Examining 5 Highest-Grossing Indonesian Films, from 'Satan's Slaves 2' to 'JUMBO' - Some are Promoted All Over the Aircraft

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

It can be said that JUMBO is not the only phenomenal film. The other four films that are among the 5 highest-grossing films in the country also have various supporting factors. Starting from KKN IN THE DANCE VILLAGE to Satan's Slaves 2. Let's check it out in detail!

1. KKN IN PENARI VILLAGE

KKN IN PENARI VILLAGE successfully left the cinema screen with an audience of 10,061,033. This number officially makes it the highest-grossing film in Indonesia's history.

As is known, KKN IN PENARI VILLAGE tells a story from the X Simple Man thread. Long before it was finally made into a film, the story had already gone viral and was read by many netizens on X. One could say that before the film was made, KKN IN PENARI VILLAGE already had its own fan base.

In addition, rumors that KKN IN PENARI VILLAGE is based on a true story have also been widely circulated. Even photos of the characters in the film have been popping up, although there has been no confirmation about their authenticity.

Besides these two factors, the success of KKN IN PENARI VILLAGE is 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 PENARI VILLAGE was released when the pandemic began to subside. People who had not been able to go to the cinema for 2 years flocked to quench their longing for the cinema while watching the film KKN IN PENARI 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 led to a continuous increase in viewers.

It can be said that the process of introducing this film to the public has been ongoing for years. Since 2020, JUMBO has been promoted even while the production process was still underway. During this 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) noted that from March 23 to April 18, 2025, JUMBO generated over 24 thousand conversations, with more than half showing positive responses.

Not only is the story relatable as it addresses bullying issues, but JUMBO also possesses visual quality that has never been seen in Indonesian animated films before.

“What makes Jumbo special is its ability to shape collective emotions. Keywords like 'cry', 'child', and 'animation' appear strongly across all channels. Viewers not only appreciate the visual quality but truly feel emotionally touched,” said Ipang Wahid, founder of IPWS, as reported by JPNN.

3. SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT

(Credit: IMDB)

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

SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT is already familiar to the public as a podcast featuring Indra Jegel, Boris Bokir, Bene Dion, and Oki Rengga. The podcast later evolved into a YouTube channel.

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

SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT 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, SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT 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 an audience of 6,858,616. This number 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 created a great starting point.

Furthermore, WARKOP DKI REBORN: JANGKRIK BOSS! PART 1 is also interesting because it revives the trio characters of Warkop DKL along with the stories from their films. It can be said that not many films have used this format. This piqued the public's curiosity and also fulfilled 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 airplanes, and even on Damri buses. In addition, promotions were also conducted by distributing coffee at 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 attracted 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 stories, aesthetics, and mind-blowing cinematography through his films. Moreover, since Satan's Slaves, which 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 considerable gap between releases. Especially since the ending of Satan's Slaves 1 left audiences 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 guess Joko Anwar's thought process. Indirectly, these discussions have also made Satan's Slaves increasingly popular.

(kpl/tdr)