The best Malayalam movies of all time include classics such as Nadodikkattu (1987) and Manichitrathazhu (1993), and newer favourites such as Kumbalangi Nights (2019), The Great Indian Kitchen (2021) and Manjummel Boys (2024). Malayalam cinema is known for grounded writing, strong performances and stories rooted in everyday Kerala life.
- Why Malayalam cinema stands out
- Quick list at a glance
- 1. Nadodikkattu (1987)
- 2. Manichitrathazhu (1993)
- 3. Big B (2007)
- 4. Pranchiyettan and the Saint (2010)
- 5. 22 Female Kottayam (2012)
- 6. Ustad Hotel (2012)
- 7. Mumbai Police (2013)
- 8. Drishyam (2013)
- 9. Munnariyippu (2014)
- 10. Sudani from Nigeria (2018)
- 11. Kumbalangi Nights (2019)
- 12. The Great Indian Kitchen (2021)
- 13. Manjummel Boys (2024)
- How to watch these films
- Frequently asked questions
Why Malayalam cinema stands out
Malayalam films have a long record of realistic storytelling, and the industry gained a much wider national audience after OTT platforms began carrying them with subtitles. In recent years, Malayalam films have also done well at the box office outside Kerala, and several have been remade in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
This list mixes comedy, thrillers and family drama across four decades. It is not a ranking, and any such list will leave out many fine films. We have updated our earlier list of ten with three widely acclaimed additions.
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Quick list at a glance
| Film | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Nadodikkattu | 1987 | Sathyan Anthikad |
| Manichitrathazhu | 1993 | Fazil |
| Big B | 2007 | Amal Neerad |
| Pranchiyettan and the Saint | 2010 | Ranjith |
| 22 Female Kottayam | 2012 | Aashiq Abu |
| Ustad Hotel | 2012 | Anwar Rasheed |
| Mumbai Police | 2013 | Rosshan Andrrews |
| Drishyam | 2013 | Jeethu Joseph |
| Munnariyippu | 2014 | Venu |
| Sudani from Nigeria | 2018 | Zakariya Mohammed |
| Kumbalangi Nights | 2019 | Madhu C. Narayanan |
| The Great Indian Kitchen | 2021 | Jeo Baby |
| Manjummel Boys | 2024 | Chidambaram |
1. Nadodikkattu (1987)
Mohanlal and Sreenivasan play Dasan and Vijayan, two unemployed young men who are cheated while trying to get to the Gulf for work. They land in Madras instead and get caught up in a mix-up with smugglers who believe they are CID officers.
Written by Sreenivasan from a story by Siddique-Lal, the film is still one of the most quoted Malayalam comedies. It led to two sequels, Pattanapravesham and Akkare Akkare Akkare.
2. Manichitrathazhu (1993)
Fazil’s psychological thriller follows a couple who move into an old ancestral house, where strange events begin. Mohanlal plays a psychiatrist who is called in to find the truth.
Shobana won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role. The film was remade as Apthamitra in Kannada, Chandramukhi in Tamil and Bhool Bhulaiyaa in Hindi.
3. Big B (2007)
Amal Neerad’s debut stars Mammootty as Bilal, who returns to Kochi after his adoptive mother is murdered. With his brothers, he sets out to find who killed her.
Its stylish camera work and slow-motion action were new for Malayalam cinema at the time. The film has since gained a cult following.
4. Pranchiyettan and the Saint (2010)
Mammootty plays a rich Thrissur businessman who has money but craves respect and recognition. He shares his worries with a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, and the conversations shape the story.
Ranjith’s satire gently pokes fun at status-seeking and small-town vanity. Mammootty’s comic timing is a big reason it remains popular.
5. 22 Female Kottayam (2012)
Rima Kallingal plays Tessa, a nurse from Kottayam who is preparing to work abroad. A relationship with a man played by Fahadh Faasil turns into betrayal, and the film follows what she does next.
Aashiq Abu’s thriller drew wide attention for its bold take on revenge and gender.
6. Ustad Hotel (2012)
Dulquer Salmaan plays Faizi, who wants to be a chef despite his father’s objections. He ends up at his grandfather’s small restaurant in Kozhikode, where he learns what cooking means to people.
Written by Anjali Menon and directed by Anwar Rasheed, the film is remembered for Thilakan’s warm performance as the grandfather.
7. Mumbai Police (2013)
Prithviraj Sukumaran plays a police officer who loses his memory after an accident, just after cracking a colleague’s murder case. He has to investigate the case again without knowing who he was.
Written by Bobby and Sanjay, it is known for a twist that was unusual for a mainstream Indian police film.
8. Drishyam (2013)
Mohanlal plays Georgekutty, a cable TV operator who goes to great lengths to protect his family after a crime. Jeethu Joseph’s tight writing turns a family drama into a gripping thriller.
The film was remade in several languages, including the Hindi Drishyam with Ajay Devgn, and led to sequels.
9. Munnariyippu (2014)
A journalist is asked to ghost-write the life story of a prisoner, played by Mammootty, who has spent years in jail and insists he is innocent. As she listens to him, the story takes an unexpected direction.
Directed by cinematographer Venu and written by Unni R., it is one of Mammootty’s most restrained performances.
10. Sudani from Nigeria (2018)
Soubin Shahir plays Majeed, who manages a local sevens football club in Malappuram. When his Nigerian player, played by Samuel Abiola Robinson, is injured, he recovers at Majeed’s home.
Zakariya Mohammed’s debut is a warm, simple film about kindness across cultures.
11. Kumbalangi Nights (2019)
Four brothers live in a run-down house in Kumbalangi, a fishing village near Kochi. Written by Syam Pushkaran and directed by Madhu C. Narayanan, the film looks at family, masculinity and mental health with humour and care.
Fahadh Faasil’s unsettling turn as Shammi is one of its highlights.
12. The Great Indian Kitchen (2021)
Jeo Baby’s film follows a newly married woman, played by Nimisha Sajayan, through the endless cooking and cleaning expected of her. Suraj Venjaramoodu plays her husband.
Its quiet, repetitive scenes made it one of the most discussed Indian films on patriarchy at home.
13. Manjummel Boys (2024)
Based on a real 2006 incident, the film follows a group of friends from Kochi whose trip to the Guna Caves near Kodaikanal turns into a rescue mission. Chidambaram directs a cast led by Soubin Shahir and Sreenath Bhasi.
It became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films and drew large audiences in Tamil Nadu too.
How to watch these films
Most of these titles are available on major OTT platforms in India, but streaming rights change often. Search the app you subscribe to, or use a listing service, before you plan a movie night. For more film picks, browse our Entertainment section and Infotainment section.
Further reading: BuzzPedia.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best Malayalam movie of all time?
There is no single answer, but Nadodikkattu, Manichitrathazhu and Drishyam are among the films most often named by critics and audiences.
Which Malayalam films were remade in Hindi?
Manichitrathazhu became Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Drishyam was remade as Drishyam with Ajay Devgn. Many other Malayalam hits have also been remade.
Which recent Malayalam film should I start with?
Kumbalangi Nights or Manjummel Boys are good starting points. Both are easy to follow with subtitles and show the industry’s recent style.
Is Manjummel Boys based on a true story?
Yes. It is based on a real 2006 incident in which a young man from Manjummel fell into a pit in the Guna Caves and was rescued by his friends.
Sources: Wikipedia: Manichitrathazhu, Wikipedia: Manjummel Boys, Wikipedia: Highest-grossing Malayalam films.
