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Djenar Maesa Ayu

Djenar Maesa Ayu

Actor · Born January 14, 1973 (53) · Jakarta, Indonesia

Nai Djenar Maesa Ayu (born January 14, 1973 in Jakarta) is an Indonesian novelist, short story writer, actress, screenwriter, and filmmaker.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 14, 1973 (53)
From
Jakarta, Indonesia
Works as
Actor
Titles
12 on MovieCove · 60 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 39% in 30 days

What are Djenar Maesa Ayu's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: 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
Bonds
41%
Morality
19%
Survival
15%
Self
12%
Society
8%
Power
5%
Family bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTradition vs change2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 1 · Serious 1 · Dark 5

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

Grounded 3 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 4 · Intense 2

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

A split, not a type: Steady 4 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 1

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 5 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Dread
4
Melancholic
4
Romantic
3
Bittersweet
2
Other
1

How their films linger

Unsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous3

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 Djenar Maesa Ayu's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 12 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Djenar Maesa Ayu'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

60 credits, 12 with a MovieCove page.

  • Suzzanna: Witchcraft(2026)

    as Nyi Gayatri

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Danyang Wingit Jumat Kliwon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Mbok Ning

  • On Your Lap(2025)

    as Karaoke Lady

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • THE RAGE, Blood From The Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Mbak Endang

  • Pamali: The Little Devil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Ambar

  • The Book of Sijjin and Illiyyin(2025)

    as Ambar

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Gowok: Javanese Kamasutra(2025)

    as Rahayu

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Trinity of Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Sammi, Who Can Detach His Body Parts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Lian

  • The Mediterranean Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Maya

  • Janji Darah(2024)

    as Ibu Dinda

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Marni: The Story of Wewe Gombel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Sumiyati

  • Joko Anwar's Nightmares and Daydreams(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Manager

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Harlot's Prayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Ami

  • Grave Torture(2024)

    as Inayah Putri

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Corpse Washer(2024)

    as Bu Siti

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Night of Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Marni

  • Look At Me Touch Me Kiss Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director · Writer

  • Mangkujiwo 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Nyi Kenanga

  • Ghost Writer 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Kirana Widuri

  • Pertaruhan: The Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Mamamia

  • Kenapa Gue? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · as Ibu Nora

  • Tris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director

  • Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash(2021)

    as Rona Merah

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Women Crowned with Crescent Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Mama Clara

  • Twisted 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Nyai Jatmiko

  • Sianida (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 12 episodes · as Vania

  • Pesan di Balik Awan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Nenek

  • Death Knot(2021)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Tersanjung: The Movie(2021)

    as Bobby Sadewo's Mother

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Di Bawah Umur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Bu Kusuma

  • Bidadari Mencari Sayap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Andrea

  • Mangkujiwo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Nyi Kenanga

  • Lampor: The Flying Casket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Mrs. Endro

  • Gundala(2019)

    as Rich Woman

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • If This Is My Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director · Producer · Writer

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

    as Gadis Pantai

  • Dancing in the Rain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Katrin

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

    as Sekar

  • Something In Between (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Maya's Mom

  • Kafir: A Deal with the Devil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Dokter RS

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

    as Niken

  • Kenapa Harus Bule? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Nay / Villa Owner's Wife

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

    as Suri

  • Kartini: Princess of Java (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as RA. Moeryam

  • Remember The Flavor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Citra Dewi / Ibu Melodi

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

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

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

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Purple Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Bu Lela

  • Melodi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Wita

  • Ai Lop Yu Pul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Penulis

  • Chased by Satan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • SAIA (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Executive Producer · Producer · Screenplay · as Saia/Woman

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

    as Nila

  • Tipu Kanan Tipu Kiri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Cinematographer

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

    Director · Producer · Story · Writer

  • Anak-anak Borobudur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Mi

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

    as Noni

  • Opera Jakarta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Sumur Jiwo 1977 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Laksmi

Career shape

Star power in the 53rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 60 titles, 59 of them dated from 1985 to 2026; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

The Corpse Washer (2024)

$405K worldwide

Highest rated

Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash (2021)

Midcredits 76th

Most popular right now

The Corpse Washer (2024)

Film career

19852026

Peak 2018 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 2018Screen debut· Asih

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting53 of 60: 52 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thDirecting7 of 60: 1 only directing, 6 with another roleWriting6 of 60: 0 only writing, 6 with another roleProducing5 of 60: 0 only producing, 5 with another roleCinematography1 of 60: 1 only cinematography, 0 with another role

60 titles, 6 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · acting2000s8 · 6 acting · 3 crew2010s17 · 14 acting · 3 crew2020s33 · 31 acting · 2 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.

How do Djenar Maesa Ayu's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 11; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 12 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 12 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Janji Darah (2024)

71st percentile spread · 45% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

On Your Lap (2025)

Midcredits 93rd · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 3 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 50. 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.

Who does Djenar Maesa Ayu work with?

People who share at least 2 of Djenar Maesa Ayu's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Wawan I. Wibowo shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers