2025 was one of the most remarkable years in Malayalam cinema history. It produced the first ₹300-crore Malayalam film, two massive Mohanlal hits, a string of smart thrillers and a Christmas fantasy that brought Nivin Pauly roaring back. This roundup of the best Malayalam movies 2025 covers 12 essential films — blockbusters and critical favourites — with where they stand and why they matter.
Key Takeaways
- Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra became the first Malayalam film to gross ₹300 crore.
- Mohanlal had two blockbusters: L2: Empuraan and Thudarum.
- Mid-budget thrillers like Rekhachithram and Officer on Duty were among the year’s biggest surprises.
Table of Contents
The Blockbusters of 2025
1. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
Dominic Arun’s folklore-based superhero film, produced by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films and led by Kalyani Priyadarshan, was the phenomenon of the year. Released in August, it grossed over ₹300 crore worldwide. Read our Lokah trailer breakdown.
2. L2: Empuraan
Prithviraj’s sequel to Lucifer released in March with record advance bookings and became the first Malayalam film to cross ₹250 crore, despite controversy and voluntary re-edits after release.
3. Thudarum
Tharun Moorthy’s family thriller, with Mohanlal as a taxi driver and Shobana as his wife, turned into a huge word-of-mouth hit, grossing over ₹230 crore. See our Thudarum trailer breakdown.
4. Sarvam Maya
Akhil Sathyan’s Christmas release is a supernatural romantic comedy in which Nivin Pauly plays an atheist guitarist from a family of priests who meets a playful spirit, Maya, whom only he can see. Warm, funny and full of heart, it grossed around ₹150 crore against a modest budget and marked a big comeback for Nivin.
The Thrillers That Surprised Everyone
5. Rekhachithram
Jofin T. Chacko’s January release stars Asif Ali as a police officer reopening a decades-old case connected to the making of a 1980s film. Its clever blend of nostalgia and investigation made it one of the first big hits of the year.
6. Officer on Duty
Kunchacko Boban plays an intense inspector in Jithu Ashraf’s dark, fast thriller written by Shahi Kabir. It became a hit in theatres and was widely watched on Netflix.
7. Kalamkaval
Debut director Jithin K. Jose’s psychological thriller stars Vinayakan as a police officer investigating disappearances of women, with Mammootty cast against type in a chilling antagonist role. Released in December, it grossed over ₹80 crore and drew strong praise for both leads.
8. Diés Iraé
Rahul Sadasivan, director of Bhoothakaalam and Bramayugam, returned with another horror film, this time starring Pranav Mohanlal. It was a commercial success, grossing over ₹80 crore.
More Must-Watch Malayalam Films of 2025
9. Ponman
Basil Joseph plays a gold agent trying to recover gold lent for a wedding in Jothish Shankar’s gritty drama, based on G.R. Indugopan’s story. It showed Basil’s serious side and earned him wide acclaim.
10. Alappuzha Gymkhana
Khalid Rahman’s boxing comedy-drama with Naslen and a group of young actors was a breezy, energetic hit with student audiences.
11. Hridayapoorvam
Sathyan Anthikad reunited with Mohanlal for this gentle, feel-good drama with Malavika Mohanan — a reminder of the director’s signature warmth.
12. Narivetta
Anuraj Manohar’s politically charged drama gives Tovino Thomas one of his most serious roles as a reluctant police constable caught up in a protest.
Best Malayalam Movies 2025: Box Office Table
| Film | Director | Lead(s) | Approx. worldwide gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra | Dominic Arun | Kalyani Priyadarshan, Naslen | ₹300 crore+ |
| L2: Empuraan | Prithviraj Sukumaran | Mohanlal | ₹265 crore+ |
| Thudarum | Tharun Moorthy | Mohanlal, Shobana | ₹235 crore |
| Sarvam Maya | Akhil Sathyan | Nivin Pauly | ₹150 crore |
| Kalamkaval | Jithin K. Jose | Mammootty, Vinayakan | ₹83 crore |
| Diés Iraé | Rahul Sadasivan | Pranav Mohanlal | ₹82 crore |
| Hridayapoorvam | Sathyan Anthikad | Mohanlal | ₹75 crore+ |
| Alappuzha Gymkhana | Khalid Rahman | Naslen | ₹65 crore |
| Rekhachithram | Jofin T. Chacko | Asif Ali | ₹57 crore |
| Officer on Duty | Jithu Ashraf | Kunchacko Boban | ₹54 crore |
Figures are approximate, based on public trade compilations. See the all-time chart in our highest grossing Malayalam movies list.
What 2025 Taught Us About Malayalam Cinema
The best Malayalam movies 2025 had to offer covered almost every genre, and audiences rewarded variety. A female-led superhero film became the year’s biggest hit — something unthinkable a decade ago. Veteran stars like Mohanlal and Mammootty thrived alongside new names such as Naslen and Kalyani Priyadarshan. And debut or second-time directors — Jithin K. Jose, Jofin T. Chacko, Jithu Ashraf — delivered some of the year’s best work. That momentum carried straight into 2026; read our Malayalam box office 2026 report.
Trends That Defined Malayalam Films in 2025
Genre films went big. Superhero fantasy, horror and supernatural comedy, once considered risky in Malayalam, delivered three of the year’s biggest successes. Lokah, Diés Iraé and Sarvam Maya showed that local folklore and belief systems can power mainstream entertainment.
Thrillers stayed reliable. Rekhachithram, Officer on Duty and Kalamkaval proved that a tight script still matters more than a big budget. Each found an audience through word of mouth rather than hype.
Stars took risks. Mammootty playing a villain, Basil Joseph moving into serious drama in Ponman and Tovino Thomas choosing a political film in Narivetta all suggest that leading actors are willing to step outside their comfort zones.
Which 2025 film should you watch first?
| If you like… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Fantasy and world-building | Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra |
| Emotional family thrillers | Thudarum |
| Investigation and mystery | Rekhachithram |
| Horror | Diés Iraé |
| Light comedy | Alappuzha Gymkhana, Sarvam Maya |
Most of these titles have reached streaming platforms, but rights change often. Our guide on where to watch Malayalam movies online and the Lokah OTT page are the quickest ways to check current availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which was the highest-grossing Malayalam movie of 2025?
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, with a worldwide gross of over ₹300 crore.
Which were the best Malayalam thrillers of 2025?
Rekhachithram, Officer on Duty and Kalamkaval were the standout thrillers.
Which Mohanlal films released in 2025?
Mohanlal starred in L2: Empuraan, Thudarum and Hridayapoorvam, all covered on this list. See our Mohanlal movies guide for more.
Where can I watch Sarvam Maya?
At the time of writing, Sarvam Maya streams on JioHotstar, where it premiered on 30 January 2026.
Where can I watch Kalamkaval?
At the time of writing, Kalamkaval streams on SonyLIV, where it premiered on 16 January 2026.
Conclusion
From superheroes to cyanide-laced thrillers, the best Malayalam movies 2025 offered something for every viewer and confirmed the industry’s golden run. For the full release list, see Malayalam films of 2025 on Wikipedia.
