Pabrik Gula (Sugar Mill), a new horror film from Indonesia, has become the highest-grossing movie of 2025 in its home country, pulling in $7 million at the local box office. This supernatural thriller, a collaboration between MD Pictures, EST Studios, and N8 Studios, has captivated audiences in Southeast Asia with its eerie visuals, a story steeped in local folklore, and plenty of scares. The movie draws inspiration from regional legends and centers on seasonal workers who find themselves trapped in an old, haunted sugar mill in rural Java, where they must fight off evil supernatural beings.
Manoj Punjabi, CEO of MD Pictures, stated, “Pabrik Gula’s runaway success proves that audiences are hungry for culturally rooted horror. This is more than a box office milestone — it’s a statement that Indonesian storytelling belongs on the world stage.”
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The film’s rapid rise in popularity comes just before its theatrical debut in the United States on April 18, following a premiere at AMC The Grove in Los Angeles on March 26. The premiere was attended by various figures from Hollywood’s horror scene and other celebrities, including Carey W. Hayes, the writer behind The Conjuring franchise, Tara Reid (American Pie), Colton Tran (The Sex Lives of College Girls), and Sebastien Roché from 1923. Purnomo Ahmad Chandra, the Indonesian Consul General, also attended, highlighting the film’s cultural significance.
With a wide release planned across American theaters, Pabrik Gula aims to join the ranks of successful international horror films like The Ring, Train to Busan, and Hereditary, offering a distinctly Southeast Asian take on classic horror themes.
Awi Suryadi, the director, who is also known for helming KKN di Desa Penari, Indonesia’s highest-grossing film of all time, emphasized the importance of combining traditional elements with modern storytelling: Horror is universal, but the stories we tell are rooted in our land, our fears, and our myths. That’s what makes ‘Pabrik Gula’ different — it’s deeply Indonesian, yet deeply human.
EST N8, a sales, production, and finance company based in Los Angeles, acquired Pabrik Gula for release in North America. The deal was facilitated by Tenten Wei, Sophie Shi, and Cathy Ni of EST N8. EST N8 is a partnership between EST Studios, founded in 2022 by Jaeson Ma (Stampede Ventures, 88rising) and Eric Tu (Vice, Anonymous Content), and N8 Studios, which has locations in New York and Bangkok. The company represents a range of Asian films in global markets.
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Jaeson Ma, chairman of EST Studios, said, “The EST N8 team is ecstatic about collaborating with MD Pictures on Pabrik Gula. We can’t wait to introduce audiences to the rich world of Pabrik Gula, a film that will surely connect with fans of supernatural horror.”
Manoj Punjabi, CEO of MD Entertainment, also commented, “We are thrilled to bring Pabrik Gula (Sugar Mill) to audiences in the U.S., marking another milestone for Indonesian cinema on the global stage. This film is a demonstration of our commitment to delivering high-quality storytelling that connects across cultures. With its gripping horror, deep-rooted folklore, and cinematic spectacle, we believe Pabrik Gula will leave a lasting impact on international audiences. We can’t wait for moviegoers in the U.S. to experience the thrill and mystery that this film has to offer.”
