2026 has been a surprisingly strong year for Indian cinema. Bollywood has delivered big-scale films as well as serious, content-driven dramas, while Malayalam and Tamil cinema continue to experiment with unusual stories and fresh filmmaking.
From the massive Dhurandhar: The Revenge to smaller gems like Balan: The Boy, this year's best films have come in very different shapes and languages. Based on a mix of critical response, performances, writing, audience reception and overall cinematic impact, here are our picks for the 10 best Indian movies of 2026 so far.
1. Dhurandhar: The Revenge
Language: Hindi
Director: Aditya Dhar
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt
There was probably never going to be a more talked-about Hindi film this year than Dhurandhar: The Revenge.
The nearly four-hour sequel takes the story of Hamza Ali Mazari further into the world of espionage, crime and revenge. Ranveer Singh once again dominates the film, and even critics who had issues with the length and violence have acknowledged the scale of the filmmaking and the intensity of his performance.
The critical response has been sharply divided. The Week called it a strong and worthy follow-up with more character development, while India Today praised Ranveer for carrying the film and its larger emotional arc. At the same time, some critics felt the film was excessively long and violent.
Interestingly, the audience response has been much warmer, with Rotten Tomatoes currently showing a 95% verified audience score, despite a much lower critics' score.
Why watch it: Ranveer Singh at full intensity, huge action set-pieces and one of Bollywood's biggest spectacles of 2026.
2. Main Vaapas Aaunga
Language: Hindi
Director: Imtiaz Ali
Cast: Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, Vedang Raina
Main Vaapas Aaunga is a very different kind of Hindi film from Dhurandhar.
Imtiaz Ali returns to love, memory and separation, this time against the backdrop of Partition. The story moves between generations, connecting a dying man's memories of lost love with a younger generation trying to understand what those memories mean.
The film has divided critics on its pacing and screenplay, but there is considerable agreement that Naseeruddin Shah is exceptional. The Indian Express gave it 3/5 and praised Shah's performance, while The Week called the film poignant and gave it 4/5. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists a 100% critics' score from 11 reviews, showing how different critical responses have been from outlet to outlet.
Why watch it: Naseeruddin Shah, beautiful cinematography and an emotional story about love surviving history.
3. Punjab '95
Language: Hindi/Punjabi
Director: Honey Trehan
Cast: Diljit Dosanjh, Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky
Few films on this list have had a more complicated journey to audiences than Punjab '95.
The film about human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra spent years fighting for release before eventually reaching viewers in 2026 under the title Satluj. The uncut film finally appeared on ZEE5, although its digital release was itself followed by a brief removal amid certification and security concerns.
What makes the film so powerful is its refusal to soften the violence of Punjab's insurgency era. Diljit Dosanjh gives one of his strongest dramatic performances, while the film's opening immediately establishes the brutality of the period.
The Indian Express gave the film 3.5/5 and praised its conviction, while Hindustan Times rated it 4/5 and described it as a deeply affecting account of a dark chapter in Punjab's history.
Why watch it: A powerful true-story drama led by a career-best Diljit Dosanjh performance.
4. Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Bros
Language: Malayalam
Director: Savin S.A.
Cast: Hashir, Alan, Ajin, Vinayak
Sequels often struggle to justify their existence. Vaazha 2 does the opposite.
The Malayalam coming-of-age comedy expands the ideas of the first film while becoming more confident emotionally. What starts as a nostalgic school story gradually moves into subjects such as parental pressure, academic struggles, migration and the growing pressure on young Indians to go abroad.
Both India Today and Rediff praised the film for balancing humour with genuinely emotional material. Rediff particularly highlighted how the sequel avoids repeating the original and gives its young cast more room to grow.
The four leads — Hashir, Alan, Ajin and Vinayak — are one of the film's biggest strengths, making the friendship at the centre of the story feel natural.
Why watch it: Funny, relatable and surprisingly emotional.
5. Balan: The Boy
Language: Malayalam
Director: Chidambaram
Cast: Adhisheshan, Farzana Palathingal
From the director of Manjummel Boys comes one of the year's most intriguing thrillers.
Balan: The Boy follows a mother and her son as they constantly move and create new identities while trying to escape their past. On the surface it plays like a mystery thriller, but underneath it is much more interested in the relationship between a mother and child.
India Today called it one of the year's most moving mother-son stories, while the broader critical response has praised its atmosphere and ambitious shifts in genre. Rotten Tomatoes lists reviews from several critics, including praise for its gripping first half and its lingering emotional impact.
It isn't always a perfectly even film, but it is difficult to dismiss.
Why watch it: Strong performances, unusual storytelling and a thriller that gradually becomes something much more emotional.
6. Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam
Language: Malayalam
Director: Krishnadas Murali
Cast: Saiju Kurup, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Jagadish, Baby Jean
One of 2026's biggest pleasant surprises is Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam.
The first film was a modest family comedy that found a larger audience after its theatrical run. Rather than simply making another version of the same movie, Krishnadas Murali turns the sequel into a dark comedy crime thriller.
The family gets caught in an increasingly ridiculous situation, and the film knowingly plays with familiar crime-thriller ideas while keeping the humour alive. Suraj Venjaramoodu, Saiju Kurup and Baby Jean are particularly effective.
The critical response has been positive overall. The Week called it a superior sequel with a Drishyam-style crime setup and a Looney Tunes-like comic sensibility, while Times of India gave it 3.5/5 and praised its writing and dark humour.
Why watch it: A genuinely funny sequel that takes a surprisingly bold turn.
7. DC
Language: Tamil
Director: Arun Matheswaran
Cast: Lokesh Kanagaraj, Wamiqa Gabbi
DC is one of the more unexpected films to emerge from Tamil cinema this year.
Directed by Arun Matheswaran, the action drama features filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj making his acting debut alongside Wamiqa Gabbi. Rather than relying only on star power, the film has generated positive word of mouth for its action, performances and technical execution.
Wamiqa's performance as Chandra has been particularly praised, while industry figures including Allu Arjun and Sivakarthikeyan have publicly appreciated the film.
The film has also shown strong theatrical legs, crossing ₹84 crore worldwide by its 10th day according to Times of India.
Why watch it: Distinctive action filmmaking, Wamiqa Gabbi's performance and Lokesh Kanagaraj in a completely different avatar.
8. Bandar
Language: Hindi
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Bobby Deol, Sanya Malhotra, Sapna Pabbi
Bandar is exactly the kind of uncomfortable film Anurag Kashyap has built his reputation on.
The film explores what happens when a man is accused of rape and has to deal with the consequences of public judgment, the legal system and his own complicated past. It deliberately refuses to make the situation completely black and white.
Bobby Deol is the film's anchor, giving a restrained performance that works particularly well in the quieter scenes. The Indian Express called it Kashyap's strongest film in a while, while Hindustan Times praised both Deol and Sanya Malhotra.
The film does not necessarily offer easy answers, which is precisely why it stays with you.
Why watch it: Bobby Deol's performance and a morally complicated story that refuses to spoon-feed the audience.
9. Vadh 2
Language: Hindi
Director: Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Rajeev Barnwal
Cast: Sanjay Mishra, Neena Gupta
Vadh 2 may not be as polished as some of the films above, but it deserves a place because of what it attempts.
The spiritual successor to the 2022 film moves into a prison setting and expands its ensemble, once again putting ordinary people inside an increasingly dangerous situation.
The film's major advantage is its performers. Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta bring the kind of lived-in quality that makes even familiar material watchable.
The Indian Express gave it 2.5/5, noting that while it is arguably stronger than the first film in some areas, it does not entirely deliver on the potential of its premise.
Why watch it: Strong veteran performances and a darker prison setting.
10. Assi
Language: Hindi
Director: Anubhav Sinha
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Kani Kusruti, Kumud Mishra, Naseeruddin Shah
Rounding out the list is Assi, one of the year's most difficult but important Hindi films.
Anubhav Sinha tackles sexual violence, patriarchy and the justice system through the story of a woman who is assaulted and then forced to navigate the aftermath.
The film is not an easy watch, and it doesn't try to be. Kani Kusruti and Taapsee Pannu are among the highlights, with critics praising the performances and the urgency of the subject even while pointing out that the second half loses some focus.
It is the kind of film that may frustrate you in places but is difficult to dismiss because of what it is trying to confront.
Why watch it: Strong performances and a serious subject that demands attention.
Final Verdict
What makes 2026 Indian cinema interesting so far is the variety.
You can watch a giant, politically charged action spectacle like Dhurandhar: The Revenge, follow it with the intimate emotions of Main Vaapas Aaunga, and then jump into completely different worlds with Vaazha 2, Balan: The Boy or Bharathanatyam 2.
Bollywood in particular has had an interesting year because its biggest successes haven't all come from traditional formulas. Films like Bandar, Assi and Punjab '95 have shown that difficult subjects can still find an audience, while Dhurandhar 2 has demonstrated the enormous pull of large-scale theatrical filmmaking.
For a big-screen spectacle, start with Dhurandhar: The Revenge. For something emotional, Main Vaapas Aaunga and Balan: The Boy are strong choices. For an easy recommendation with humour and heart, Vaazha 2 and Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam are difficult to go wrong with.
With several major Indian releases still ahead in 2026, this list could change before the year is over.