KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 — Beyond the box office, Malaysian productions are carving out an increasingly strong presence on streaming platforms including Netflix, iQIYI and Viu.

Series released in 2026 have broadened the scope of local storytelling, tackling themes including mental health, troubled marriages, grief and personal struggles.

In the first half of the year, several local titles attracted significant viewership, reflecting growing audience appetite for Malaysian content on streaming platforms.

Streaming breakouts

One of the standout titles this year is Good Boys Go To Heaven, a psychological thriller released on May 8.

Released simultaneously on Astro GO, Sooka and Netflix, it recorded more than 58 million video views and generated 9.5 million social media impressions across various platforms.

Written by Eenaz Mokhtar and directed by Riza Baharudin, the drama follows Nayla (Mira Filzah), a wife struggling to keep her marriage intact as her husband gradually loses his vision.

The story also explores her emotional conflict after reconnecting with an old friend.

Beyond the box office

Industry figures said the performance of recent local series highlights the growing potential for Malaysian productions to attract audiences across streaming platforms.

“The success of Griya demonstrates what can happen when strong local stories are supported by creative ambition and strategic investment,” said Dinesh Ratnam, Senior Managing Director of iQIYI South-east Asia.

Raja Jastina Raja Arshad described Good Boys Go To Heaven as “a collective cultural experience and a turning point for the industry”.

The momentum has also extended to cinemas, where locally produced films have continued to perform steadily at the box office.

This year, Tarung: Unforgiven currently leads the local box office with RM23.4 million, followed by Libang Libu, which has earned about RM14.1 million.

Malaikat Malam has grossed RM14 million, while Polong has taken in RM14.2 million. Khadam has collected RM2.6 million since its theatrical release on June 11.

With more Malaysian originals in development for both streaming services and cinemas, industry players believe local productions are increasingly well-positioned to compete for audiences across multiple platforms.