Box-office figures for 74 Malaysian movies released in 2012

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 

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

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.