Malaysian cinema has a new crowd-puller. Kudrat 1968: High Council, the latest chapter in Astro Shaw’s High Council franchise, collected RM12 million from its preview screenings and first four days in cinemas, and climbed straight to No. 1 on the GSC Top 10 chart. For local filmmakers, it is a timely reminder that homegrown stories can outperform big Hollywood releases when audiences feel invested.
A Record-Breaking First Week for Kudrat 1968
The film opened nationwide on 29 October 2026. According to Gempak, Astro’s entertainment portal, collections reached RM6.5 million after the previews and two days of screening, then RM12 million after four days.
Malay Mail’s weekly chart for 29 October to 1 November placed Kudrat 1968 at the top of local cinemas, ahead of Clayface and Jailer 2. The publication described it as one of the country’s biggest local film successes of 2026.
5 Reasons Fans Are Packing Cinemas for Kudrat 1968
1. A Loyal Franchise Audience
Kudrat 1968 is a prequel to Projek: High Council, the boarding-school drama that built the franchise, and it sits alongside the spin-off Kahar: Kapla High Council. It is part of the Astro Shaw Cinematic Universe, which launched in 2024. Fans who grew up with the characters had every reason to buy tickets early.
2. Tickets That Vanished in Minutes
The excitement started before opening day. The Rakyat Post reported that Astro Shaw announced RM3 million in advance sales on 27 October. Tickets for the 26 October gala premiere sold out in under an hour, and seats for the 31 October fan screening went in about five minutes.
3. “One Story, Two Formats”
The story is told across two formats: four premium series episodes followed by a feature film that serves as the finale. Viewers who followed the episodes came to the cinema to see how it all ends. The series reportedly generated around one billion video views across digital platforms before the film’s release.
4. A 12-Hour Celebration With the Cast
On 31 October, GSC IOI City Mall in Putrajaya hosted a 12-hour Mega Fans Screening from 3pm to 3am. The cast and director attended and visited 33 cinema halls to meet audiences. Among those present were Zarif Ghazzi, who plays Abbas, Mierul Aiman, Evertts Gomes, Akmal Asyraf and Chech Harith.
5. A Rising Director With Deep Franchise Roots
The film is directed by Zulaikha Zakaria with Khairi Asyraff. Mingguan Wanita reports that Zulaikha began in branded content at Astro Gempak before joining Astro Shaw as a writer, where her first script was Pusaka. She says the Kudrat 1968 script took about eight months, from the first pitch through research and character development.
What the Story Is About
The film follows Abbas, who returns to the school known as Kudrat after the holidays to find it closed by the authorities over a student’s death that had been covered up. Tension grows between elite students and scholarship recipients, threatening the fragile balance of power inside the school. Themes of hierarchy, friendship, loyalty and pressure run through the story.
The soundtrack is also getting attention. The title track “Manifestasi” by Sharul Kamal entered Malay Mail’s Malay songs chart at No. 8.
What Astro Shaw Says
Raja Jastina Raja Arshad, Head of Astro Shaw, said the response shows local productions can create a phenomenon and build a strong fan community. “The strong support from fans has truly been extraordinary,” she said, in remarks reported by Gempak.
She has also said the two-format approach worked well for this film and could be considered for future projects, including titles outside the Astro Shaw Cinematic Universe.
Why Kudrat 1968 Matters for Malaysian Film
A RM12 million opening for a locally made film shows that Malaysian audiences will turn up in large numbers for stories they care about. It also shows how streaming episodes and cinema releases can work together rather than compete. For young actors, writers and directors, the success of Kudrat 1968 opens doors for more ambitious local storytelling, alongside other recent wins for Malaysia’s film industry.
Kudrat 1968: High Council is showing in cinemas nationwide. For more on Astro Shaw’s films, visit the Astro official website.
