IMDb has announced its annual rundown of the most-watched Indian films and web series of the year, revealing what audiences across the globe were searching, debating and revisiting throughout 2025. Drawing from the browsing behaviour of more than 250 million monthly visitors, the platform’s year-end list once again highlights how Indian storytelling continues to cut through cultural and geographical boundaries.
The rankings, which reflect page-view data for titles rated 6 or above and released between 1 January and 30 November 2025, offer a clear snapshot of what truly captured the public imagination. And according to IMDb, this year’s list showcases an industry willing to experiment boldly.
Indian creators celebrate a breakthrough year
Yaminie Patodia, Head of IMDb India, said the list reflects the creative confidence powering the country’s film and streaming ecosystem.
She noted that the 2025 selections span an unusually wide spectrum, romance, animation, political satire, mythological spectacle, drama and crime, demonstrating that Indian audiences are more adventurous than ever, while global viewers are increasingly drawn to culturally rooted stories.
“It’s especially exciting to see distinctly Indian narratives resonating worldwide,” Patodia said, adding that the data illustrates how both established creators and new voices have pushed storytelling into fresh spaces this year.
‘Saiyaara’ keads IMDb’s 2025 film rankings
Yash Raj Films claimed the top position on the IMDb Most Popular Indian Movies 2025 list with Saiyaara, a title that has gained significant cultural traction since its release.
Akshaye Widhani, CEO of YRF and producer of the film, said the studio was ‘immensely proud’ to see the film receive such overwhelming recognition.
Calling it one of the most defining works in the banner’s recent history, Widhani credited the film’s success to director Mohit Suri’s emotional clarity and the breakout performances delivered by Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda.
He added that Saiyaara’s widespread appeal, cutting across age groups, regions and cultural backgrounds, demonstrates why the film has become a touchstone for audiences both in India and abroad.
“At YRF, we’ve always aspired to make stories that become part of people’s memories,” Widhani said. “Saiyaara stands as a shining example of that vision.”
Aryan Khan’s ‘The Ba*ds of Bollywood’ dominates the series chart**
On the web series front, Aryan Khan’s The Ba**ds of Bollywood* emerged as the year’s most popular title on IMDb, securing the No. 1 position among Indian series.
Khan described the recognition as a validation of his intent to create a show that “shakes the room and owns the conversation.”
According to Khan, the series was designed not merely as entertainment but as a “pop-cultural phenomenon”, a raw, unfiltered look at the ambition, chaos and contradictions that define the Hindi film industry.
He said the response, from fan edits to global discussions, shows how deeply viewers connected with its tone and storytelling.
“When a show becomes part of culture and not just a weekend watch, that’s when you know you’ve done something meaningful,” he said.
IMDb top 10 most popular Indian Movies of 2025
- Saiyaara
- Mahavatar Narsimha
- Chhaava
- Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1
- Coolie
- Dragon
- Sitaare Zameen Par
- Deva
- Raid 2
- Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
IMDb noted that these films consistently maintained high visibility among global visitors throughout the year, reflecting strong interest not just at release but over extended months of organic traffic.
Viewers can save any of these titles to their personal watchlists at imdb/watchlist.
IMDb top 10 most popular Indian Series of 2025
- The Ba*ds of Bollywood**
- Black Warrant
- Paatal Lok – Season 2
- Panchayat – Season 4
- Mandala Murders
- Khauf
- Special Ops – Season 2
- Khakee: The Bengal Chapter
- The Family Man – Season 3
- Criminal Justice: A Family Matter
The strong representation of returning seasons, Paatal Lok, Panchayat, Special Ops, and The Family Man, illustrates how franchises continue to dominate streaming habits.
At the same time, newer entries like Black Warrant and Khauf signal the appetite for fresh voices in India’s fast-moving OTT space.
A year defined by diversity and digital reach
The IMDb Most Popular Indian Movies 2025 list captures not just what people watched, but what they were curious about, what they discussed, and what stayed part of cultural debate months after release.
From mythological retellings and animated adventures to grounded dramas and sharp-edged thrillers, the breadth of titles underscores how the Indian entertainment industry continues to evolve in both ambition and reach.
As global streaming viewership expands and Indian content becomes increasingly mainstream worldwide, IMDb’s data suggests that 2025 may well be remembered as a landmark year, one where creators took bigger risks, and audiences rewarded them with unprecedented attention.
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