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Films from Malaysia

Best Movies from Malaysia

Malaysia's catalogue on Celluloid runs to 14 films spanning 2012–2026 across 3 languages — chiefly Malay and Mandarin —, led by Abang Adik (81%) and Guang (75%). Every title is ranked by our four-input Celluloid Score with critic consensus and expert reviews on each film page.

Quick Answer

The highest-rated Malaysia film on Celluloid is Abang Adik (2023) with an 81% Celluloid Score — Recommended.

14
Films indexed
67%
Avg. Celluloid Score
3
Languages
10
Critic reviews

Guide to Malaysia Movies on Celluloid

Each film from Malaysia in our catalogue includes a Celluloid Score from up to four verified inputs, original verdict text, and linked editorial reviews where available. Audience sentiment is separate.

Titles are indexed by original language and country of production for easier discovery.

Essential Malaysia Picks

Top 5 by Celluloid Score
Abang Adik 2023 · Jin Ong · Malay

Malaysia's social-issue breakthrough — Abang Adik won Festival Filem Malaysia's top prizes and proved local cinema could tackle immigration with the same urgency as global festival darlings.

81%
Celluloid Score Recommended
Guang 2018 · Quek Shio-chuan · Mandarin

A quiet triumph — Guang won hearts at festival circuits for Alan Khoo's performance and Quek's refusal to treat autism as either tragedy porn or inspiration bait.

75%
Celluloid Score Recommended
One Two Jaga 2018 · Namron · Malay

Raw, angry, essential — Namron's film channels social rage into propulsive crime storytelling and became a twin winner at FFM and Anugerah Skrin.

75%
Celluloid Score Recommended
Roh 2019 · Emir Ezwan · Malay

Malaysia's folk horror landmark — Roh won Festival Filem Malaysia Best Film and exported Southeast Asian supernatural dread to Shudder with patient, painterly scares.

75%
Celluloid Score Recommended
Bunohan 2012 · Dain Said · Malay

Dain Said’s Kelantanese crime fable won JAFF’s Golden Hanoman in 2012 — a Malay-language landmark that put Malaysian art cinema on the Jogja map.

73%
Celluloid Score Recommended

Malaysia Movie Reviews

All reviews →

Full critic reviews with answer-engine summaries — each review answers whether the film is worth watching, what it is about, and where to stream it.

Abang Adik (2023) ★★★★½

Abang Adik (2023) Review: Brothers Without Papers

Abang Adik is Jin Ong's Malaysian drama about two undocumented brothers in Kuala Lumpur, a devastating, superbly acted portrait of love on society's margins.

Yes. It is one of the strongest Malaysian films in years, moving and beautifully performed, best for viewers ready for heavy emotion and a heartbreaking social drama.
Guang (2018) ★★★★☆

Guang (2018) Review: Hearing the World His Way

Guang is Quek Shio-chuan's gentle Malaysian drama about an autistic young man with a gift for music, and a rare film about autism that avoids easy sentiment.

Yes. It is a tender, unshowy family drama with a fine lead performance, best for viewers who value quiet sincerity over big dramatic payoffs.
One Two Jaga (2018) ★★★★☆

One Two Jaga (2018) Review: Malaysia's Bribery Economy

One Two Jaga is Namron's tough Malaysian crime drama about police corruption and exploited migrant workers, an angry, compact portrait of a system on the take.

Yes, with reservations. It is a gritty, pointed Malaysian crime drama for viewers who value social bite over polish, though its rough edges and thin subplots show.
Roh (2019) ★★★★☆

Roh (2019) Review: Malaysian Folk Horror at Its Bleakest

Roh is Emir Ezwan's spare Malaysian folk horror about a jungle family and a mysterious child, a slow-burning film of whispered omens and mounting dread.

Yes, with reservations. Patient horror fans will find it haunting and beautifully made; anyone wanting clear explanations or frequent scares may find it too opaque.
Bunohan (2012) ★★★½☆

Bunohan (2012) Review: Brothers, Blood and Kelantan Myth

Bunohan is Dain Said's moody Malay-language crime fable about three brothers drawn back to their Kelantan village, strong on atmosphere if sometimes opaque.

Mostly yes. It is a striking, atmospheric Malaysian crime drama for viewers who like slow-burning genre films, though its storytelling can be hard to follow.
Shuttle Life (2017) ★★★½☆

Shuttle Life (2017) Review: Grief on the Margins of KL

Shuttle Life is Tan Seng Kiat's raw Malaysian drama about a struggling family in Kuala Lumpur, a bleak but compassionate study of poverty, grief and mental illness.

Yes, with reservations. It rewards viewers who value unflinching social realism and strong acting, but its relentless bleakness makes it a demanding watch.
Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan (2022) ★★★★☆

Mat Kilau (2022) Review: Silat Against the Empire

Mat Kilau is Syamsul Yusof's Malaysian silat epic about Malay warriors resisting British rule in 1890s Pahang, a rousing, record-breaking action spectacle.

Yes, with reservations. It is thrilling, big-screen martial-arts action with national pride at its core, best for action fans who can accept its broad strokes.
Singing in Graveyards (2016) ★★★½☆

Singing in Graveyards (2016) Review: An Impersonator's Blues

Singing in Graveyards is Bradley Liew's dreamlike drama about an ageing rock impersonator in the Philippines, a slow, melancholy film built around Pepe Smith.

Yes, with reservations. Patient viewers who enjoy slow, atmospheric art cinema will find it haunting, but its length and drifting rhythm will lose others.
Sheriff: Narko Integriti (2024) ★★★½☆

Sheriff: Narko Integriti Review: Corruption at Full Volume

Sheriff: Narko Integriti is Syafiq Yusof's loud, crowd-pleasing Malaysian narcotics thriller, a 2024 box-office hit that trades subtlety for scale and momentum.

Yes, with reservations. It is a propulsive, star-driven cop thriller for fans of commercial action cinema, but viewers after nuance or tight plotting may find it overblown.
Munafik 2 (2018) ★★★½☆

Munafik 2 (2018) Review: Faith Under Siege

Munafik 2 is Syamsul Yusof's Malaysian horror sequel, an openly religious ghost story about faith and hypocrisy that scares effectively despite its melodrama.

Yes, with reservations. It is a confident, genuinely creepy Islamic horror film for genre fans, though its heavy melodrama and sermonising will not suit everyone.

Popular Genres

Drama 12 Action 5 Thriller 4 Crime 3 Horror 3 Music 1

TV Series and Dramas from Malaysia

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All Malaysia Movies

Ranked by Celluloid Score

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best movies from Malaysia?

Browse our Malaysia catalogue sorted by Celluloid Score — the highest-rated films appear first with critic and audience ratings on every card.

How does Celluloid rate films from Malaysia?

Celluloid Score combines Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb inputs into a single percentage; audience sentiment is displayed separately alongside the written verdict and review.