The list of the highest grossing Malayalam movies has changed dramatically in just a few years. Until 2016, no Malayalam film had crossed ₹100 crore worldwide. Today, the industry has multiple ₹200-crore hits and, in 2025 and 2026, two films that went past the ₹300-crore mark. This is the clearest sign yet that Malayalam cinema is no longer a “regional” industry — it is a pan-Indian and global force.
Below is our updated top 20, based on worldwide gross figures reported by trade trackers and compiled public sources as of early October 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Bethlehem Kudumba Unit (2026), starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, became the highest grossing Malayalam movie ever in September 2026.
- Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (2025) was the first Malayalam film to cross ₹300 crore worldwide.
- Eight of the top ten films released in 2024 or later, showing a massive boom in the Malayalam box office.
Table of Contents
Top 20 Highest Grossing Malayalam Movies (Worldwide)
| # | Film | Year | Director | Approx. worldwide gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethlehem Kudumba Unit | 2026 | Girish A.D. | ₹305+ crore |
| 2 | Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra | 2025 | Dominic Arun | ₹300–304 crore |
| 3 | L2: Empuraan | 2025 | Prithviraj Sukumaran | ₹265–268 crore |
| 4 | Manjummel Boys | 2024 | Chidambaram | ₹240 crore |
| 5 | Drishyam 3 | 2026 | Jeethu Joseph | ₹238–242 crore |
| 6 | Vaazha II: Biopic of a Billion Bros | 2026 | Savin S.A. | ₹234 crore |
| 7 | Thudarum | 2025 | Tharun Moorthy | ₹234 crore |
| 8 | 2018 | 2023 | Jude Anthany Joseph | ₹175–180 crore |
| 9 | Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) | 2024 | Blessy | ₹158 crore |
| 10 | Aavesham | 2024 | Jithu Madhavan | ₹155 crore |
| 11 | Sarvam Maya | 2025 | Akhil Sathyan | ₹150 crore |
| 12 | Pulimurugan | 2016 | Vysakh | ₹139 crore |
| 13 | Premalu | 2024 | Girish A.D. | ₹136 crore |
| 14 | Lucifer | 2019 | Prithviraj Sukumaran | ₹127–129 crore |
| 15 | Aadu 3 | 2026 | Midhun Manuel Thomas | ₹120 crore |
| 16 | Marco | 2024 | Haneef Adeni | ₹110 crore |
| 17 | ARM | 2024 | Jithin Laal | ₹106 crore |
| 18 | Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil | 2024 | Vipin Das | ₹90 crore |
| 19 | Bheeshma Parvam | 2022 | Amal Neerad | ₹88 crore |
| 20 | Neru | 2023 | Jeethu Joseph | ₹86 crore |
Malayalam Box Office Milestones
₹100 crore: Pulimurugan (2016)
Vysakh’s action film starring Mohanlal as a tiger hunter was the first Malayalam movie to cross ₹100 crore worldwide. It proved that a Malayalam film could compete commercially with big Telugu and Tamil releases.
₹150 crore: 2018 (2023)
Jude Anthany Joseph’s survival drama about the 2018 Kerala floods united audiences across the state and was selected as India’s official entry for the Academy Awards.
₹200 crore: Manjummel Boys (2024)
Chidambaram’s survival thriller became a phenomenon in Tamil Nadu as well as Kerala, helped by its connection to the Guna caves and the classic song “Kanmani Anbodu”. Read our Manjummel Boys review.
₹250 crore: L2: Empuraan (2025)
Prithviraj’s sequel to Lucifer, starring Mohanlal, earned a huge share of its collection overseas and became the first Malayalam film past ₹250 crore.
₹300 crore: Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (2025)
Produced by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films and led by Kalyani Priyadarshan, this female-led superhero film shattered expectations and became the first Malayalam film to gross ₹300 crore.
New record: Bethlehem Kudumba Unit (2026)
Girish A.D.’s romantic comedy with Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju crossed ₹100 crore in five days and overtook Lokah in September 2026, according to trade reports, to become the highest grossing Malayalam movie of all time. Read the full Bethlehem Kudumba Unit box office story.
Why Malayalam Box Office Collections Have Exploded
- OTT exposure: during and after the pandemic, millions of non-Malayali viewers discovered Malayalam films on streaming platforms. They now show up in theatres too.
- Strong word of mouth: films like Manjummel Boys and Premalu opened modestly and grew week after week because audiences recommended them.
- Overseas markets: the Gulf countries, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia contribute a large share of collections for big Malayalam releases.
- Dubbed releases: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi versions have opened up new audiences.
- Genre variety: the top 20 includes survival dramas, superhero films, comedies, thrillers and gangster stories.
Which Stars Dominate the Highest Grossing Malayalam Movies?
Mohanlal is the clear leader, with five films in the top 20: L2: Empuraan, Drishyam 3, Thudarum, Pulimurugan and Lucifer. Prithviraj Sukumaran appears as director of both Lucifer films and as the lead of Aadujeevitham and Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil. Tovino Thomas features in 2018, ARM, L2: Empuraan and has a cameo in Lokah.
The most interesting trend, however, is how many of the highest grossing Malayalam movies are not traditional star vehicles at all. Manjummel Boys, Premalu and Vaazha II were driven by young ensembles, while Lokah was led by Kalyani Priyadarshan. Girish A.D. is now the only director with two films in the top 13 — Premalu and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit — a remarkable achievement for a filmmaker who started with small coming-of-age stories.
A Note on Box Office Figures
Box office numbers in India are not audited publicly. Producers, distributors and tracking websites often report slightly different figures, and numbers for recent releases keep changing while films are still running. That is why we show approximate ranges. For the most official numbers, look for statements from the production houses themselves. You can also compare figures on Wikipedia’s list of highest-grossing Malayalam films, which cites individual trade reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the highest grossing Malayalam movie of all time?
As of October 2026, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is the highest grossing Malayalam movie worldwide, having overtaken Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra in September 2026.
Which was the first Malayalam film to earn ₹100 crore?
Pulimurugan (2016), starring Mohanlal, was the first Malayalam film to cross ₹100 crore worldwide.
Which actor has the most films among the highest grossing Malayalam movies?
Mohanlal leads, with L2: Empuraan, Drishyam 3, Thudarum, Pulimurugan and Lucifer all in the top 20.
Which is the highest grossing Malayalam movie of 2026?
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is the biggest Malayalam hit of 2026 so far, followed by Drishyam 3 and Vaazha II.
Conclusion
The highest grossing Malayalam movies list now looks completely different from a decade ago. With stars and new talent alike delivering record-breaking hits, it would not be surprising to see a Malayalam film chase ₹400 crore in the coming years. Keep following our Cinema News section for the latest box office updates, and check our upcoming Malayalam movies list to see which films could enter this chart next.
