The best Malayalam movies since 2024 include Manjummel Boys, Aavesham, Bramayugam, Aattam, Kishkindha Kaandam, Officer on Duty, Thudarum, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, Drishyam 3 and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. Most stream on JioHotstar, Prime Video, Netflix or SonyLIV.
Malayalam cinema has had a strong run in the last three years. Small films with new faces turned into national talking points, and big star films broke box office records. This list covers ten films from 2024 to 2026 that are worth your time, with the platform where each one premiered. Streaming rights can change, so check the app before you start.
We picked these films based on their box office runs, awards and how widely they were discussed after release. The list mixes small, writer-driven films with big star vehicles, so the list has slow mysteries as well as full-scale entertainers.
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1. Manjummel Boys (2024)
Chidambaram’s survival thriller is based on a real incident in which a group of friends from Manjummel, near Kochi, go on a trip to Kodaikanal and one of them falls into a deep cave. Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi and Balu Varghese lead the ensemble.
It grossed about ₹242 crore worldwide and won Best Film at the Kerala State Film Awards. Where to watch: JioHotstar, which also has Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi dubs.
2. Aavesham (2024)
Fahadh Faasil plays Ranga, a loud, generous Bengaluru gangster who adopts three college students looking for protection. Jithu Madhavan’s action comedy made Ranga a fan favourite, and the film grossed about ₹156 crore.
Where to watch: Prime Video (Malayalam). The Hindi version is on JioHotstar.
3. Bramayugam (2024)
Rahul Sadasivan’s horror film is shot entirely in black and white. Mammootty plays Kodumon Potti, the master of an old mansion where a folk singer, played by Arjun Ashokan, takes shelter and finds he cannot leave.
It is slow, eerie and built almost entirely on three performances. Where to watch: SonyLIV.
4. Aattam (2024)
Anand Ekarshi’s debut follows a theatre group that must decide what to do after its only female member, played by Zarin Shihab, reports being harassed by one of them. Most of the film is a long, tense discussion among the men.
Aattam won three National Film Awards, including Best Feature Film. Where to watch: Prime Video.
5. Kishkindha Kaandam (2024)
Asif Ali plays a forest officer whose new wife, played by Aparna Balamurali, grows curious about her father-in-law, a retired army officer played by Vijayaraghavan. Dinjith Ayyathan’s mystery keeps its cards close until the very end.
It released during Onam 2024 and grossed about ₹77 crore. Where to watch: JioHotstar.
6. Officer on Duty (2025)
Kunchacko Boban plays a demoted police officer who takes up what looks like a minor case and finds it linked to something much darker. It is the first film directed by Jithu Ashraf.
Priyamani and Jagadish are also in the cast. Where to watch: Netflix.
7. Thudarum (2025)
Mohanlal plays Shanmugham, a taxi driver whose quiet family life is upended after a run-in with the police. What starts as a small family drama turns into a thriller. Shobana plays his wife, and Tharun Moorthy directs.
Made on a reported budget of ₹28 crore, it grossed about ₹235 crore worldwide. Where to watch: JioHotstar, with Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada dubs.
8. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (2025)
Kalyani Priyadarshan plays Chandra, a woman with supernatural powers living quietly in Bengaluru, with Naslen in a dual role. Dominic Arun directs and Dulquer Salmaan produces through Wayfarer Films.
It became the first Malayalam film to cross ₹300 crore worldwide and is the highest-grossing Malayalam film so far. Where to watch: JioHotstar, in Malayalam and six dubbed languages.
9. Drishyam 3 (2026)
Mohanlal returns as Georgekutty in Jeethu Joseph’s third Drishyam film, with Meena, Ansiba Hassan and Esther Anil back as his family. It released on May 21, 2026, and grossed about ₹238 crore, the most for the franchise.
Where to watch: Prime Video, from June 18, 2026, with Tamil, Telugu and Kannada dubs. Hindi audiences got their own version, Drishyam: The Conclusion with Ajay Devgn, in theatres this October.
10. Bethlehem Kudumba Unit (2026)
Girish A.D., who made Premalu, directs this romantic comedy about Ashley, who returns to Kerala from Ireland and reconnects with Justin, an older man she once loved. Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju lead.
It was one of the biggest Malayalam hits of 2026. Where to watch: JioHotstar, from October 2, 2026.
What about Premalu?
Premalu (2024), the Naslen and Mamitha Baiju romcom that grossed about ₹136 crore, was temporarily removed from JioHotstar in August 2026, ahead of its Hindi remake Prem Keetanu. Check JioHotstar again later if it is on your list.
Note that films that premiered on Disney+ Hotstar now stream on JioHotstar, after the two services merged in 2025. For more film picks, see our Listicles and Reviews sections.
Sources: Manjummel Boys (Wikipedia), Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (Wikipedia), The South First, Esquire India.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch Manjummel Boys?
Manjummel Boys streams on JioHotstar in Malayalam, with Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi dubbed versions.
Which is the highest-grossing Malayalam film?
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (2025) is the highest-grossing Malayalam film, with over ₹300 crore worldwide.
Is Aavesham on Netflix or Prime Video?
The Malayalam version of Aavesham streams on Prime Video. The Hindi version is on JioHotstar.
Which OTT platform has the most Malayalam films?
From this list, JioHotstar has the most, with five titles. Prime Video has three, while Netflix and SonyLIV have one each.
