Cinematic Giants! These Are the Most-Awaited Indian Films of 2026 You Can't Miss
Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Ramayana’ has topped IMDb’s most-awaited Indian films list for the second half of 2026, with ‘Toxic’ and ‘King’ also making it to the top five.
As the second half of 2026 kicks into high gear, the Indian box office is bracing for some of the biggest, most expensive, and culturally significant cinematic events in history. Tracking this massive, unprecedented hype, IMDb recently unveiled its official list of the Most Anticipated Indian Movies for the remainder of 2026. The rankings were calculated based on the actual page views from IMDb’s staggering global audience of over 250 million monthly visitors between January 1 and June 28, 2026, capturing exactly what moviegoers are searching for in real time.
Unsurprisingly, the list signalled a massive return to event cinema. The top spots are heavily dominated by ambitious mythological adaptations, high-stakes spy universes, and massive star-led vehicles that promise to redefine the theatrical experience. Here is a breakdown of the 20 highly anticipated films that made the cut, spanning Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada cinema.
From ‘Ramayana’ to ‘King’, check out the list of IMDb’s most-awaited Indian films here:
1. Ramayana: Part 1
Topping the list as the undisputed most-awaited film of the year is Nitesh Tiwari’s magnum opus, ‘Ramayana: Part 1’. Backed by producer Namit Malhotra with a staggering reported budget of Rs 4000 crore for both parts, the film is the first installment of a massive two-part cinematic saga. The pan-Indian cast features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The plot chronicles the epic mythological journey of Lord Rama, focusing on his exile, the abduction of Sita, and the ensuing battle against the ruler of Lanka. Adding to the unprecedented global ambition of the project, the music will be a landmark collaboration between Oscar-winners A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer. The first part is officially slated to hit theaters during Diwali 2026, with the concluding chapter scheduled for Diwali 2027.
2. Alpha
Claiming the second spot is ‘Alpha’, the newly released action thriller that boldly expands the Yash Raj Films (YRF) Spy Universe. When the IMDb list was announced on June 30, ‘Alpha’ was still days away from release, which explains the massive pre-release curiosity around the project. Directed by Shiv Rawail (acclaimed for Netflix’s The Railway Men) and released on July 3, 2026, the film marks a historic shift as the first female-led entry in the blockbuster franchise. Alia Bhatt and Sharvari lead the charge as Sita and Durga, twin sisters who were tragically separated at birth and subsequently raised and trained in complete isolation to become lethal, remorseless covert operatives. Both actresses underwent months of gruelling physical combat and weapons training to execute the film's brutal, hand-to-hand action sequences. Co-starring Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor, the movie has so far made Rs 70 crore in worldwide gross. An extended, scene-stealing cameo by Hrithik Roshan as Kabir also features in ‘Alpha’.
3. Toxic
Securing the third position is the gritty, period gangster actioner ‘Toxic’. Helmed by National Award-winning director Geetu Mohandas, the film marks Kannada superstar Yash's highly anticipated return to the big screen following the historic, record-shattering success of the ‘KGF’ franchise. Moving away from the gold mines of Kolar, ‘Toxic’ delves into a violent, atmospheric tale of the international drug syndicate set against a sprawling, meticulously crafted retro backdrop of the 1970s and 1980s. The film has generated massive curiosity after the release of its teaser and first song.
The project boasts a massive, pan-Indian ensemble cast that includes Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth. After navigating multiple production delays — which only served to heighten the frantic fan anticipation — ‘Toxic’ is currently locked in for a massive worldwide theatrical release on August 26.
4. King
Marking his much-awaited big-screen comeback after nearly three years, Shah Rukh Khan claims the fourth spot with the sprawling action saga ‘King’. Directed by Siddharth Anand, who previously delivered massive hits like ‘Pathaan’ and ‘War’, this project is easily one of the most talked-about films. The primary source of the hype is that ‘King’ marks the theatrical debut of SRK’s daughter, Suhana Khan. Rather than a traditional romantic lead, the film positions Shah Rukh Khan as a stylish, ruthless, and highly feared underworld don who takes a young, vulnerable protégé (Suhana) under his wing, plunging them both into a deadly international cat-and-mouse game.
Built on an eye-watering reported budget of Rs 450 crore, ‘King’ is designed to be a sleek, high-octane visual spectacle. The heavy-hitting supporting cast features Deepika Padukone, Jaideep Ahlawat, Arshad Warsi, Saurabh Shukla, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, and Rani Mukerji. Furthermore, Abhishek Bachchan has reportedly been cast as the primary antagonist, setting the stage for an explosive on-screen rivalry with Shah Rukh Khan. With action sequences orchestrated by top-tier global stunt directors, ‘King’ is scheduled to completely dominate the holiday box office with a highly coveted Christmas 2026 release.
5. Dhamaal 4
Rounding out the top five is the beloved, chaotic comedy franchise ‘Dhamaal 4’, which is currently dominating the theatrical box office. Initially slated for a later release, the makers smartly preponed the film to capitalize on the July 10, 2026 weekend slot, securing a clean, uncontested run. Directed by franchise veteran Indra Kumar, the film proves that in an era flooded with heavy action and intense thrillers, audiences still possess a massive appetite for pure, unadulterated slapstick entertainment.
Aiming to recapture the magic of the early installments while significantly scaling up the production value, the film reunites the legendary core ensemble cast of Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Jaaved Jaaferi, and Sanjay Mishra. To inject fresh comedic energy, the makers brought in a massive supporting cast, including Ravi Kishan, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Anjali Anand, Upendra Limaye, and Esha Gupta. The 2-hour-23-minute laughter riot once again follows the gang's disastrous hunt for a legendary hidden treasure — marked this time by a mysterious map. Driven by highly positive audience reactions and robust advance bookings that crossed Rs 5 crore before release, ‘Dhamaal 4’ has so far made Rs crore.
6. Drishyam 3
Ajay Devgn proves his incredible box-office dominance by making a back-to-back appearance on the list, securing the sixth spot with the highly anticipated thriller sequel, ‘Drishyam 3’. Once again, Ajay Devgn reprises his iconic, career-defining role as the brilliantly cunning, movie-obsessed common man, Vijay Salgaonkar. The ‘Drishyam’ franchise is a masterclass in thrill, and this third installment is being heavily marketed as the ultimate, definitive final chapter of the agonizing cat-and-mouse game between Vijay and the relentless police force.
The stakes are higher than ever before. As the authorities close in with irrefutable new evidence regarding the dark secrets buried in the Salgaonkar family's past, Vijay is forced to deploy his most complex, desperate, and dangerous mind games yet to protect his wife and daughters. Directed by Abhishek Pathak, and co-starring Tabu and Shriya Saran, the film is aiming for a strategic theatrical release on October 2, 2026 (Gandhi Jayanti) — a date that serves as the legendary narrative backbone of the entire franchise.
7. Vishwanath and Sons
Securing the seventh spot is the highly anticipated Tamil drama ‘Vishwanath and Sons’, starring superstar Suriya. Directed by Venky Atluri, the film also stars Mamitha Baiju, Raveena Tandon and Radhika Sarathkumar. Moving away from traditional mass-action tropes, the film offers a deeply emotional narrative that resonates on a deeply human level. It follows a man who has devoted decades to achieving absolute excellence as an international competitive shooter, chasing Olympic glory above all else.
However, when age, mounting family responsibilities, and an unexpected romance violently clash with his lifelong ambitions, he is forced to confront what truly makes life worth living. Fans are eager to see Suriya tackle a nuanced, character-driven role that balances intense sporting sequences with profound emotional conflict. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on August 14, 2026, and will be released in Tamil and Telugu.
8. Mirzapur: The Movie
Coming in at number eight is a massive industry disruptor: ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’. Breaking new cinematic ground, this Hindi project brings the colossal Amazon Prime streaming franchise directly to the big screen, marking the first time an Indian web series has received a massive theatrical continuation. The entire original cast reunites for the bloody, power-hungry battle for control of Purvanchal.
The film brings back key names from the Mirzapur universe, including Pankaj Tripathi as Kaleen Bhaiya, Ali Fazal as Guddu Pandit, Divyenndu as Munna Tripathi, Rasika Dugal as Beena Tripathi, Shweta Tripathi Sharma as Golu Gupta, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Abhishek Banerjee and Ravi Kishan. Directed by Gurmmeet Singh, the film is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under Excel Entertainment, along with Amazon MGM Studios. The plot picks up immediately after the explosive events of the latest season, promising an escalated gang war that demands the scale of a theatrical screen. Mirzapur: The Movie is scheduled to release on September 4, 2026.
9. Haiwaan
At number nine is Priyadarshan’s upcoming Hindi thriller ‘Haiwaan’. The film is generating massive curiosity primarily because it marks the much-awaited on-screen reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, an iconic duo from the 90s. Moving away from the slapstick comedy genre usually associated with Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar, ‘Haiwaan’ is billed as a dark, gripping, and incredibly tense psychological thriller.
The narrative features Saif Ali Khan in a challenging, highly complex role as a visually impaired man caught in a dangerous web of deception and murder, while Akshay Kumar plays a morally ambiguous investigator. With its tight script and atmospheric tension, the film promises to be a stark departure from the stars' recent commercial outings, relying heavily on suspense rather than action. The film is scheduled to release on September 11, 2026.
10. Eetha
Rounding out the top ten is the Hindi film ‘Eetha’, starring Shraddha Kapoor. Directed by Laxman Utekar, who recently struck gold with ‘Chhaava’, the film is a biographical drama based on the life of legendary Lavani and Tamasha artist Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar. It also features Randeep Hooda in an important role.
The teaser of ‘Eetha’ has already generated attention, especially because it presents Shraddha Kapoor in a very different space. She plays a pregnant Lavani performer, and the film is expected to explore Vithabai’s artistic brilliance, personal resilience and contribution to Maharashtra’s folk performance traditions. ‘Eetha’ is scheduled to release on August 28, 2026. After ‘Stree 2’, Shraddha Kapoor’s box-office pull and audience recall appear to be working strongly in the film’s favour.
While the top 10 titles grabbed the most attention, IMDb’s Most Awaited Indian Movies list for the second half of 2026 extends to 20 films. After ‘Eetha’, the rankings continue with ‘Awarapan 2’ at No. 11 and ‘Ikka’ at No. 12. They are followed by ‘Arasan’, ‘Khalifa’, ‘I’m Game’, ‘Ranabaali’, ‘Shakti Shalini’, ‘Idhayam Murali’, ‘Sigma’ and ‘Vvan: Force of the Forest’, which complete the top 20.
The top 20 spans five languages, with 12 Hindi films, four Tamil films, two Malayalam films, one Telugu film and one Kannada film.
The titles outside the top 10 also bring variety. ‘Awarapan 2’ brings back Emraan Hashmi’s cult romantic-action franchise. ‘Ikka’, starring Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna, adds a courtroom-drama angle. ‘Khalifa’ and ‘I’m Game’ strengthen the Malayalam representation. ‘Arasan’, ‘Idhayam Murali’ and ‘Sigma’ add Tamil cinema to the mix, while Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s ‘Ranabaali’ represents Telugu cinema. ‘Shakti Shalini’ and ‘Vvan: Force of the Forest’ show that Hindi cinema’s second-half slate is not just about the biggest stars, but also about genre films and newer cinematic worlds.
IMDb’s list is not a box-office prediction, but it is a useful measure of curiosity. It tells us which titles people are actively searching for, reading about and tracking online.
IMDb’s list is not a box-office prediction, but it is a useful measure of curiosity. It tells us which titles people are actively searching for, reading about and tracking online. That is why Ramayana topping the list matters. It shows that mythological storytelling, when mounted on a massive scale with major stars, still has unmatched audience pull.
