Based on a true story, this film became a historic box-office success. It perfectly balances intense survival tension with a deeply moving portrayal of unconditional friendship. 2018: Everyone is a Hero (2023) IMDb Rating: 8.2/10 Genre: Disaster Drama
The film keeps viewers on the edge of their seats by turning standard police investigation tropes upside down. Its massive success led to official remakes in several languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Chinese, and Korean. The 2021 sequel, Drishyam 2 , achieved the rare feat of matching—and for some, exceeding—the brilliance of the original. 2. Kireedam (1989) 8.9/10 Genre: Drama / Crime Director: Sibi Malayil Cast: Mohanlal, Thilakan, Parvathy
A black-and-white folk horror film exploring power and greed A survival epic based on the novel Aadujeevitham Ponman A dark-comedy thriller starring Basil Joseph Anticipated Releases (2025–2026) top imdb rated malayalam movies best
Malayalam cinema offers a refreshing break from predictable storylines. Dive into these top IMDb-rated gems to experience storytelling at its absolute finest.
A landmark in suspense thrillers. Starring Mohanlal, this film is lauded for its gripping screenplay and has been remade across several languages. Based on a true story, this film became
Top IMDb Rated Malayalam Movies: A Journey Through Cinematic Excellence
Sandesham is a timeless political satire that remains highly relevant today. Written by Sreenivasan, the film showcases a retired railway employee who returns home only to find his two unemployed sons blindly obsessing over opposing political ideologies. The movie brilliantly mocks blind political fanaticism and the exploitation of youth by political parties, all while keeping the audience laughing with razor-sharp dialogue. 5. Manichitrathazhu (1993) 8.8/10 Genre: Psychological Thriller / Horror Director: Fazil Cast: Shobana, Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi Its massive success led to official remakes in
If you have never watched a Malayalam film before: