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Joko Anwar

Joko Anwar

Actor, writer, director, producer and editor · Born January 3, 1976 (50) · Medan, Indonesia

Venice award nominee

Joko Anwar (born January 3, 1976 in Medan, Indonesia) is a writer-director who started his career as a journalist and film critic. His works include The Forbidden Door (2009), which received the top prize at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and A Copy of My Mind (2015), which competed at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival. His film Satan's Slaves (2017) is one of the highest grossing horror films of all time in Indonesia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 3, 1976 (50)
From
Medan, Indonesia
Works as
Actor, writer, director, producer and editor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 79 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 48% in 30 days

What are Joko Anwar's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
23%
Survival
23%
Morality
15%
Society
15%
Bonds
10%
Ideas
9%
Power
5%
Survival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 3 · Serious 4 · Dark 13

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 3

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 3 · Intense 14

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 13

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 12 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Dread
14
Contemplative
6
Melancholic
6
Warm
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Unsettling15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous10

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Joko Anwar's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joko Anwar's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

79 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Ghost in the Cell(2026)

    Director · Editor · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Draft!(2023)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Smothered(2025)

    Editor · Executive Producer · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Love Therapy(2025)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Siege at Thorn High(2025)

    Director · Camera Operator · Editor · Producer · Writer · as Security Guard · as Radio Announcer & News Coverage

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Joko Anwar's Nightmares and Daydreams(2024)

    Show 7 episodes · Director · Casting · Creator · Editor · Executive Producer · Writer · as Government Official #1

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Grave Torture(2024)

    Director · Editor · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Tira (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · Producer

  • Virgo and the Sparklings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Producer

  • Sri Asih(2022)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Satan's Slaves 2: Communion(2022)

    Director · Writer · as Radio broadcasters / Radio callers / Bus passenger

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • A World Without(2021)

    as Joko Liauw

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Queen of Black Magic(2019)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Impetigore(2019)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Gundala(2019)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • 27 Steps of May(2018)

    as Opponent Boxer Manager

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Ave Maryam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Father Martin

  • Fly By Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Alan

  • Newly Rich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Writer

  • Folklore(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • Reunion Z (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Joko Anwar

  • Daysleepers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Tito

  • My Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Konji's Dad

  • Satan's Slaves(2017)

    Director · Writer · as Dono Budiono

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Switch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Juri Beasiswa Film #1

  • The Underdogs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Papa Ellie

  • Jalanin Aja (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director

  • Filosofi Kopi 2: Ben & Jody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Stip & Pensil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Writer

  • Galih & Ratna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Pak Dedi

  • Don't Blink (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Art Through Our Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Jenny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Three Sassy Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Taxi Driver

  • A Copy of My Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer

  • Halfworlds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Creator · Writer

  • Nay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Pram (voice)

  • Coffee Philosophy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Debt Collector

  • Melancholy Is a Movement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Joko

  • Before the Morning Repeated (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Anggota DPR

  • 1000 Balon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Polisi 1

  • The New Found (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Writer

  • 3Sum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Ali Ferzat

  • Mika (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Dentist

  • Demi Ucok(2012)

    as Produser Hantu

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Fresh to Move On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Writer

  • Durable Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Writer

  • Grave Torture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Editor · Writer

  • Suncatchers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Writer

  • Ritual(2012)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Parts of the Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Peter Umur 36 Tahun

  • Langit Biru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Mr. Tiko

  • Madame X(2010)

    as Aline

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Macabre(2009)

    as Yuppie #3

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Sing to the Dawn(2008)

    as Ubay (voice)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Forbidden Door(2009)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • La Promesse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Sound Designer · Writer

  • Love Potpourri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Sutradara Film

  • Because of Soccer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Interrogator

  • Fiction. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Screenplay

  • Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly(2008)

    as Yahya

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Arya

  • Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Bos

  • Quickie Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Screenplay

  • Dead Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Writer

  • Jakarta Undercover(2006)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Lost Suitcase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Police Officer #1

  • Love for Share (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as The Producer

  • Joni's Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Writer

  • The Gathering (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    First Assistant Director · Screenplay · as Restaurant Manager

  • The Stringless Violin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Publicist · Script Supervisor · Second Assistant Director

  • Ghost in the Cell 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

  • Godam & Tira (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Creative Producer · Producer

  • Gundala Putra Petir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Mandala: Golok Setan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Creative Producer

  • Mighty Like Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Patriot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Creative Producer

  • Satan's Slaves 3: Origin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer

  • The Charms in Broken Things (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 79 titles, 71 of them dated from 2003 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Satan's Slaves 2: Communion (2022)

$992K worldwide

Highest rated

Tales of the Uncanny (2020)

Midcredits 76th

Most popular right now

Ghost in the Cell (2026)

Film career

  • 2009Screen debut· Macabre

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting37 of 79: 32 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rdDirecting30 of 79: 6 only directing, 24 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thWriting37 of 79: 9 only writing, 28 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thProducing12 of 79: 2 only producing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thCinematography1 of 79: 0 only cinematography, 1 with another roleEditing7 of 79: 0 only editing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thOther crew7 of 79: 2 only other crew, 5 with another role

79 titles, 28 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

2000s18 · 10 acting · 9 crew2010s41 · 23 acting · 19 crew2020s12 · 4 acting · 11 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

Nominated for a Venice award in 2015, Best Film.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Joko Anwar's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 22; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Sing to the Dawn (2008)

97th percentile spread · 51% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

27 Steps of May (2018)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 33. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Joko Anwar's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and sex & nudity and alcohol & drugs lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles58–98 · median 94 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles0–48 · median 19 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles18–88 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles7–35 · median 12 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles64–97 · median 91 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Joko Anwar work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joko Anwar's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Aghi Narottama shares the most, 12.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles