KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 — Indonesia’s expanding Qodrat Universe has officially arrived in Malaysian cinemas with the release of Badut Gendong, the latest supernatural thriller from Magma Entertainment that builds on one of the region’s most successful horror franchises.
The shared cinematic universe, centred on Islamic exorcists, black magic and supernatural forces, has steadily gained a following in Malaysia, where the Qodrat films have enjoyed both commercial success and a loyal fan base.
Magma Entertainment’s Qodrat franchise has emerged as one of Indonesia’s biggest horror-action success stories.
The first film attracted more than 1.7 million viewers, while its sequel surpassed two million admissions, further cementing the franchise’s commercial appeal.
The Qodrat films centre on Ustadz Qodrat, played by Indonesian actor Vino G. Bastian, a spiritual healer battling supernatural forces through faith and martial arts.
The franchise has also found an audience in Malaysia, where the first Qodrat(2022) reportedly grossed around RM6 million at the local box office.
The team behind the franchise, along with lead stars Vino and Acha Septriasa — who plays Azizah in the sequel — even travelled to Kuala Lumpur for the Qodrat 2 (2025) gala premiere at Suria KLCC last year, which drew close to 1,000 attendees.
Building on that success, Badut Gendong, directed by Charles Gozali of Magma Entertainment, opened in Malaysian cinemas on June 25 as the latest instalment in the expanding Qodrat Universe.
Badut Gendong features an ensemble cast including Marthino Lio, Dayinta Melira, Clara Bernadeth, Derby Romero, Khiva Rayanka, Vonny Anggraini, Totos Rasiti, Barry Prima and Jose Rizal Manua.
At its core, the story follows Darso (Marthino Lio), a struggling street performer trying to provide for his wife, Darsi.
After a devastating personal tragedy, however, grief and desperation begin to consume him, setting him on a path towards something far more sinister.
Since opening in Indonesian cinemas, Badut Gendong has drawn around 890,000 viewers.
Inside the Qodrat Universe
Charles unveiled plans for the Qodrat Universe during the 2025–2028 slate presentation at JAFF Market 2024 in Yogyakarta.
The shared universe brings together interconnected stories involving Islamic exorcists, demons, black magic and supernatural entities within a single cinematic world.
At the event, the first two Qodrat films were confirmed as the foundation of the shared universe, alongside a new project then titled Dance of the Damned, which has since been released as Badut Gendong.
Badut Gendong serves as the third instalment in the expanding universe, following the first two Qodrat films.
