Papa Zola The Movie Collects RM43 Mln At Box Office

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- Papa Zola The Movie continues to dominate the local box office, collecting RM43 million to date and cementing its position as one of the most successful Malaysian animated films in cinema history.

The animated feature’s popularity, dubbed the “Papa Zola Fever”, has also sparked a series of social impact initiatives, including special screenings and “belanja wayang” programmes organised by local influencers to enable more families and selected communities to enjoy the film.

Among the influencers involved are Ashhhrap, Xavier Naxa, Cikgu Marviza, Miera Faera, Bella Park and Zuhan Hamzah, whose efforts reflect the film’s core values of togetherness, joy and community support.

Papa Zola The Movie director and writer, who is also MONSTA chief executive officer Nizam Abd Razak, said the film has become a meaningful platform for families to spend quality time together during the school holiday season.

“During the school holidays, Papa Zola The Movie has become a space for families to gather and create meaningful memories together. What truly touches us is seeing the film enjoyed not only by parents and children, but also when families bring along grandparents to the cinema,” he said in a statement.

He added that community-driven initiatives enabling multigenerational families to experience the film resonate deeply with the values portrayed in the movie.

Meanwhile, Papa Zola The Movie executive producer and head of Astro Shaw, Raja Jastina Raja Arshad said the film’s success reflects strong audience support for local productions despite competition from major Hollywood releases.

“This achievement is highly meaningful for the local film industry. Local films have proven that they are still able to compete,” she said.

Raja Jastina also expressed hope that more audiences would head to cinemas during the year-end school holidays to catch the film.

Papa Zola The Movie tells the story of a hardworking father who reunites with an old friend from his past service in a secret organisation, P.A.P.A (Protect and Prevent Agency), before embarking on a mission to rescue his abducted child from aliens.

The animation feature is currently screening in cinemas across Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. It is scheduled for international release, starting January 2026, in Indonesia, followed by India, Vietnam and several Middle East markets, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Türkiye in April 2026.

-- BERNAMA