1. Ah Beng the Movie: 3 Wishes - RM7.6 million
2. Adnan Sempit 2 - RM6.82 million
3. Jalan Kembali: Bohsia 2 - RM4.98 million
4. Mael Lambong - RM4.88 million
5. Istanbul Aku Datang - RM3.58 million
6. Hantu Gangster - RM3.45 million
7. Hantu Kapcai - RM3.19 million
8. Aku Terima Nikahnya - RM2.75 million
9. Bujang Terlajak - RM2.60 million
10. Jangan Pandang-Pandang - RM2.51 million
11. Seefood - RM2.36 million
12. 8 Jam - RM2.3 million
13. Nongkrong - RM2.12 million
14. Kepong Gangster - RM2.09 million
15. Sumpahan Kum Kum - RM2.06 million
16. Sepah The Movie - RM1.9 million
17. Sam - RM1.88 million
18. Hantu Dalam Botol Kicap - RM1.86 million
19.Lagenda Budak Setan II - RM1.81
million
20.Ponti vs Omi - RM1.71 million
21. Keramat - RM1.39 million
22.The Golden Couple - RM1.35 million
23. Fist of Dragon - RM1.26 million (co-production)
24= Aku Ada, Kau Ada? - RM1.21 million
24= Man Sewel Datang KL - RM1.21 million
26. PE3 - RM1.18 million
27. Cinta Kura Kura - RM1.17 million
28. Berani Punya Budak - RM1.13 million
29. Ghost Buddies - RM1.08 million
30.Apa Celop Toqq - RM1.07 million
31. 7 Petala Cinta - RM1.03 million
32. Uncle Usin - RM1 million
33. Azura - RM990,000
34. Budak Pailang - RM960,000
35. Seram Sejuk - RM920,000
36. Untuk Tiga Hari - RM860,000
37= Bunohan - RM780,000
37=Taikun - RM780,000
39=Aji Boy - RM710,000
39=Jidin Sengal - RM710,000
41. 3 Temujanji – RM700, 000
42. Sesuatu Yang Tertinggal - RM690,000
43. Hantu Air - RM680,000
44. You Believe in Ghost? - RM630,000
45. Jiwa Taiko - RM620,000
46. Strawberi Cinta - RM590,000
47. Halim Munan - RM490,000
48. Chow Kit - RM450,000
49. Kahwin 5 - RM390,000
49. Kahwin 5 - RM390,000
50. Baik Giler - RM380,000
51=29 Februari - RM370,000
51=Ngorat - RM370,000
53= Hoore! Hoore! - RM350,000
53= Mantera - RM350,000
55.War of the Worlds: Goliath - RM280,000
56. Salam Cinta - RM260,000
57. Karma Reborn - RM250,000
58. Aji Noh Motor - RM220,000
59. Gerimis Mengundang - RM220,000
60. The Collector - RM210,000
61. X -
RM200,000
62. Hanya Aku Cinta Kau Seorang - RM180,000
63. Aku, Kau dan Dia - RM160,000
64. Sofazr The Movie Jiwa Kacau -
RM150,000
65. Adik Manja Returns - RM140,000
66. Momok - Jangan Cari Pasal -
RM130,000
67. Chantek - RM100,000
68. Prince of the City - RM90,000
69. Air Mata Ibu - RM70,000
70. Adutha Kattam - RM60,000
71. Zaiton, Ceritaku - RM59,000
72. Cinta Beruang - RM50,000
73. Leftwings - RM20,000
74. Vajram - RM10,000
74. Vajram - RM10,000
Some notes:
1. This is the first time that the highest-grossing Malaysian movie of the year is not in the Malay language or any of its 3 most common derivatives: Bahasa Melayu Hantu, Bahasa Melayu Rempit & Bahasa Melayu Jiwang.
2. When Bunohan (the most interesting local movie I saw last year) was released, even some of its admirers found it tough to understand. A University Malaya professor even complained that it was "more difficult than Titanic." And yet it did better than half of the movies last year, most of which were presumably easier than Titanic.
3. Movie producers are now complaining there are too many movies and not enough movie-goers. I say: there are too many movie-goers that producers had ignored for too long, and – guess what? – most of those potential customers ain't coming back.
4. About half the movies in this list (including some worthwhile ones like The Collector and Chow Kit) lost money or barely broke even. This is a case-study in Social Darwinism.
5. The three movies that banked on 1980s nostalgia - Leftwings, Zaiton Ceritaku and Adik Manja Returns – tanked. Contrast this with the American movie Ted. Does this mean Malaysians are more forgetful?
6. The movies that banked on us recognizing 'real-life people' like 29 Februari and Zaiton Ceritaku didn't do great. Perhaps Malaysians don't like reality? (Which explains why there has yet to be a Malaysian documentary to be released theatrically. Two of mine got banned. Ahem.)
7. Two expensive animation projects – Seefood and War of the Worlds: Goliath – were lucky to get generous grants from ... those government agencies that get excited when people mention 'multimedia'. Though their professed targets of "breaking into the international market" has yet to be truly achieved, ambition is always a good thing. Love and strawberries are good also, although I didn't watch Strawberi Cinta.
