IMDb’s 2025 most popular list out: Saiyaara is No. 1 film, Aryan Khan’s The Ba***ds of Bollywood is No. 1 show

IMDb’s year-end ranking has pushed two newcomer-led projects to the top: Saiyaara as the most popular film of 2025, and Aryan Khan’s The Ba***ds of Bollywood as the most popular series. Both titles moved quickly through audience charts through 2025, signalling a cycle driven less by established stars and more by fresh names.

IMDb’s most popular films 2025

1. Saiyaara: Mohit Suri’s romantic drama led by newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda takes the No. 1 spot. The film posted ₹579.23 crore worldwide and ₹329.20 crore in India, becoming the year’s highest-grossing romantic title and the top film featuring debut leads.

2. Mahavatar Narsimha: Ashwin Kumar’s mythological animated film ranks second. Backed by Hombale Films, it closed at ₹325.74 crore globally and ₹250.29 crore domestically across five languages.

3. Chhaava: The period action film led by Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, and Akshaye Khanna has amassed ₹716.91 crore domestically and ₹807.91 crore worldwide - one of the highest-grossing films of the year.

4. Kantara: Chapter 1 - Rishab Shetty’s prequel lands at No. 4. Domestic earnings touched ₹622.04 crore, with worldwide totals reaching ₹851.89 crore.

5. Coolie: Lokesh Kanagaraj’s crime thriller featuring Rajinikanth sits at No. 5, recording ₹285.01 crore in India and ₹518 crore worldwide.

6. Dragon: Ashwath Marimuthu’s Tamil coming-of-age comedy takes the sixth spot.

7. Sitaare Zameen Par: RS Prasanna’s sports dramedy featuring Aamir Khan ranks seventh.

8. Deva: Rosshan Andrrews’ cop drama starring Shahid Kapoor takes No. 8.

9. Raid 2: Raj Kumar Gupta’s crime thriller with Ajay Devgn has been placed at the ninth position.

10. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra: Dominic Arun’s Malayalam superhero film completes the top ten.

IMDB’s most popular series 2025

1. The Ba***ds of Bollywood: Aryan Khan’s directorial debut leads IMDb’s series list for 2025.

2. Black Warrant: Vikramaditya Motwane’s prison drama follows at No. 2.

3. Pataal Lok: Season 2: Sudip Sharma’s crime series marked the return of Jaideep Ahlawat as Inspector Hathi Ram Chaudhary.

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4. Panchayat: Season 4: Prime Video India title ranks fourth.

5. Mandala Murders: YRF’s thriller series sits at the No. 5 spot.

6. Khauf: Smita Sharma’s supernatural show features Monika Panwar, Rajat Kapoor, Abhishek Chauhan, Geetanjali Kulkarni and Shilpa Shukla among others.

7. Special Ops: Season 2: Neeraj Pandey’s spy series stars Kay Kay Menon in the lead.

8. Khakee: The Bengal Chapter: Also by Pandey, this series is placed at the eighth position.

9. The Family Man: Season 3: Starring Manoj Bajpai, the Amazon Prime Video original series sits at No. 9.

10. Criminal Justice: A Family Matter: Rohan Sippy’s courtroom drama, starring Pankaj Tripathi, ranks No. 10 on the list.

IMDb’s list reveals a shift: newcomers driving momentum, major franchises holding steady, and streaming titles expanding their reach.

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FAQs

What is IMDb’s No.1 film of 2025?

Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri and led by newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda.

Which show topped IMDb’s 2025 most-popular series list?

Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, The Ba***ds of Bollywood.

Why are newcomers highlighted on the 2025 list?

Both the top film and the top series are driven by first-time leads and debut creators, marking a notable shift in audience interest.