MD Entertainment Plans 2028 Horror Sequel and 2027 Imax Films
MD Entertainment will release a sequel to its hit horror film 'Pabrik Gula' in early 2028 and has three Imax films planned for 2027, part of a major expansion leveraging its horror library for Southeast Asian and global streaming audiences.
MD Entertainment confirmed plans for a sequel to its 2025 horror hit 'Pabrik Gula' in early 2028. The original film sold more than 5 million tickets in Indonesia before traveling to theaters in Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, the U.S., and Europe.
2027 Film Expansion and Imax Strategy
MD Entertainment has three Imax films planned for 2027. This Imax relationship started with 'Badarawuhi,' the prequel to 'KKN di Desa Penari,' which was the first Southeast Asian film shot for the format. One of the three 2027 Imax films will be based on the YouTube animated series 'Dhot Design,' which draws 8 million to 10 million views per episode.
The company's horror dominance is built on a deep library. MD has more than 200 feature films to its name and has been specializing in horror for more than two decades. Its record-breaking 'KKN di Desa Penari' sold 10.7 million tickets domestically, an Indonesian record at the time.
Streaming Growth and International Deals
MD Entertainment's expansion is also digital. The company took control of free-to-air channel NET TV in a deal worth up to $105 million. Under a separate deal announced in mid-October, two MD titles will roll out on iQIYI by December, with a third arriving in the first quarter of 2027.
Its content performs strongly on global platforms. MD has eight titles on Netflix and three on WeTV, where seven of the platform's top 20 titles were MD productions. The Netflix drama 'Ipar Adalah Maut' topped the streamer’s trending list in its first week and stayed in the top 10 for seven consecutive weeks. A second season is in development for a potential 2027 launch.
Other successes include the Netflix series 'Suara Hati,' whose soundtrack generated 100,000 downloads across Spotify and YouTube Music in its first week. Prime Video ordered a second season of the mother-daughter series 'Induk Gajah' soon after its 2023 debut.
Horror Dominance and Market Strategy
MD plans 12 to 13 releases in 2027, led by horror alongside comedy and drama. This includes 'Ivanna 2,' a follow-up to a spinoff from the 'Danur' horror universe, due in early 2027. The original 'Ivanna' did exceptionally well in Vietnam, breaking theatrical records there.
The company's strategy focuses on culturally rooted horror. MD wants folklore-rooted horror rather than what it describes as watered-down or Hollywood-like thrillers. CEO Manoj Punjabi demands that soul at every greenlight meeting. This specialization has crossed borders more easily than drama, sometimes reaching U.S. and European markets.
MD sees potential in adapting regional intellectual property. It released adaptations of Thai and Korean properties this year and has received co-production inquiries from U.S. and European producers. The company also sees potential in bringing Taiwanese and East Asian IP to Indonesia, a market where local films command around 65% of moviegoing.
With its aggressive schedule, MD Entertainment is positioning itself to lead Indonesia's film industry. The core of its 2027-2028 strategy remains a firm commitment to folklore-rooted horror.
