Lokah, Feminichi Fathima, Moonwalk, Eko & More: The 10 Best Malayalam Films of 2025

As 2025 comes to an end, it’s time to look back and celebrate the Malayalam films that truly stood out — whether released in theatres or on OTT. From powerful storytelling to innovative filmmaking, these movies remind us why Malayalam cinema continues to earn admiration across India and beyond.

A Year of Fewer Blockbusters, but Bigger Milestones

Compared to 2024, this year may not have delivered as many massive hits or groundbreaking films. Yet, Malayalam cinema quietly achieved something remarkable — entering the ₹300-crore club for the very first time.

The year also shined at the 71st National Film Awards:

• Mohanlal received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award
• Vijayaraghavan and Urvashi won major acting honors
• Films like Ullozhukku and Pookkaalam earned national acclaim

However, the absence of wildly impactful mainstream blockbusters — like last year’s Manjummel Boys, Aavesham, and Premalu — was hard to ignore. Several big-budget projects failed to connect with audiences, while smaller, unexpected films ended up winning hearts.

Once again, Malayalam cinema proved a timeless truth:
👉 great films are defined by vision, not scale.

At the same time, 2025 showed how extraordinary things can happen when vision is backed with resources — perfectly illustrated by Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, a film that blended world-class execution with bold imagination.

Below, we highlight the Malayalam movies we consider the best releases of 2025 — listed in release order, not ranked.

⭐ Ponman

Ponman stands out as one of the year’s technically strongest films, enriched by masterful performances. Directed by debutant Jothish Shankar, the film travels along the coastal belt of Kollam, uncovering how the dowry system still thrives beneath the surface of everyday life.

The narrative exposes:

• the powerful networks enabling the practice
• the dangerous reality faced by low-level operatives involved in illegal transactions

These characters live constantly on the edge — risking everything while trapped in systems larger than themselves.

Basil Joseph delivers one of his finest performances to date, anchoring the emotional weight of the movie.