Joko Anwar’s ‘Ghost in the Cell’ Hits One Million Viewers in Six Days

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Renowned director Joko Anwar has expressed his gratitude to cinema-goers as his latest horror-comedy, Ghost in the Cell, officially surpassed the one-million-viewer mark on its sixth day of screening. Since debuting on April 16, the film has captured a significant audience share, solidifying its place as a commercial hit in the 2026 cinematic landscape.

As of Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the film reached a total of 1,055,497 viewers across 17,697 showtimes. This achievement makes Ghost in the Cell the ninth Indonesian film to cross the one-million-viewer threshold this year, joining a diverse list of titles that includes Danur: The Last Chapter, Alas Roban, and Na Willa.

"As of the 6th day, Ghost in the Cell has already broken through 1 million viewers. Thank you, friends, who have watched, discussed, criticized, and celebrated Ghost in the Cell ," Anwar wrote via his social media account @jokoanwar on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The director admitted that the overwhelming public response was unexpected during the creative process. Anwar revealed that his primary mission in writing and directing the film was to provide Indonesian audiences with a sense of victory, even if only for the duration of the 1-hour and 46-minute runtime.

"I didn't expect to be welcomed this warmly. Our feelings are the same. Hopefully, justice can come, and we won't have to wait for a ghost to step in," Anwar remarked.

Addressing the underlying themes of the movie, he added a poignant note on the distinction between the screen and reality, "This is a fantasy film. In the real world, we haven't been able to win yet. But later, we must win!".

The success of Ghost in the Cell highlights the continued dominance of the horror genre in the Indonesian market, while also proving the audience's appetite for Anwar’s unique blend of dark fantasy and social commentary. ***