You could say 2025 was the year Malayalam films stopped playing it safe and audiences loved them for it. From heart-thudding thrillers to films that made you sit in silence long after the credits rolled, this year’s lineup wasn’t just good it was electric. Whether in theatres or on OTT, people didn’t just watch these movies. They talked about them. Shared them. Debated them over chai. Memes, reels, Reddit threads, and weekend rewatches made it clear: Malayalam cinema didn’t just win the box office it won the internet.
Empuraan
Genre: Political Thriller
Director: Prithviraj Sukumaran
Starring: Mohanlal
Everyone knew this one was going to be big. But what happened was beyond big. Mohanlal returned as the puzzling Khureshi Ab’ram in L2: Empuraan, and from the to begin with day, it blew past expectations.100 crore in five days. 266 crore worldwide. That's not just success it’s a cultural event.
Overseas, especially in Gulf countries and parts of Europe, tickets were selling out before posters even went up. Fans didn’t just go to watch it. They dressed up, made content, and flooded Reddit with theories and easter eggs. Why did it work? Because it wasn’t just action it was layered with Dark Political And Mohanlal was Magnetic.
Read also: 10 Upcoming Malayalam Films to Watch Out For in 2025–2026
Thudarum
Genre: Crime Revenge Drama
Director: Tharun Moorthy
Cast: Mohanlal, Shobana
April 25th came in with a bang. Thudarum hit theatres and by the end of that weekend, everyone had an opinion. The box office clocked in at around 234 crore, making it one of the highest grossing Malayalam films ever and the biggest in Kerala this year.
Critics were impressed by how tight the story was. No frills. Just solid writing and intense moments. Mohanlal delivered one of his most subtle performances in years. The story was dark, but full of emotional weight. It didn’t scream. It hit you quietly.
Rekhachithram
Genre: Mystery-Thriller
Director: Jofin T. Chacko
Cast: Asif Ali, Anaswara Rajan
This one snuck up on people. Rekhachithram wasn’t making huge noise pre-release. But then came word-of-mouth. Suddenly, your friend who never recommends movies was telling you, “You have to see this.” It crossed 57 crore and became the first Malayalam movie of 2025 to go past 50 crore. What worked? The mood. The look. The pacing. It was noir without being boring, and its plot had people posting theories for weeks. Instagram edits, moody fan art, long YouTube breakdowns it had the kind of staying power that’s rare today.
Officer On Duty
Genre: Crime-Drama
Director: Jithu Ashraf
Lead: Kunchacko Boban
Here’s a film that didn’t go loud but left a mark. With 54 crore at the box office, it wasn’t just about numbers it was about impact.Kunchacko Boban’s depiction of a ethically clashed cop struck a nerve. People who normally skip cop dramas were saying this felt real. There were no cartoon villains. Just layers. Quiet tension. And scenes that made you think “Would I have done the same?” It hit hard because it stayed grounded. And fans? They appreciated that.
Read also: How Marathi Web Series Slipped Into the Spotlight on OTT Platforms
Alappuzha Gymkhana
Genre: Sports Comedy-Drama
Director: Khalid Rahman
Cast: Naslen, Lukman Avaran
Alappuzha Gymkhana wasn’t just a film it was a vibe. 65 crore for a sports movie with zero big stars? That says a lot.
The film wasn’t perfect. But it had soul. The kind that makes you root for the characters even after the credits roll. this film found fans in college students, gym buffs, and nostalgic uncles who used to box in their youth. Quotes from the movie started popping up on gym walls and fest banners. It lived beyond the screen.
Narivetta
Genre: Political-Social Drama
Director: Anuraj Manohar
Lead: Tovino Thomas
Some films don’t aim to entertain. They aim to stir. Narivetta was one of them. It showed the story of tribal resistance, taking inspiration from the real Muthanga incident. Box office Around 25 crore. Way more respect. Viewers walked in expecting a protest movie. They got a layered, thoughtful, and emotional gut-punch. Tovino didn’t overact. He just was Quiet, hurting, determined. The internet, especially Twitter and YouTube, lit up with conversations about land rights, police brutality, and the role of storytelling in activism.
Prince and Family
Genre: Comedy & Drama
Lead: Dileep
Sometimes, all you need is a film that makes the whole family laugh without awkward silences. Prince and Family was exactly that. Dileep returned with his trademark humor and warm screen presence. It collected 26.2 crore and became his biggest film since Ramaleela. Released in May, it hit OTT (ZEE5) by June and quickly became a weekend favorite. Jokes were clean, characters felt familiar, and for two hours, life felt simpler. That’s a win.
Maranamass
Genre: Psychological Black Comedy
Director: Sivaprasad
Lead: Basil Joseph
It was weird. But in a good way. Maranamass netted around 19.5 crore, and people either loved it or didn’t get it and both reactions kept the conversation going. It was dark, funny, sometimes even disturbing. Basil Joseph played it like a man on the edge, and the writing dipped into existential dread with a comedic twist. Instagram reels quoting the script started popping up, and it developed a niche fanbase who appreciated its boldness.
Ponman
Genre: Action Black Comedy
Director: Jothish Shankar
Stars: Basil Joseph, Sajin Gopu
A 3 crore film making 26 crore, that’s a flex. Ponman didn’t have flashy promos or A-list cameos. What it had was fire dialogue, gritty action, and a no nonsense script. This focused on real issues likedowry and toxic masculinity but kept the tone fresh. Word spread fast on WhatsApp groups, meme pages, and YouTube shorts. It felt like a crowd funded film, except it wasn’t. It just felt that close to the people.
Read also: Jatt & Juliet – The Punjabi Blockbuster That Just Felt Right
Other Names That Deserve a Nod
Hunt, Am Ah, and Ouseppinte Osiyathu may not have broken box office records, but they connected with smaller, passionate circles. Some went viral for a song. Some for one unforgettable scene. In the mean time, OTT stages like Netflix, SonyLIV, and ZEE5 saw cherish pouring in for titles like Detective Ujjwalan, Moonwalk, Blameless, and Illusion. Watchers acknowledged their craft even when they didn’t go mainstream.
Why These Movies Took Over the Internet
- Because they felt real. These weren’t stories in some far-off world. They were here. Now. Political drama? Crime rooted in truth? Underdog wins? All of it felt personal.
- Because stars didn’t overshadow the story. Yes, Mohanlal and Dileep were there. But so were raw talents and bold directors who put storytelling first.
- Because social media made them immortal. The reels, the breakdowns, the reaction videos—audiences weren’t just watching movies. They were living them. Extending their life beyond the screen.
- Because they didn’t try too hard. They didn’t scream “watch me.” They told their stories and the people came.
Final Thoughts
2025 didn’t just prove Malayalam cinema’s strength. It reminded everyone why it matters. These films weren’t just scripts turned into visuals. They were conversations, culture, and in many ways mirrors. If you skipped any of these, maybe it’s time to grab a blanket, hit play, and lose yourself in stories that came from the heart of Kerala and echoed far beyond it.
