Gundala (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Gundala is a 2020 action drama directed by Joko Anwar, starring Abimana Aryasatya as Sancaka, Gundala, Bront Palarae and Lukman Sardi. It runs 2 hours and earned $383,128 worldwide on a $1.9 million budget. Critics gave it 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h (120 min)
- Director
- Joko Anwar
- Original language
-
Indonesian
- Studio
- Well Go USA Entertainment
- Budget
- $1.9M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Gundala About?
The premise of Gundala without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In this gritty science fiction adventure, an unlikely hero rises from the shadows. Sancaka, an Indonesian orphan living a quiet life on the streets of Jakarta, finds himself compelled to act when rampant greed and violence threaten to consume the city. Discovering extraordinary abilities, he transforms into Gundala, a beacon of hope striving to restore balance to a chaotic and increasingly dangerous world.
Gundala Themes & Keywords
· 1 tag- farm
Gundala Cast & Characters
Abimana Aryasatya leads the cast as Sancaka, Gundala, with Bront Palarae as Pengkor and Lukman Sardi as Ridwan Bahri. Directed by Joko Anwar; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Joko Anwar
- Abimana Aryasatya as Sancaka, Gundala
- Bront Palarae as Pengkor
-
Lukman Sardi as Ridwan Bahri - Pritt Timothy as Agung
Also Starring in Gundala
· 6 more- Tara Basro Wulan, Merpati
- Ario Bayu Ghani Zulham
- Tanta Ginting Ito Marbun
- Aqi Singgih Ganda Hamdan
- Doni Alamsyah
- Arswendi Nasution
More from Joko Anwar
More films directed by Joko Anwar, best-rated first: Satan's Slaves: Communion, Ghost in the Cell, The Siege at Thorn High and Grave Torture.
Gundala Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Gundala 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).
Gundala Echo Score Breakdown
Gundala delivers an energetic superhero spectacle anchored by dynamic action but hampered by familiar beats and uneven pacing. Reviews praise its striking fight choreography and resourceful direction given budget constraints, while noting the origin story’s lack of novelty and the occasionally cluttered plot. The film’s balance of social commentary and visual impact keeps it engaging, though some narrative threads feel underdeveloped. Overall, Gundala offers a solid introduction to an Indonesian superhero universe with occasional lapses.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 80
In terms of Art & Craft, Gundala presents robust visual flair and competent direction despite budget limitations. Critics and viewers highlight the well-executed fight choreography and inventive production design that accentuate the film’s thunderous action. Occasional lapses in editing clarity occur amid busy sequences, but the overall craft supports a compelling spectacle. Net result remains solid.
- Character & Emotion 70
In terms of Character & Emotion, Gundala offers a humanized hero portrayal tempered by an abundance of supporting figures. The protagonist’s emotional journey resonates through moments of vulnerability, yet the crowded ensemble dilutes individual development. Early scenes chart Sancaka’s transformation effectively, but later arcs feel underexplored. Overall, character work provides affective appeal with some inconsistency.
- Story & Flow 60
When it comes to Story & Flow, Gundala adheres to familiar superhero conventions with uneven pacing and narrative density. Critics note a slow initial momentum and occasionally tangled subplots that reduce clarity. Engaging action moments and social commentary inject interest, but originality remains limited. In sum, the storyline delivers moderate engagement overshadowed by structural unevenness.
- Sensory Experience 75
In terms of Sensory Experience, Gundala harnesses a potent blend of sound and visuals to amplify its action sequences. Explosive sound design and dynamic camera work create a visceral impact during fight scenes. The score remains unobtrusive but effective, while the visual style underscores the film’s gritty tone. Overall, the sensory elements maintain high energy throughout.
- Rewatch Factor 50
When it comes to Rewatch Factor, Gundala offers limited incentive for repeated viewings. The film’s strong action sequences retain appeal, but familiar tropes and a dense narrative hinder lasting novelty. While some viewers may revisit standout fight scenes, the lack of distinctive plot developments reduces replay value. Overall, rewatch appeal remains moderate at best.
-
IMDb 7.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 75% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 78%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.9 /5
18 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Gundala Plot Summary
What happens in Gundala from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Sancaka Abimana Aryasatya is the astraphobic son of an Indonesian factory worker. As he helps lead a factory strike, violence erupts when angry workers clash with security guards, and his father is fatally stabbed by a fellow worker. In his despair, Sancaka unleashes lightning bolts from his own body. A year later, his mother leaves for another city to find work and never returns. He becomes homeless in Jakarta, where he befriends Awang, a fellow street child who teaches him self-defense. They dream of freighthopping to a safe haven in Tenggara, but only Awang manages to hop onto the train. Now an adult, Sancaka works as a guard and a mechanic in a newspaper printing factory.
Full summary
The whole story of Gundala, scene by scene
Gundala Box Office & Budget
Gundala grossed $383,128 worldwide on a $1.9 million budget, 21% of what it cost. $115,691 came from the US and Canada and $267,437 (70%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$383.1K
21% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $115.7K
- International
- $267.4K
- Budget
- $1.9M
Gundala Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser and 1 clip.
- Trailer GUNDALA Trailer | TIFF 2019
- Teaser GUNDALA (2019) - Official Video Teaser
- Clip Official First Look GUNDALA (2019) - A Film by Joko Anwar
How Well Do You Know Gundala?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the main protagonist of the story?
Cars in Gundala
30 cars on screen, including the 2000 BMW 3 E46 and the 1999 Jaguar S-Type X200.
-
2000 BMW 3 E46 Important role -
1999 Jaguar S-Type X200 Important role -
Mercedes-Benz W123 Important role -
2001 Mitsubishi Colt L300 Important role
Gundala Also Known As
13 alternative titles, including “Gundala: Putra Petir” and “Gundala: Son of Lightning”.
- Also known as
-
- Gundala: Putra Petir
- Gundala: Son of Lightning
- Gundala, il super eroe
- Red Storm
- 군달라: 슈퍼히어로의 탄생
- Гундала: Сын молнии
- גונדאלה
- Gundala: A Ascensão de um Herói
- 閃電奇俠剛達拉
- Siêu Anh Hùng Indo
- 闪电奇侠刚达拉
- Gundala: El Ascenso de un Héroe
+1 more Show fewer
- Gundala - Il figlio del lampo
Seen Gundala?
Movies Like Gundala
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Gundala, Legend of Gatotkaca and Gundala the Son of Lightning.
Gundala FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Gundala, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Gundala?
Gundala runs 2 hours (120 minutes).
When was Gundala released?
Gundala was released on July 28, 2020.
Who directed Gundala?
Gundala was directed by Joko Anwar.
More films by Joko Anwar Who is in the cast of Gundala?
Gundala stars Abimana Aryasatya as Sancaka, Gundala, Bront Palarae as Pengkor and Lukman Sardi as Ridwan Bahri, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Gundala make at the box office?
Gundala grossed $383,128 worldwide ($115,691 domestic, $267,437 international) on a budget of $1.9 million.
How is Gundala rated?
Gundala has 7.1/10 on IMDb, 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62% on TMDB and 2.9/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Gundala have a post-credit scene?
No. Gundala has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Gundala in?
The original language of Gundala is Indonesian.
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