Filem itu menghiburkan.

Itu usually means that.

So filem itu can mean:

• that film / that movie
• sometimes the film / the movie, if the film is already known from context

In everyday Malay, itu often helps point to a specific thing.

In Malay, demonstratives usually come after the noun.

So:

• filem itu = that film
• filem ini = this film

This is normal Malay word order. English puts this/that before the noun, but Malay usually puts ini/itu after it.

Malay often does not use a separate word like English is in simple sentences like this.

So:

• Filem itu menghiburkan literally works like That film entertains
• natural English: That film is entertaining

Malay can use a predicate directly, without needing a verb like to be.

Menghiburkan comes from the root hibur.

A simple breakdown is:

• hibur = entertain, amuse, cheer
• meng- = an active verb prefix
• -kan = often makes the verb more clearly transitive or causative

So menghiburkan has the sense of to entertain or to cause amusement.

In this sentence, the most natural English translation is is entertaining, even though the Malay form is verb-like.

Formally, it is a verb form. But in this sentence, it behaves a lot like an English adjective.

That is very common in Malay. A Malay sentence may use a verb-like form where English prefers an adjective.

So you can think of:

• literal idea: The film entertains
• natural English meaning: The film is entertaining

Hibur is the root form, so it is not normally used by itself here as the main predicate.

As for menghibur vs menghiburkan:

• menghibur can mean to entertain or to comfort
• menghiburkan is a very common form when talking about something being entertaining, especially a film, book, or show

So Filem itu menghiburkan sounds very natural for That movie is entertaining.

The object is simply not stated, because it is understood.

The sentence implies something like:

• the film entertains people
• the film entertains the audience
• the film entertains viewers

Malay often leaves out an object when it is general or obvious from context.

If you want to make it explicit, you could say:

• Filem itu menghiburkan penonton = The film entertains the audience

Yes, but the meaning changes.

• Filem itu menghiburkan = a specific film is entertaining
• filem without itu is less specific

If you mean one particular movie, itu helps identify it clearly. Without it, the sentence may feel more general, less anchored, or dependent on context.

Normally, no.

Adalah is not usually used before a verb phrase like menghiburkan.

So this is natural:

• Filem itu menghiburkan

But this would not be the normal pattern:

• Filem itu adalah menghiburkan

In standard Malay, adalah is mainly used in more formal structures, especially before a noun phrase, not before a verb like menghiburkan.

You can add words before menghiburkan:

• Filem itu sangat menghiburkan = That film is very entertaining
• Filem itu amat menghiburkan = That film is very entertaining
  
  • amat is a bit more formal than sangat
• Filem itu tidak menghiburkan = That film is not entertaining

Use tidak, not bukan, because menghiburkan is a verb-type predicate.

Yes. Filem is the standard Malay spelling of the borrowed English word film.

It is usually pronounced roughly like fee-lem.

You may also see film in informal contexts, especially under English influence, but filem is the standard Malay spelling.