Merantau (2009) Review

Is Merantau worth watching?

Yes — Merantau is worth watching, with a 78% Critic Score and 76% Audience Score on Celluloid. It earns a 71% Celluloid Score across critic reviews, audience polls, Metascore (66), Letterboxd (3.4/5), and IMDb (6.9/10).

Directed by Gareth Evans, Merantau runs 134 minutes in Indonesian. On Celluloid we index it for “Merantau review”, “is Merantau worth watching”, and related discovery queries from Indonesia.

What is Merantau about?

In Minangkabau, West Sumatera, Yuda a skilled practitioner of Silat Harimau is in the final preparations to begin his “Merantau” a century’s old rites-of-passage to be carried out by the community’s young men that will see him leave the comforts of his idyllic farming village and make a name for himself in the bustling city of Jakarta.

Critics consensus: Evans and Iko Uwais’s first collaboration, and the film that put Silat on the international map before The Raid arrived. The film stars Iko Uwais, Chika Jessica, Christine Hakim, Mads Koudal, Yusuf Aulia, and others.

Should you watch Merantau tonight?

Yes — prioritize Merantau tonight if you want a proven action with lasting rewatch value. At 134 minutes, it fits a single sitting — and the five-source score breakdown on the movie page shows where critics and audiences agree.

Where can I watch Merantau?

Streaming availability varies by region — check Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and local OTT platforms, or theatrical revivals. Merantau (2009) is indexed on CelluloidScore.com with cast, scores, and IMDb tt1368116. Explore more from Indonesia on our country hub or browse action films.