Relatable, everyday situational comedy regularly outperforms highly scripted content. 🍱 Mukbang and Kuliner (Culinary) Content
Riefky emphasized that applications remain the top career choice for the younger generation and serve as a benchmark for creative industry trends, followed closely by the games subsector. The creative economy's impact is substantial: the screen sector alone contributes $5.1 billion to GDP and supports nearly 400,000 jobs, while every trillion rupiah in new investment generates significant economic returns. YouTube has played a significant role in promoting
YouTube has played a significant role in promoting Indonesian entertainment globally. Many Indonesian YouTubers, such as Atta Halilintar and Baim Wong, have gained millions of subscribers and views, sharing their daily lives, comedy sketches, and music performances with a global audience. YouTube has also become a platform for Indonesian artists to showcase their talents, with many uploading their music videos and covers to reach a wider audience. What makes this moment particularly significant is how
What makes this moment particularly significant is how Indonesians are consuming and creating content on their own terms. The embrace of short-form video, the loyalty to sinetron and dangdut, the rise of live-streaming commerce, and the investment in original storytelling all point to a mature, confident entertainment ecosystem that understands both its local roots and its global aspirations. As the digital infrastructure expands and creative talent continues to flourish, Indonesia is not just watching the world's content—it is creating the world's next great entertainment industry. benefiting from transferable skills across film
While horror has traditionally dominated, 2026 sees a stronger blend of action, fantasy, and prestige literary adaptations.
But the scene is not just about glitz. The most fascinating sector is horror . Indonesia is notoriously superstitious and spiritually curious. Channels like and Calon Sarjana produce "mysterious incident" style videos—often hour-long deep dives into cursed forests, haunted dolls, or Kuntilanak sightings. These videos are filmed in a low-fi, "realistic" style that blurs the line between documentary and fiction. They are arguably the most unique export of Indonesian entertainment and popular videos today, capitalizing on the nation's love for the horror mistis (mystical horror).
Investment continues to pour in. Streaming is set to become the largest vertical for content investment across seven Asian markets in 2025, overtaking pay-TV with an expected spend of $5 billion. By 2029, investment is forecast to reach $16.7 billion, with India nearly closing the gap with Korea in total spending. Local producers remain well-positioned, benefiting from transferable skills across film, TV, and streaming, though scale increasingly depends on strong marketing and distribution partnerships.