The upcoming Merdeka day holiday is one that every Malaysian citizen looks forward to. Some may take the opportunity to attend the annual National Day parade, while some may enjoy a fun day out in the sun (or in an air-conditioned mall). For the most part, it will be a chill day for many of us who will be putting our feet up in front of the telly at home. The only problem? Choosing what to watch. Surely, our national day is the perfect occasion to watch a homegrown movie or two. There are a variety of Malaysian movies to stream on Netflix—both new and classic—so if you’re in the mood to show some love towards our local content, take your pick from this curated list below! Sorry, no Mat Kilau yet.
9 Best Malaysian Movies To Check Out On Netflix Now
If you have not watched Malaysian movies on Netflix before, this list will make it easy for you to discover what to watch without wasting time browsing endlessly.
Leftenan Adnan
There’s no better Malaysian movie on Netflix to stoke national pride in you than Leftenan Adnan. Based on true historical events, the 2000 war film captures the Japanese army invasion during World War II and how our troops fought against it. A digitally-restored version of the movie with additional scenes cut from the initial theatre release was released in 2020 and came onboard Netflix in August 2021. You can now catch (or re-watch) the more fleshed-out version in all its HD glory on the streaming site.
Language: Malay, English
Cast: Hairie Othman, Umie Aida, Faizal Hussein
Genre: Biography, history, romance, war
Running Time: 127 minutes
Paskal: The Movie
Paskal made major waves when it debuted in local cinemas in 2018. It was hailed as a milestone in the Malaysian film industry for breaking the norm and approaching international filmmaking standards. The military actioner—also the most expensive Malaysian film ever made—tells of the exploits of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s elite force. It packs great explosive actions and an engaging plot from a multiracial cast—the perfect movie to watch to prep yourself for the upcoming theatrical release of Air Force: The Movie.
Language: Malay, English
Cast: Hairul Azreen, Ammar Alfian, Henley Hii, Jasmine Suraya Chin
Genre: Action, drama
Running Time: 115 minutes
Wira
From the producer and director of Paskal comes Wira, a testosterone-filled movie with thrilling close-quarter combats. Set in the same universe as Paskal, an ex-military man out to settle some scores with thugs who got tangled up with his family. Another high-action feature from Adrian Teh worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of hard-hitting hand-to-hand fights.
Language: Malay
Cast: Hairul Azreen, Fify Azmi, Yayan Ruhian, Henley Hii
Genre: Action
Running Time: 109 minutes
Fly By Night
If you have missed out on this sleeper hit the first time around, now’s your chance to catch it. Fly By Night is a neo-noir caper that centres around four taxi drivers who extort money from their wealthy passengers. Along the way, things go very, very wrong due to the action of one, which led to the gang being pursued by not only a police inspector but also a criminal gang. Besides receiving critical acclaim, Fly By Night was also screened at several major international film festivals including the 23rd Busan International Film Festival and 2019 New York Asian Film Festival.
Language: Mandarin, Malay, Cantonese
Cast: Bront Palarae, Frederick Lee, Jack Tan, Fabian Loo,
Genre: Crime, drama
Running Time: 100 minutes
Kongsi Raya
Want a feel-good, laugh-out-loud movie that also truly captures the Malaysian spirit? Kongsi Raya is just what the doctor ordered. It tells of a relationship between a Chinese guy and a Malay lady and all the trials and tribulations they have to go through to get blessings from their respective fathers, who happened to be rival chefs! The film was released during the Chinese New Year celebration earlier this year, and it’s one of the latest Malaysian movies to be on Netflix.
Language: Malay, Mandarin
Cast: Kin Wah Chew, Erra Fazira, Harith Iskandar, Qasrina Karim
Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 102 minutes
Hail, Driver! (Prebet Sapu)
Here’s one good reason to catch Hail, Driver! (a.k.a. Prebet Sapu in Malay)—it was Malaysia’s submission for the Best International Feature Film submission at the 94th Academy Awards. It had a fine run at several international film festivals before making its Malaysian cinema debut in December 2021. Shot entirely in black-and-white, the drama revolves around the relationship between a colour-blind e-hailing driver and a mysterious escort.
Language: Malay, Mandarin
Cast: Amerul Affendi, Mei Fen Lim, Bront Palarae
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 82 minutes
Roh
This list isn’t complete without a horror movie, which is a staple Malaysian movie fare. However, Roh isn’t just any ordinary local horror flick. Like Hail, Driver, it was Malaysia’s selection for the 93rd Oscar. On the local front, it won six awards, including Best Film at the 31st Malaysia Film Festival. Safe to say, the folk horror film steeped in Malay folklore manages to deliver the scares!
Language: Malay
Cast: Farah Ahmad, Mhia Farhana, Harith Haziq, Namron
Genre: Drama, horror, mystery
Running Time: 83 minutes
Frontliner
We have all battled with Covid-19, but the frontliners battled even harder. Although the worst of the pandemic is behind us, the collective experience during the height of the crisis is a surreal one. Relive those unforgettable moments through the eyes of several frontliners (played by well-known local actors) in this drama film that will surely take your emotions on a roller-coaster ride.
Language: Malay
Cast: Farah Ahmad, Beto Kusyairy, Emma Maembong, Wan Maimunah
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 89 minutes
The Assistant
Adrian Teh was not done directing action-packed films after Paskal and Wira. This year, he’s back with another high-octane thriller in The Assistant. Screened in cinemas less than three months ago, you will be able to watch this Malaysian blockbuster movie on Netflix beginning August 19. Aside from meeting some very familiar faces (provided you have watched his two previous works), you can also expect an intriguing watch with a few plot twists thrown in. Oh, and balls-to-the-walls action, of course!
Language: Malay
Cast: Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin, Hairul Azreen, Henley Hii, Kin Wah Chew
Genre: Action
Running Time: 124 minutes
Make The Most Out Of Your Merdeka Holiday At Home With These Malaysian Movies On Netflix
Malaysian-made movies have not had the best of reputations, no thanks to the deluge of subpar horror, romantic comedy, and Mat Rempit movies dominating the local film industry for the longest time. If you have been avoiding local movies like a plague, give these Malaysian movies available on Netflix a try, and you will be in for some pleasant surprise. Now that’s a good way to spend your Merdeka day holiday!
Want more local movie recommendations to watch this Merdeka? Try these! Meanwhile, do also check out these upcoming movies, upcoming series, and best family movies on Netflix to add to your watchlist.
Last not but least, here’s wishing all our dear readers Happy Merdeka! Be sure to watch Shopee Malaysia’s latest Merdeka Festive video “JOM MAIN!” below:
