King of Malaysian cinema
Abang Long Fadil 2 is the highest-earning Malaysian film of all time.
BY MUMTAJ BEGUM
MALAYSIAN cinema has a new all-time champion – Abang Long Fadil 2, starring Zizan Razak, has earned RM17.9mil at the box-office in just 39 days.
Directed by 24-year-old Syafiq Yusof, the film toppled previous champion Polis Evo
(directed by Ghaz Abu Bakar and also starring Zizan) which earned a total of RM17.8mil in 2015.
This action-comedy flick opened in cinemas nationwide on Aug 24 and is still going strong.
The titular character was first seen in the 2011 film KL Gangster, directed by Syamsul Yusof (Syafiq’s older brother). The character then got his own movie in the 2014 film, Abang Long Fadil.
In this sequel, Fadil ends up in the middle of more gangster-related shenanigans when he is mistaken for a professional killer, and has to work for a ruthless crime lord (A. Galak).
“I never expected my film to do so well, that it even beat my brother’s record,” Syafiq said in an interview.
“On the first day it opened, I went to a cinema in KL to see the audience’s reaction. To my disappointment, there were only four people at a 7pm show.”
Things got worse for him when he received reports that the film was leaked online. Fortunately, it was taken down after a police report was made.
Syafiq added he is interested in directing a third Abang Long Fadil film but an official decision has yet to be made. His next film is KL Special Force, starring Datuk Rosyam Nor and Fattah Amin, scheduled for release next year.
Star2’s movie reviewer Angelin Yeoh called Abang Long Fadil 2, “an entertaining action-comedy with plenty of surprises”.
“The movie showcases action sequences featuring the likes of actors you thought wouldn’t be able to pull off fight scenes,” she writes in her review.
“The person who really stole the show is A. Galak, who plays the ruthless and menacing Taji. The 78-year-old veteran actor proves he can still be menacing, far better than anyone half his age.”
Making box-office hits seem to run in the family as Syafiq’s brother Syamsul also hit big time with Munafik, which earned RM17.04mil in 2016.