Looking at 5 of the Most Popular Films in Indonesia, from 'Satan's Servant 2' to 'JUMBO' - Some are Promoted All Over the Plane Body

Kapanlagi.com - The film JUMBO has made its own history after successfully reaching 9 million viewers. JUMBO is the only animated film to be among the highest-grossing films in Indonesia.

It can be said that JUMBO is not the only phenomenal film. The other four films that made it into the top 5 highest-grossing films in the country also have various supporting factors. Starting from KKN IN THE DANCING VILLAGE to Satan's Servant 2. Let’s take a closer look!

1. KKN IN THE DANCING VILLAGE

KKN IN THE DANCING VILLAGE successfully bid farewell from the cinema screen with a total of 10,061,033 viewers. This number officially makes it the highest-grossing film in Indonesia's history.

As is known, KKN IN THE DANCING VILLAGE is based on a story from the X Simple Man thread. Long before it was filmed, the story had already gone viral and was read by many netizens on X. It can be said that before the film was made, KKN IN THE DANCING VILLAGE already had its own fan base.

Additionally, rumors that KKN IN THE DANCING VILLAGE is based on a true story were also widely circulated. Even photos of the characters in the film appeared frequently, although there was no confirmation about their authenticity.

Besides these two factors, the success of KKN IN THE DANCING VILLAGE was also supported by the post-Covid-19 pandemic conditions. At that time, it was very difficult for people to go to the cinema due to health protocols.

KKN IN THE DANCING VILLAGE was released when the pandemic was starting to subside. People who had not been able to go to the cinema for 2 years flocked to relieve their longing for the cinema while watching the film KKN IN THE DANCING VILLAGE.

2. JUMBO

(Credit: IMDB)

JUMBO officially premiered on March 31, 2025, right at the moment of Eid. JUMBO was initially doubted to be successful, but positive word of mouth (WOM) from the audience has caused the number of viewers for JUMBO to continue to grow.

You could say that the introduction of this film to the public has been in the works for years. JUMBO has been promoted since 2020, even while production was still ongoing. During that time, JUMBO built public curiosity that bore sweet fruit on the days of the film's screening.

JUMBO has also been widely discussed on social media. Ipang Wahid Stratejik (IPWS) stated that from March 23 to April 18, 2025, JUMBO generated over 24 thousand conversations, with more than half showing positive responses.

Not only is its story relatable due to its focus on bullying issues, but JUMBO also has visual quality that has never been seen in Indonesian animated films before.

What makes JUMBO special is its ability to evoke collective emotions. Keywords like 'cry', 'child', and 'animation' emerged strongly across all channels. Viewers not only appreciated the visual quality but also felt truly emotionally touched," said Ipang Wahid, founder of IPWS, as reported by JPNN.

Related article: Show Inclusive Traits, 'JUMBO' Presents a Film Version Using SDH Subtitles for the Deaf in Several Theaters

3. AGAK LAEN

(Credit: IMDB)

Unlike JUMBO and KKN DI DESA PENARI, which take advantage of the Eid moment, AGAK LAEN is released just before the elections on February 1, 2024. Many speculate that the choice of release date is quite advantageous because many people escape the fatigue of the election chaos by going to watch a comedy film in theaters. This film successfully reached 9,125,188 viewers.

AGAK LAEN is already familiar to the public as a podcast hosted by Indra Jegel, Boris Bokir, Bene Dion, and Oki Rengga. The podcast has also developed into a YouTube channel.

It can be said that AGAK LAEN already has its own fan base long before it became a film. Although the film version ultimately differs from the story in the podcast, AGAK LAEN still manages to achieve success due to its incredibly funny storyline.

AGAK LAEN also serves as a breath of fresh air as a film that presents an original story amid the abundance of adaptation films. Interestingly, as a comedy film, AGAK LAEN truly involves comedians from writing, directing, to acting. This ensures that the consistency of humor is maintained from the beginning to the end of the film.

4. WARKOP DKI REBORN: JANGKRIK BOSS! PART 1

(Credit: IMDB)

WARKOP DKI REBORN: JANGKRIK BOSS! PART 1 premiered on September 8, 2016, and successfully attracted 6,858,616 viewers. This figure placed it at the 4th position among the highest-grossing films in Indonesia.

One of the keys to the success of WARKOP DKI REBORN: JANGKRIK BOSS! PART 1 is its release date, which coincided with a long weekend during the Eid al-Adha holiday. This provided a great starting point.

Furthermore, WARKOP DKI REBORN: JANGKRIK BOSS! PART 1 is also interesting because it revives the characters of the Warkop DKI trio, complete with stories from their films. It can be said that not many films have used this format. This piqued the public's curiosity and also satisfied their longing for Warkop DKI.

Equally fantastic is its promotion. Yes, WARKOP DKI REBORN: JANGKRIK BOSS! PART 1 placed its poster on a skyscraper, on the bodies of several planes, and even on Damri buses. In addition, promotions were also carried out by distributing coffee on Car Free Day and cleaning Jakarta together with the orange troops.

5. SATAN'S SLAVES 2: COMMUNION

(Credit: IMDB)

SATAN'S SLAVES 2: COMMUNION premiered on August 4, 2022, and successfully garnered an audience of 6,391,982. The success of this film is closely tied to the renowned name of Joko Anwar.

Yes, Joko Anwar is known as a director who offers storytelling, aesthetics, and mind-blowing cinematography through his films. Moreover, since SATAN'S SLAVES was released in 2017, he has managed to elevate the Indonesian horror genre.

It’s no wonder that SATAN'S SLAVES 2 was highly anticipated despite the significant gap between releases. Especially since the ending of SATAN'S SLAVES 1 left the audience curious and eager for the continuation of the story in its sequel.

Fans of Joko Anwar's films have also been actively discussing on social media. They analyze the 'SATAN'S SLAVES theory' and try to speculate on Joko Anwar's thought process. Indirectly, these discussions have also contributed to making SATAN'S SLAVES even more popular.

(kpl/tdr)