As 2025 draws to an in depth, Mollywood once more proved why Malayalam cinema continues to punch well above its weight. From haunting mystery thrillers and gritty crime dramas to stylish franchise starters and socially charged narratives, this 12 months had something for each type of movie buff. While a few of these movies made loads of noise, others quietly impressed with strong writing and memorable performances. To have a good time a stellar 12 months, we’ve rounded up the highest 10 Mollywood movies of 2025 that really stood out, whether you caught them already or must add them to your watchlist at once.
1. Ekō
- Director: Dinjith Ayyathan
- IMDb rating: 8.3/10
- Streaming on: not available online yet
Plot: Ekō, a period mystery thriller set in a distant hill station, follows an elderly woman living in near isolation after her husband vanished years ago. With only a caretaker for company, questions begin to pile up. How did a Malaysian woman find yourself in an obscure corner of Kerala? What happened to her missing husband? And who remains to be trying to find him? Rigorously layered and deeply atmospheric, this stands out as certainly one of the best mystery movies Mollywood has delivered in 2025.
2. Rekhachithram
- Director: Jofin T. Chacko
- IMDb rating: 7.8/10
- Streaming on: SonyLIV
Plot: It’s a mystery crime investigation drama centered on a decades-old murder that involves light after a person enters a forest, goes continue to exist social media, and dies by suicide. Before his death, he confessed that he and a couple of others buried a young woman alive at the identical location years ago. He also names his accomplices, certainly one of whom is now a strong businessman.
The film follows the investigation into the identity of the victim and the motive behind the murder. Siddique leaves an impression despite his temporary appearance, and Asif Ali delivers a solid performance because the police officer leading the investigation.
3. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
- Director: Dominic Arun
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
- Streaming on: JioHotstar
Plot: Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is the primary installment in a planned multi-film franchise. The story follows Chandra, who moves to a brand new city and settles into an apartment opposite Sunny. Sunny becomes infatuated along with her, nevertheless it soon becomes clear that there may be more to Chandra than what initially meets the attention. As his curiosity grows, he and his friends progressively find themselves entangled in her world and the secrets that include it.
4. Kalamkaval
- Director: Jithin K. Jose
- IMDb rating: 7.6/10
- Streaming on: not available online yet.
Plot: A criminal offense thriller inspired by and heavily fictionalized from the lifetime of serial killer Cyanide Mohan, the film sets itself apart through Mammootty’s chilling performance in a very villainous role. Stripped of any redeeming traits, his character preys on vulnerable women, seduces them, and murders them using cyanide, disguising the poison as contraceptive tablets.
5. Officer on Duty
- Director: Jithu Ashraf
- IMDb rating: 7.5/10
- Streaming on: Netflix
Plot: On this crime thriller, the protagonist R. Hari Shankar is a DYSP who has been demoted to CI following an incident with a senior officer. He struggles with anger management issues, forcing each his colleagues and family to continually tread rigorously around him. This naturally raises questions on whether someone with such a temperament should proceed to serve within the police force in any respect.
Putting that aside, on his very first day back on duty, he takes up what appears to be a routine fake ornament loan case. Because the investigation progresses, it results in a death that hits uncomfortably near home and bears unsettling similarities to events from his own past.
6. Thudarum
- Director: Tharun Moorthy
- IMDb rating: 7.5/10
- Available on: Jio Hotstar
Plot: The film is one of the vital financially successful movies in Mollywood up to now. While the plot itself just isn’t particularly latest, it’s a revenge thriller. The protagonist, Benz, is a taxi driver whose automobile is impounded by the police. As he focuses on getting the vehicle released from police custody, a much more serious crisis unfolds. When he finally gets the automobile back, he discovers that his son, who was staying in a school hostel, has gone missing, setting off the next investigation.
7. Ponman
- Director: Jotish Shankar
- IMDb rating: 7.4/10
- Streaming on: Jio Hotstar
A black comedy drama thriller based on the novel Naalanchu Cheruppakar by G. R. Indugopan, the film explores the problem of dowry and the way it affects financially weaker families. The protagonist, Basil’s character, is a gold dealer who supplies jewellery to a family for a marriage without taking payment up front. After the ceremony, the family is unable to boost enough money to pay him back, leaving him with no alternative but to attempt to recuperate the gold. The film showcases the psychological impact this has on the bride and her family, the response of her violent husband, and ultimately how dowry just isn’t just an issue for the bride but a wider social issue.
8. Narivetta
- Director: Anuraj Manohar
- IMDb rating: 6.5/10
- Streaming on: SonyLIV
Plot: The film is a fictionalised tackle the real-life Muthanga Protest and the next police motion to suppress it, including using firearms. While the incident forms the backdrop, the narrative places greater emphasis on the non-public lifetime of the protagonist relatively than focusing entirely on the struggles of the oppressed tribal community. Even so, the political drama thriller stays a compelling watch, particularly for the way in which it reflects how the state responds to marginalised communities and their concerns.
9. Maranamass
- Director: Sivaprasad
- IMDb rating: 6.2/10
- Streaming on: SonyLIV
Plot: This can be a black comedy, and a good warning is so as. Among the humor may not work for everybody, and in certain cases, viewers may not even recognize it as comedy due to its dry, context-driven nature. For example, there may be a gag involving the protagonist planning a visit to Czechoslovakia, a rustic that not exists, because it was split into two separate countries. Without that little bit of general knowledge, the joke can easily be missed, and the film has several moments like this.
Coming to the story, Kerala is under the specter of a serial killer. Considered one of the police suspects is Luke P P, a social nuisance, prankster, and influencer who’s coping with a breakup. While he just isn’t the actual killer, circumstances eventually bring him, his love interest, the actual serial killer, and a couple of other characters together on a bus, setting the stage for the film’s darkly comic turn.
10. L2: Empuraan
- Director: Prithviraj Sukumaran
- IMDb rating: 6.2/10
- Streaming on: JioHotstar
Plot: This film is a sequel to Lucifer (2019). Visually, it doesn’t feel like a typical Malayalam film and infrequently goals for a more Hollywood styled presentation, which works in its favor. The technical craft and scale are impressive, although the script tries to convey too many ideas without delay.
The story follows Stephen Nedumpally after he leaves Kerala, with the state once more in need of a saviour. The film also explores his past and present identity as Khureshi Ab’raam. If you happen to are on the lookout for a well-mounted, visually polished motion adventure thriller, this film is price a watch.
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