Raditya Dika's Top 12 Movies: Laughter Guaranteed
Raditya Dika is a prominent name in Indonesia, especially among the younger generation. Born on December 28, 1984, he began his career as a writer and later ventured into stand-up comedy as a comedian.
In 2005, Raditya Dika expanded his horizons by entering the world of cinema, where he continues to make his mark today. Since 2009, Dika Angkasaputra Moerwani has produced numerous high-quality feature films. In this article, we will review 12 of the best Raditya Dika movies, year by year.
1. Single Part 2 (2019)
Single Part 2 is arguably one of Raditya Dika's finest films. It serves as a sequel to the 2015 film Single, continuing the story of Ebi (Raditya Dika) and Angel (Annisa Rawles). In the first film, Ebi is depicted as a single young man still dependent on his parents and falls in love with Angel but is too afraid to confess his feelings.
In Single Part 2, Ebi befriends two new boarders, Johan and Ardi (Ridwan Remin), who accompany him on his journey to find his soulmate. To see Ebi's struggle to find love, be sure to watch Single Part 2.
2. Kambing Jantan: The Movie (2009)
Kambing Jantan: The Movie is the first of Raditya Dika's best films. Adapted from a novel of the same name, it tells the story of Dika's personal life while studying in Australia.
Dika, nicknamed "kambing," must study finance, a field he has no interest in, all while maintaining a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend, nicknamed "kebo" (Herfiza Nofianti). The movie is packed with light and entertaining stories, detailing how Dika began his writing career.
3. Cinta Brontosaurus (2013)
Four years after Kambing Jantan: The Movie, Dika returned with Cinta Brontosaurus, the second movie adapted from one of his novels. Dika plays himself, navigating a breakup with Ninan (Pamela Bowie). Kosasih (Soleh Solihun), Dika's script agent, tries to persuade him to embrace love once again.
Unexpectedly, Dika meets Jesica (Eriska Rein), a girl with a similarly peculiar way of thinking. After starting a relationship with Jesica, Dika wonders if love can expire. Complications arise when a film producer wants to turn Dika's screenplay into a horror movie to meet popular demand.
4. Cinta Dalam Kardus (2013)
Released in the same year as Cinta Brontosaurus, Cinta Dalam Kardus is a low-budget film with a light-hearted story directed by Salman Aristo. The movie is considered low-budget because most scenes take place inside a café where Miko (Raditya Dika) performs stand-up comedy to forget his ex-girlfriends.
However, instead of being amusing, Miko reminisces about his exes' belongings that he keeps in a cardboard box. As he shares his love stories with the café patrons, Miko comes to understand the true meaning of love.
5. Manusia Setengah Salmon (2013)
Another of Raditya Dika's best films is Manusia Setengah Salmon, a continuation of Cinta Brontosaurus. Released in 2013, Dika's character must move to a new house, a decision he dislikes due to the many memories he has of his old home. However, his irritation subsides when he meets and starts dating Patricia (Kimberly Ryder).
Unfortunately, Dika and Patricia's relationship is disrupted because Dika still thinks about his ex, Jesica (Eriska Rein). Another hilarious problem arises when Dika faces a dilemma: should he fire his driver, who smells of urine, or sacrifice his respiratory health by keeping the driver employed?
6. Marmut Merah Jambu (2014)
Continuing the trend of adapting his novels to films, Marmut Merah Jambu tells the story of Dika's life during high school. At school, Dika is an awkward kid who befriends Bertus, who is equally awkward. Their lives become more interesting when they meet Cindy, and the three of them decide to form a detective team.
Comical situations ensue as they solve case after case within their school environment. Eventually, their friendship faces challenges and they drift apart. As an adult, Dika realizes there is still one unsolved case from his detective team days, which leads him to his first love – someone he never expected.
7. Malam Minggu Miko The Movie (2014)
The Malam Minggu Miko TV series, which aired on Kompas TV, received a positive response from viewers. The stories are short but highly entertaining, even though the cast is not overly comedic. The movie follows Miko (Raditya Dika) in his quest for true love, assisted by Dovi (Andovi da Lopez).
Anca, Miko's loyal housekeeper, also plays a role in the story. Humorous events unfold when Rian (Rian Adhriandy), Miko's former housemate, believes Miko's misfortune is due to a past curse from junior high school. The group sets out to track down Miko's junior high friends who could be the source of the curse.
8. Single (2015)
Over the years, Raditya Dika's movies have shown significant improvement in image quality, storyline, and casting. Single, released in late 2015, is a prime example. Dika enlisted two comedians, Pandji and Babe Cabita, for supporting roles in the film.
The story of Single revolves around Ebi (Raditya Dika), a 27-year-old unemployed man who still relies on his mother for financial support. Ebi remains single and consistently fails when trying to approach women. When his younger brother gets married, Ebi's friends Wawan (Pandji) and Victor (Babe) help him find a girlfriend.
Ebi becomes smitten with Angel (Anisa Rawles), a new tenant in his boarding house. Will Ebi succeed in winning Angel's heart while competing with Joe (Chandra Liow), Angel's "brother-in-law" who also has feelings for her?
9. Koala Kumal (2016)
In Koala Kumal, Dika experiences the heartbreak of canceling his wedding after his fiancée, Andrea (Acha Septriasa), cheats on him with James (Nino Fernandez). The emotional turmoil makes it difficult for Dika to find inspiration to finish his book.
Dika eventually meets Trisna (Sheryl Sheinafia), an eccentric girl who tries to help him overcome his heartbreak. Trisna encourages Dika to seek revenge on Andrea to heal his heartache. The movie is filled with hilarious incidents that will have audiences laughing. Koala Kumal was watched by 1.86 million people during its theatrical run.
10. Hangout (2016)
In Hangout, Raditya Dika explores the thriller genre with a murder story. However, true to Dika's style, the film is filled with humor and absurd situations.
The story begins when Dika receives a mysterious invitation for a vacation on a remote island. Several other celebrities, including Mathias Muchus, Prilly Latuconsina, Titi Kamal, Gading Marten, Soleh Solihun, Surya Saputra, Dinda Kanya Dewi, and Gary Skak, also receive the same invitation.
At first, the vacation is enjoyable, but it takes a dark turn when one of the guests is murdered. A serial killer is on the loose, and one of the group suspects that the murderer is among the nine public figures present.
Tragically, the person with the crucial information is killed before they can reveal the identity of the killer. Will Dika manage to survive on the desolate island?
11. The Guys (2017)
In The Guys, Dika plays Alfi, an ordinary employee who aspires to become a boss. Alfi grows closer to Amira (Pevita Pearce), a coworker, while dealing with feelings for Via, his long-time crush, who starts showing interest in him.
As Alfi and Amira's relationship deepens, he discovers that Amira is the daughter of his boss. Complications arise when Amira's father also becomes attracted to Alfi's widowed mother. With the help of his goofy friends, will Alfi be able to navigate both his professional and romantic ambitions?
12. Target (2018)
Target, released in 2018, is one of Raditya Dika's most recent movies. As with his previous works, the film blends comedic elements with a suspenseful storyline. The plot revolves around nine people trapped in a building, who must survive a deadly game.
The participants must follow the game's rules, or they will be killed. Each of their moves is monitored by an unknown individual. The fate of the nine trapped people remains uncertain, and audiences will be eager to discover the outcome.
These 12 Raditya Dika movies provide light and entertaining viewing options. Each film offers unique storylines that will amuse and captivate audiences. Which Raditya Dika movie will you watch first? Whatever your choice, these films are sure to provide hours of laughter and enjoyment.