Indonesian Horror Smash ‘Pabrik Gula’ Haunts Local Box Office With $7 Million Haul Ahead of U.S. Release

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In simple terms, for this year 2025, the Indonesian horror movie “Pabrik Gula” (Sugar Mill) directed by Awi Suryadi has become the highest-grossing film in Indonesia, earning approximately $7 million at the domestic box office.

A chilling supernatural horror film, jointly produced by MD Pictures, EST Studios, and N8 Studios, has left Southeast Asian viewers spellbound with its eerie settings, folklore-inspired storyline, and incessant frights. Drawing on local myths and legends, the terrifying plot revolves around migrant workers who become ensnared within an abandoned, ghostly sugar mill in rural Java, where they confront malevolent supernatural forces.

Manoj Punjabi, CEO of MD Pictures, stated that ‘Pabrik Gula’s’ remarkable achievement demonstrates a strong appetite for horror stories steeped in cultural roots. This isn’t just about breaking box office records; it’s about validating that Indonesian storytelling deserves global recognition.

The movie is rapidly gaining popularity just a few weeks before its U.S. theater release on April 18, which followed its premiere at AMC The Grove in Los Angeles on March 26. This red carpet event attracted a variety of horror aficionados and celebrities from Hollywood, such as Carey W. Hayes (writer of “The Conjuring” series), Tara Reid (“American Pie”), Colton Tran (“The Sex Lives of College Girls”), and Sebastien Roché (“1923”). Even the Indonesian Consul General, Purnomo Ahmad Chandra, was present, emphasizing the film’s significance in cultural and diplomatic terms.

In cinemas nationwide, the film “Pabrik Gula” intends to join the ranks of globally acclaimed horror hits such as “The Ring,” “Train to Busan,” and “Hereditary.” It promises to offer a chilling Southeast Asian perspective on classic horror themes.

As a filmmaker recognized for my commercial reliability within Indonesia’s genre, even holding the title of the country’s highest grosser with “KKN di Desa Penari,” I emphasize the importance of blending traditional aspects with modern narratives: “Horror transcends borders, but our tales are deeply embedded in our land, our apprehensions, and our legends. That’s what sets ‘Pabrik Gula’ apart – it’s distinctly Indonesian at its core, yet universally human.

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2025-04-08 19:17