Box Populi
IMDb reveals India’s most-watched films and series of 2025
MUMBAI: Indian storytelling has come of age. IMDb’s year-end rankings, based on page views from over 250 million monthly visitors worldwide, reveal a striking shift: audiences are hungry for distinctly Indian narratives, from superhero epics to satirical exposés.
Saiyaara, produced by Yash Raj Films, claimed the top spot among movies. The romantic drama, directed by Mohit Suri and starring debut actors Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has “set new benchmarks” and connected with viewers “across geography, age, and culture,” according to Akshaye Widhani, chief executive of Yash Raj Films. The film’s success marks a triumph for homegrown stories that refuse to play it safe.
The series list tells an even bolder story. The Ba***ds of Bollywood, directed by Aryan Khan, topped the rankings with its unfiltered take on the film industry. Khan says the show aimed to “shake the room and own the conversation.” It succeeded. The series has spawned memes, fan edits and heated debates—becoming, in Khan’s words, “a pop cultural phenomenon” rather than just “a weekend watch.”
The data reveals telling patterns. Five of the top ten films are in Hindi, with Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam making strong showings. Mahavatar Narsimha, released simultaneously in five languages, became the first animated film to crack an IMDb year-end Indian list. Among series, crime thrillers dominated, claiming seven of ten spots. Six were either new seasons or franchise extensions, suggesting audiences reward long-form storytelling.
“The diverse range of storytelling, spanning from romance to animation, superhero epics to satire, reflects the industry’s vibrancy,” says Yaminie Patodia, head of IMDb India. “It’s especially exciting to see distinctly Indian stories and cultural narratives resonating with audiences around the world.”
The streaming platforms are taking notice. Netflix and Prime Video tied with four titles each on the series list, while JioHotstar secured two. The competition for Indian content has never been fiercer.
Top 10 Indian films:
1. Saiyaara
2. Mahavatar Narsimha
3. Chhaava
4. Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1
5. Coolie
6. Dragon
7. Sitaare Zameen Par
8. Deva
9. Raid 2
10. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
Top 10 Indian series:
1. The Ba***ds of Bollywood
2. Black Warrant
3. Paatal Lok Season 2
4. Panchayat Season 4
5. Mandala Murders
6. Khauf
7. Special Ops Season 2
8. Khakee: The Bengal Chapter
9. The Family Man Season 3
10. Criminal Justice: A Family Matter
The message is clear: Indian creators are no longer seeking validation from the West. They’re telling their stories their way—and the world is watching.
MUMBAI:If there is a soundtrack to cinema-going, it is the crackle of popcorn and in 2025, audiences at Cinépolis India clearly couldn’t get enough of it. The multiplex chain has revealed its annual popcorn consumption data, showing that moviegoers across its network devoured close to five million tubs of popcorn last year. Broken down, that works out to around 570 tubs every hour, or roughly 10 tubs disappearing every single minute, enough to keep the kernels popping almost non-stop.
In sheer volume terms, Cinépolis sold around 12,000 tonnes of popcorn during the year, underlining just how central the snack has become to the big-screen ritual. Long after the opening credits roll and before the end credits fade, popcorn remains the constant companion.
To celebrate National Popcorn Day on January 19, 2026, the cinema chain is now turning the spotlight on the snack itself. From January 20 to January 31, Cinépolis will run a nationwide “Popcorn Happy Hour”, offering a buy one get one free deal on popcorn across its locations. The limited-period promotion is designed to add a little extra crunch to the moviegoing experience, without adding to the bill.
“Popcorn is the official movie partner, and at Cinépolis, it is the sensory anchor of the cinema experience,” said Cinépolis India managing director Devang Sampat. “With the Popcorn Happy Hour offer, we are making it easier for audiences to add that to their visit, without compromising on quality.”
Sampat added that the consumption data is more than just a fun statistic. Tracking what patrons buy and when they buy it helps the chain refine its food and beverage offerings and shape the overall in-cinema experience. “Our 2025 data helps us understand what patrons are choosing, so we can keep improving the menu and the experience,” he said.
The popcorn push sits within Cinépolis India’s broader Foovies framework, an in-house strategy that treats food and beverages as a core part of cinema-going rather than a side order. The approach focuses on curated menus, value-led campaigns and data-driven decisions, using consumer behaviour to guide what lands at the concession counter.
As theatres continue to compete not just with streaming platforms but with every other leisure option vying for attention, the numbers suggest one thing remains rock-solid: when the lights dim, popcorn still rules the aisle. And with millions of tubs already behind it, Cinépolis is betting that the humble kernel will keep audiences coming back for another bite and another show.
