuasa Gelap 2" Hits 1 Million Viewers
The horror sequel "Kuasa Gelap 2" achieved a major milestone by reaching over 1 million viewers just 17 days after its release. With this achievement, it became the 19th Indonesian film to cross the 1 million viewer threshold in 2026 alone. This rapid accumulation of audiences underscores the strong word-of-mouth and marketing effectiveness surrounding high-profile horror franchises.
Horror Dominates Weekly Box Office
Data from TIX ID and CinePoint for the week of October 19–25 confirms that horror remains the dominant genre. The film "Pirunduk" secured the top position, followed by other horror and thriller entries such as "Lingsir Wengi" and "Siti: Si Vampir". This weekly recap illustrates how horror titles consistently occupy the top ranking slots, leaving other genres to compete for the remaining market share.
Local view
Local media outlets like IDN Times and CNN Indonesia are closely tracking these metrics, framing the horror boom as a critical economic driver for the national film sector. The coverage emphasizes that horror is not just a popular genre but the "king" of the box office, with 13 films crossing the 1 million mark year-to-date, the majority of which are horror titles. Nielsen data further supports this trend, noting that horror content is also increasingly dominating television broadcasts, suggesting a multi-platform consumer preference for fear-based entertainment.
Context & numbers
- Total Admissions: 80.6 million viewers by October 2026.
- 1 Million Club: "Kuasa Gelap 2" is the 19th Indonesian film in 2026 to surpass 1 million viewers.
- Top Weekly Film: "Pirunduk" held the #1 spot for the week of October 19–25.
On the radar
- November Slate: Upcoming releases include a mix of local horror and Hollywood blockbusters like "Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes".
- New Horror Titles: Producers are releasing new films like "Rarangken," which aims to differentiate itself by leveraging Sundanese mythology rather than standard formulas.
- Censorship Discussions: Ongoing debates regarding the Film Censorship Board (LSF) and the proposed Film Law (RUU Perfilman) continue to shape the regulatory environment for horror content.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
