Malaysian Animation’s New Box Office Benchmark: ‘Papa Zola The Movie’ Passes $2.5 Million In Its First Five Days

Localized animation production has scored another major victory in Malaysia, where Papa Zola The Movie, a locally produced feature from Monsta Studio and Astro Shaw, has grossed more than RM10 million ($2.5 million) in its first five days of release.

Opening on December 11, the film’s historic debut is the latest example of growing audience demand for homegrown animation in smaller markets and a signal of their financial viability.

Directed and written by Monsta CEO Nizam Abd Razak, the film features an adult protagonist rather than targeting young children, a major shift from Malaysia’s traditional animation landscape, which has long favored pre- and grade-school audiences. That creative gamble appears to have paid off, with crowds responding strongly to the film’s more grounded storytelling and character-driven narrative. According to local reports, social media engagement around the film has been similarly buzzy, with viewers sharing personal reflections inspired by its themes.

Speaking with Malay Mail, executive producer Raja Jastina Raja Arshad credited the film’s emotional resonance and strong word-of-mouth momentum as key contributors to the film’s success, especially as attendance builds during the year-end holiday period.

Papa Zola The Movie is currently screening across Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, with plans for wider international distribution beginning in early 2026. Upcoming releases are slated for Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and select Middle Eastern territories.

The film’s box office performance adds to the upward trajectory of Malaysian animation, following the international visibility of franchises such as BoBoiBoy and Mechamato.

Papa Zola The Movie’s impressive opening is a strong endorsement that locally produced animated films can branch out into more sophisticated narratives and target new audiences while remaining commercially viable. Malaysia will surely be a territory to keep an eye on as it continues to diversify its animated offerings.