Astro Shaw Sdn Bhd is a Malaysian film studio that has produced films for the local and regional markets and is pursuing expansion into international film investments. It also provides a marketing and distribution services for theatrical and non-theatrical release in Malaysia and abroad.
Astro Shaw has produced 5 of the top 10 highest grossing local films of all time in Malaysia. Astro Shaw's production Hantu Kak Limah shattered the record of Malaysia's box office being the first local film to achieve a box office collection of over RM30 million. In 2018, Astro Shaw achieved a box office collection of over RM100 million with the combination of successful films such as Dukun, Paskal, Hantu Kak Limah and Polis Evo 2.[citation needed]
Astro Shaw distributed and marketed the 2019 kids animation film BoBoiBoy Movie 2. After 3 years, Astro Shaw co-produced Mechamato Movie which got the success of the box office of RM35.88 million in Malaysia.
Sheriff become Astro Shaw's number one box office in Malaysia by collecting RM64 million in 8 weeks following by Polis Evo 3, Hantu Kak Limah, Mechamato Movie, PASKAL: The Movie and MALBATT: Misi Bakara.
Established in 1996 under the Astro Shaw and Tayangan Unggul brand, its initial focus was to enhance the film industry in Malaysia through high quality production and compelling storytelling. Astro Shaw produced its first film Nafas Cinta in 1998. The movie starred Awie and received a great reception when released in cinemas. Nafas Cinta paved the way for Astro Shaw to expand its film production efforts and since 2001, Astro Shaw has released over 80 films. In 2010, Astro Shaw further expanded its reach by producing its first Chinese language film Woohoo. Since, Astro Shaw has release 5 more Chinese language films including The Journey.
In 2014, Maindhan became Astro Shaw's first Tamil-language Malaysian film. The film had a limited release on 9 August 2014 in Malaysia, Singapore, and Tamil Nadu. It emerged as the highest grossing locally produced Tamil film of all time before being beaten by Vedigundu Pasangge in 2018 which was co-produced by Astro Shaw.[citation needed]
From 2010 to 2013, top grossing Malaysian movies only averaged around RM8 million in the local box office. Astro Shaw defied all odds and raised the benchmark for local films in 2014, breaking the RM15 million mark with The Journey (RM17.28 million). The Journey was the first Chinese language film to top the local box office for its respective release year, a feat no other production company has been able to achieve.[1] In 2015, Astro Shaw once again breaking the record of box office in Malaysia when Polis Evo directed by Ghaz Abu Bakar and produced by Joel Soh received RM17.74 million only in Malaysia.
By achieving RM36.6 million with Hantu Kak Limah, it became the first local film to surpass the RM30 million gross box office (GBO).[2]
Polis Evo 3 become Astro Shaw's most successful film in box office when collected RM54 million in 11 weeks.[3]
Astro Shaw produced its first award-winning film KL Menjerit in 2003. The film won in 8 categories for the 16th Malaysia Film Festival including Best Film and 2 categories during the TV3 Screen Awards.[citation needed]
Following from the success of KL Menjerit, Astro Shaw has gone on to win over 170 awards from local and foreign film festivals.[citation needed]The Journey won best film in the KL Film Critics Awards and Best Non-Malay Language Local Film and the special Jury Award at the 2014 Malaysia Film Festival. The Journey and Ola Bola were selected to compete in the Far East Film Festival.[citation needed]
The White Girl (2017), a Hong-Kong film co-directed by Christopher Doyle and Jenny Suen and Astro Shaw's first foray into North Asian films, competed at the 2017 London Film Festival.
Other than that, Astro Shaw's film The Garden of Evening Mists due to release in January 2020, was nominated in 9 categories for the 56th Golden Horse Awards and won for best Makeup & Costume Design.
In 2022, Astro Shaw invest in 5 Indonesia films such as Ben & Jody, Keluarga Cemara 2, Stealing Raden Saleh,[4] Jagat Arwah and Qodrat. Those movies receive well here in Malaysia as well as Indonesia because of quality that put on the films. This improve the relationship of Malaysia and Indonesia on filmmaking.
Astro Shaw has since ventured beyond film production and is a film distribution and marketing partner in Malaysia and internationally. One of them is KL Special Force directed by Syafiq Yusof when Astro Shaw been chosen to become the marketer of the film. The 2019 children's film, BoBoiBoy Movie 2 was distributed and marketed by Astro Shaw successfully.
In 2022, Astro Shaw collaborated with Visinema Pictures from Indonesia for expanding the production of films together. In conjunction with that, they produced 4 films in the same year.[5]
After the box office success, they have been trust again to produce together for the first time ever for animated films, distributed and marketed 2022 film Mechamato Movie who got the title of 'The Most Successful Box Office Malaysian Animation Film' with the collection of RM35.88 million.[6]
They become the main producer of children film Didi & Friends The Movie together with Warnakala Studios and Digital Durian.[7]
Astro Shaw become one of the producers for one of the most expensive Malaysian film, MALBATT: Misi Bakara together with Berjaya Pictures, ACT 2 Pictures, Fast Bikes, Aurum Investments Limited and Golden Screen Cinemas directed by Adrian Teh with the budget cost of RM20 million.[8]
By leveraging existing regional and international partner relationships, Astro Shaw always continues its efforts to find new markets that have the potential to distribute local films as well as pave the way for international films to enter the Malaysian market.
Astro Shaw leads the front line in grooming storytelling by local talent through the formation of its own writers led by Anwari Ashraf. The goal of the team members is focused on the development of stories and ideas from the creativity of local talent and the quest to produce interesting stories not only suitable for local viewing, but also international. Some movies that written full by Writers' Room such as Pusaka and Rahsia. Both of those films were produced mainly by Astro Shaw.