Jakarta. The government has defended its decision to play a video of President Prabowo Subianto’s achievements in theaters before the movie begins, saying that it does not break any existing law.

News of Prabowo’s video playing in cinemas has gone viral on social media, sparking criticisms over the propaganda. The video shows Prabowo’s signature programs, starting from the free meal rollout to the establishment of Red and White Cooperatives. The government also reported that the national rice production had topped 21.7 million tons as of August in that clip.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi recently said that there was nothing wrong with the video, as long as it did not make the audience uncomfortable.

"Of course, as long as it [the video] doesn't violate any regulations or disrupt the beauty or the audience’s comfort. Using public media to convey a message is certainly a common practice,” Prasetyo told reporters over the weekend.

Going to the theaters is a common pastime in Indonesia. The government reported that Indonesian cinemas recorded 122.7 million viewers in 2024. About 67 percent of that audience watched Indonesian movies, surpassing imported films for the first time. Reports showed that theater ticket prices in Indonesia were among the cheapest globally. The price typically reaches Rp 40,000 ($2.44) in some Jakarta theaters on weekdays, but can go up to Rp 60,000 on weekends. This is far cheaper compared to the average standard movie ticket price in the United States, which stands at $11.50 per person.

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