Highest Grossing Movies 2025 In Malaysia
Malaysian cinema had a proper moment in 2025.
Local films didn’t just compete with international blockbusters—they actually won some weekends, which felt quietly historic.
The box office numbers told a story about audiences showing up for homegrown stories, and the industry noticed. At least, we at TGV Cinemas noticed it.
The numbers suggest something shifted this year.
Whether it was stronger storytelling, better marketing, or just audiences craving familiar cultural touchstones, Malaysian films found their footing.
1. Blood Brothers: Bara Naga – RM74 Million Malaysia Box Office
Director: Syafiq Yusof and Abhilash Chandra
Release Date: 10 Apr 2025
Cast: Sharnaaz Ahmad, Shukri Yahaya, Syafiq Kyle, Syazwan Zulkifly, Amelia Henderson, Wan Hanafi Su, Zamarul Hisham
Distributor: WAU Animation & Primeworks Studios
Malaysian Box Office: RM74 million
The plot follows Ariff, an elite bodyguard framed for betrayal, who gets hunted by Ghaz—his former best friend and “blood brother.”
Reviews praised the cinematography and action sequences, with audiences particularly drawn to the emotional weight beneath all the fight choreography.
By August 2025, the film landed on Netflix’s Top 10, proving that a well-executed local production can resonate far beyond its home market.
2. Ejen Ali: The Movie 2 – RM58 Million Malaysia Box Office
Director: Usamah Zaid Yasin
Release Date: 22 May 2025
Cast: Ida Rahayu Yusoff, Noorhayati Maslini, Omar H. Ali, Shafiq Isa, Azman Zulkiply
Distributor: WAU Animation & Primeworks Studios
Malaysian Box Office: RM58 million
Ejen Ali: The Movie 2 hit Malaysian cinemas on May 22, 2025, and became the country’s highest-grossing animated film (at that time) with RM55.1 million by June 2025.
Plus, this movie also expanded to international markets, including Canada and Australia.
The theme song “Hanya Kamu” by Dato’ M. Nasir added emotional weight to the cinematic experience.
3. Ne Zha 2 哪吒之魔童闹海 – RM52 Million
Director: Yang Yu (Jiaozi)
Release Date: 13 Mar 2025
Cast: Animated (voice cast varies by region)
Distributor: Encore Films Pte Ltd
Malaysian Box Office: RM52 million
You’re looking at the animated film that basically rewrote the rulebook in 2025.
Ne Zha 2 didn’t just win its opening weekend—it became the highest-grossing film of the year worldwide with over $2.2 billion, claiming the spot as the 5th highest-grossing movie of all time.
It also surpassed Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated film in history.
Its jaw-dropping battle sequences and visual design, with many calling it a fresh take on what animated cinema can achieve.
The story and pacing held their own alongside all that spectacle, which isn’t always easy when you’re juggling mythological drama and eye-melting action scenes.
4. Papa Zola: The Movie – RM44 Million
Director: Nizam Razak
Release Date: 11 Dec 2025
Cast: Nizam Razak, Ieesya Isandra, Noor Ezdiani Ahmad Fauwzi, Yusuf Bahrin
Distributor: MONSTA Studio & Astro Shaw
Malaysian Box Office: RM44 million (up to 31 Dec 2025)
Papa Zola: The Movie arrived in Malaysian cinemas in late 2025 and promptly decided to rewrite the local box office playbook.
Within 22 days, it was outpacing MONSTA’s previous hit Mechamato The Movie.
It stayed at number one for three weeks straight, which is impressive when you’re competing against franchises like Avatar and Zootopia.
Audiences showed up for the superhero kids but stayed for the family drama—we saw even grown men cry.
The animation quality, the nostalgic callbacks (including Lawak Kampus cameos), and themes about parenthood resonated deeply with Malaysian families.
Beautiful stuff.
5. Zootopia 2 – RM31 Million
Director: Jared Bush and Byron Howard
Release Date: 27 Nov 2025
Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Malaysian Box Office: RM31 million
Zootopia 2 didn’t just do well.
It became Walt Disney Animation Studios’ highest-grossing film ever, pulling in USD1.5 billion worldwide and nudging Frozen 2 out of its six-year reign.
The sequel reunites rookie cops Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they investigate a mysterious new case involving a character named Gary De’Snake, taking them undercover into unexpected corners of their city.
Audiences seemed to respond to the film’s mix of heart, humor, and layered storytelling that tackles themes like propaganda and power dynamics without feeling preachy.
Critics and viewers praised its clever references and the undeniable chemistry between its leads, with many noting the film’s ability to entertain kids while giving adults plenty to think about.
In Malaysia specifically, the film resonated strongly, as with most Pixar/Disney movies.
Further reading with our Zootopia 2 review.
6. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – RM28 Million
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
Release Date: 14 Aug 2025
Cast: Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kitō, Hiro Shimono, Yoshitsugu Matsuura
Distributor: Sony Pictures/Crunchyroll
Malaysian Box Office: RM28 million
This 2025 anime phenomenon follows the Demon Slayer Corps as they’re pulled into the Infinity Castle for their final confrontation with Muzan Kibutsuji.
The relentless visual creativity and sharp pacing were truly an adrenaline rush.
The entire movie takes place within the Castle’s shifting architecture, yet the animation team kept every scene feeling fresh with impossible angles and intricate detail.
Fans particularly appreciated that flashbacks served the emotional story rather than padding runtime, while the action sequences pushed anime filmmaking into new territory with dynamic camera work and fluid choreography.
7. The Conjuring: Last Rites – RM27 Million
Director: Michael Chaves
Release Date: 4 Sep 2025
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Malaysian Box Office: RM27 million
The Conjuring: Last Rites became the highest-grossing film in the franchise, pulling in USD494.7 million worldwide after its September 2025 release.
The movie opened with $84 million domestically, marking the third-biggest horror opening ever and setting franchise records along the way.
It is said to be the end for the Conjuring, but from the reception, we know the people want more.
Further reading on Southeast Asian horror movies:
Malay Horror Movies That Will Leave You Shivering
Scariest Indonesian Horror Movies That Made Us Instantly Silent
8. Avatar: Fire And Ash – RM25 Million
Director: James Cameron
Release Date: 18 Dec 2025
Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver
Distributor: 20th Century Studios (Disney)
Malaysian Box Office: RM25 million (up to 31 Dec 2025)
James Cameron’s third trip to Pandora arrived in December 2025 and promptly kept earning money long after opening weekend.
Fire and Ash crossed the $1 billion mark globally, making it the third film in the franchise to hit that milestone.
The movie follows Jake Sully’s family as they face off against the Ash People, a new Na’vi tribe that’s less “let’s all connect with nature” and more “let’s burn things down.”
The film opened with $347 million globally, landing it as the second-biggest opening ever for Cameron.
That in itself is insane.
9. Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning – RM22 Million
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Release Date: 22 May 2025
Cast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames
Distributor: United International Pictures (Sdn) / Paramount Pictures
Malaysian Box Office: RM22 million
Tom Cruise strapped himself to another impossible stunt.
His 65 years old by the way.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning crossed $598.7 million worldwide as of early 2026, which makes it a solid performer in a franchise that’s been defying gravity since 1996.
This makes The Final Reckoning the sixth highest-grossing film in the franchise, surpassing the 1996 original and Mission: Impossible 3.
Glad Tom Cruise is still hanging off planes while the rest of us struggle with self-checkout machines!
10. The Shadow’s Edge 捕风追影 – RM19 Million
Director: Larry Yang
Release Date: 16/8/2025
Cast: Jackie Chan, Leung Kar Fai
Distributor: GSC Movies Sdn Bhd
Malaysian Box Office: RM19 million
Jackie Chan’s latest action thriller managed something impressive: it made you actually want to go to the cinema again.
The Shadow’s Edge follows a retired tracking expert who comes out of retirement to help Macau police catch criminals who’ve outsmarted their entire surveillance system.
The film dominated China’s box office with over $121.9 million by its second weekend and pulled in more than RM10 million in Malaysia within just 13 days of release.
Reviewers praised both Chan and Leung Kar Fai for delivering genuinely strong performances that reminded viewers why they became legends in the first place.
11. How To Train Your Dragon – RM15 Million
Director: Dean DeBlois
Release Date: 12 Jun 2025
Cast: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler
Distributor: United International Pictures (Sdn) / Universal Pictures
Malaysian Box Office: RM15 million
Universal’s live-action remake of the 2010 animated classic became a genuine phenomenon.
You get the story of Hiccup, a young Viking who defies tradition by befriending Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, on the island of Berk where Vikings and dragons have been enemies for generations.
Warm reception to the reimagining, with many viewers admitting they didn’t care that it felt familiar because John Powell’s score still gave them chills and the emotional core remained intact.
12. F1 – RM15 Million
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Release Date: 26 Jun 2025
Cast: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Malaysian Box Office: RM15 million
F1: The Movie puts you right inside the cockpit with Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a retired racing legend who returns to Formula 1 to mentor a young driver while chasing one last shot at glory.
The film pulled off something rare. It made you feel the speed, the danger, and the absurdity of grown adults willingly hurtling around tracks at 200 mph, all while keeping things surprisingly human between the adrenaline rushes.
Malaysians resonated strongly, evidenced by local F1 fans who’ve been showing up to the Sepang Circuit for decades.
Turns out, when you combine genuine racing footage, a charismatic cast, and Hans Zimmer’s score, you get something that actually justifies its ticket price.
13. A Minecraft Movie – RM14 Million
Director: Jared Hess
Release Date: 3 Apr 2025
Cast: Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, Sebastian Hansen, Jennifer Coolidge
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Malaysian Box Office: RM14 million
This video game adaptation followed four misfits who get pulled into the blocky Overworld and need to find their way home with help from Jack Black’s crafter character, Steve.
The movie connected with audiences who appreciated its straightforward adventure story and visual spectacle, even if critics pointed out the overstuffed plot and surface-level storytelling.
What worked was the film’s commitment to bringing Minecraft’s aesthetic to life in ways that felt faithful to the game.
14. Thunderbolts – RM14 Million
Director: Jake Schreier
Release Date: 1 May 2025
Cast: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Lewis Pullman
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Malaysian Box Office: RM14 million
The film follows a group of antiheroes—basically people who’ve made questionable life choices—as they’re trapped and forced to work together on a mission that dredges up all their worst memories.
The movie earned praise for handling heavy themes like depression and trauma without undercutting serious moments with jokes.
In Malaysia specifically, the film performed well enough during its opening run, benefiting from the country’s strong superhero movie audience.
There is also the added appeal of seeing Marvel take a darker, more character-driven approach.
Reviews also highlighted the ensemble chemistry and Bob’s surprisingly grounded mental health arc.
15. Superman – RM 14 Million
Director: James Gunn
Release Date: 10 Jul 2025
Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Malaysian Box Office: RM 14 million
James Gunn’s 2025 Superman brought sincerity back to superhero cinema, and you could feel it in every frame. The added risk in casting someone other than Henry Cavill is also somewhat intriguing for fans.
The film follows Clark Kent as he balances his Kryptonian heritage with his very human Midwestern upbringing.
Luckily, David Corenswet steps into the cape with a warmth that feels like it was missing for a while.
He is paired with Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult’s scene-stealing Lex Luthor.
It found solid footing everywhere, including Malaysia, where superhero films with heart tend to resonate strongly with family audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions: About the Highest Grossing Movies:
1. What Is The Meaning Of Highest Grossing Movies?
When you hear “highest grossing,” it means the films that made the most money at the box office through ticket sales worldwide.
For this, we’re going local. We’re doing one for the Malaysian audience, where, from a financial perspective, these are the best-performing movies in the cinemas for 2025 (limited to up to 31 Dec 2025).
2. Differentiating Highest Grossing Movies And Highest Rated Movies
Before we get into the juicy details, there is actually a difference between “highest grossing” and “highest rated”.
While they both measure performance, the results are derived elsewhere.
No worries, though. We’ve broken down the differences below:
| Highest Grossing | Highest Rated |
|---|---|
| Measures financial success | Measures critical/audience approval |
| Based on ticket sales | Based on reviews and scores |
| Often blockbusters and franchises | Often artistic or niche films |
You can love both types.
You can also love a movie that’s neither particularly profitable nor critically acclaimed.
Your taste doesn’t need to match either list.
