Gundala (film)
Gundala is a 2019 Indonesian neo-noir superhero film based on the Gundala comics by Hasmi. It’s the first movie in the Bumilangit Cinematic Universe and was directed and written by Joko Anwar. The cast includes Abimana Aryasatya, Tara Basro, Bront Palarae, Ario Bayu, Cecep Arif Rahman, Rio Dewanto, and Muzakki Ramdhan.
Plot in simple terms: Sancaka, a factory worker with a tough life, is struck by lightning and gains thunder-related powers. With help from friends, he creates a homemade superhero suit and becomes Gundala to fight crime boss Pengkor, who plans to poison rice to control unborn children. As the story unfolds, Sancaka fights to stop the plan, loses allies, and learns that a larger danger is waking an ancient warrior named Ki Wilawuk. The film also features a brief appearance by the heroine Sri Asih, hinting at future stories in the universe.
Production and release: The film was announced in 2018 and shot over about 53 days in 70 locations, including Jakarta, Purwakarta, and Cilegon. The look and effects were crafted by Quantum Creations FX, with costume design by Iwan Nazif and Chris Lie. Gundala had its local premiere on August 28, 2019, and released in Indonesia on August 29, 2019. It premiered internationally at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2019. In North America, Well Go USA released it digitally and on Blu-ray/DVD on July 28, 2020.
Reception and impact: Gundala was well received by audiences and critics for Abimana Aryasatya’s performance, Joko Anwar’s direction, visuals, and its fresh take on a local superhero. It earned about Rp67.7 billion ($4.7–$4.8 million) at the box office on a budget of around Rp30 billion ($2.1 million) and drew roughly 1.6 million admissions in Indonesia. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an 83% approval rating from a small number of reviews (as of 2021). A sequel, Gundala the Son of Lightning, was announced as part of the first wave of Bumilangit’s cinematic universe.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 21:10 (CET).