Chhaava tops most popular Indian movies of 2025 so far, while Coolie leads most anticipated list: IMDb
Hyderabad: IMDb, the world’s leading source for movie and TV show information, has revealed the Most Popular Indian Movies of 2025 So Far and the Most Anticipated Indian Movies for the remainder of the year. These rankings are based on the actual page views from over 250 million IMDb users worldwide.
Chhaava, directed by Laxman Utekar, has emerged as the Most Popular Indian Movie of 2025 So Far. The film, featuring Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, and Akshaye Khanna, has captured significant attention from audiences. Utekar expressed his gratitude for the recognition, highlighting that the film's success shows the overwhelming support of the viewers. He remarked, "Receiving this recognition from the fans is truly special. The love and positive reception for Chhaava inspire our entire cast and crew to continue creating stories that resonate with audiences."
On the other hand, Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, stands as the most anticipated Indian film for the second half of 2025. The movie, particularly notable for the long-awaited reunion of legendary actors Rajinikanth and Sathyaraj after 38 years, has generated a massive buzz. Lokesh Kanagaraj expressed his excitement about the film’s reception, saying, "Fans worldwide have shown incredible excitement for Coolie. We hope the magic created by the reunion of Rajinikanth and Sathyaraj will resonate with them."
In terms of popularity, Chhaava has been joined by other major films released in the first half of 2025, including Dragon, Deva, Raid 2, Retro, The Diplomat, L2: Empuraan, Sitaare Zameen Par, Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, and VidaaMuyarchi. These films, with an average IMDb rating of 6 or higher and at least 10,000 votes, were consistently the most viewed by IMDb’s global audience between January and July 2025.
Looking ahead, the most anticipated Indian films for the rest of 2025 include Coolie, War 2, The Raja Saab, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, Saiyaara, Baaghi 4, Son of Sardaar 2, Hridayapoorvam, Mahavatar Narsimha, and Alpha. These films have captured the attention of IMDb users worldwide, with some notable stars making multiple appearances across both lists. Mohanlal, for example, leads in L2: Empuraan and will also be seen in Hridayapoorvam. Pooja Hegde is part of both Deva and Retro, as well as Coolie. Ajay Devgn, too, appears in multiple films, starring in Raid 2 and set to appear in Son of Sardaar 2.
July also marks the debut of Ahaan Panday in Saiyaara and Shanaya Kapoor in Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, both of which have generated strong interest.
Regarding the language distribution, the most popular Indian films of 2025 include six Hindi titles, three Tamil films, and one Malayalam film. The list of most anticipated films is dominated by Hindi cinema, with six films, while Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam industries each contribute one title. Additionally, Mahavatar Narsimha is set to be released in five languages, adding to its appeal across diverse audiences.
