Malayalam cinema has witnessed an extraordinary transformation at the box office in recent years. Films such as Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, L2: Empuraan, Manjummel Boys and Thudarum have pushed Mollywood's worldwide collections to new heights. With strong storytelling, popular stars and growing audiences across India and overseas, Malayalam films are now competing on a much larger commercial scale.
Here is a look at some of the highest-grossing Malayalam movies of all time, based on reported worldwide box-office collections. Figures can vary between trade trackers and producer claims.
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (2025) – ₹300+ crore
Kalyani Priyadarshan's superhero-fantasy film became a historic Malayalam blockbuster and crossed the ₹300-crore mark worldwide. It currently stands among the biggest Malayalam theatrical successes.
L2: Empuraan (2025) – ₹265–268 crore
Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran's political-action sequel to Lucifer delivered spectacular worldwide numbers and became one of Mollywood's biggest releases.
Manjummel Boys (2024) – Around ₹241–242 crore
The survival thriller about a group of friends became a nationwide sensation, with particularly strong performances in Kerala and overseas markets.
Thudarum (2025) – Around ₹235 crore
Mohanlal's family thriller became a major commercial success, combining emotional storytelling with an engaging crime narrative.
Vaazha II: Biopic of a Billion Bros (2026) – Around ₹235 crore
The sequel emerged as another major Malayalam box-office success, entering the industry's elite worldwide-grossing club.
2018 (2023) – Around ₹180 crore
Tovino Thomas and Kunchacko Boban's disaster drama became a major hit, inspired by Kerala's devastating 2018 floods.
Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life (2024) – Around ₹158 crore
Prithviraj Sukumaran's survival drama received widespread attention for its ambitious production and powerful central performance.
Aavesham (2024) – Around ₹155 crore
Fahadh Faasil's energetic gangster comedy became one of the most popular Malayalam entertainers of recent years.
Pulimurugan (2016) – Around ₹140 crore
Mohanlal's action adventure was a landmark Malayalam blockbuster and remained the industry's biggest worldwide grosser for several years.
Premalu (2024) – Around ₹132 crore
The romantic comedy starring Naslen and Mamitha Baiju became a huge youth-oriented success and expanded its popularity beyond Kerala.
Sarvam Maya (2025) – ₹132+ crore
The film became another notable recent entry into Malayalam cinema's ₹100-crore-plus worldwide club.
Lucifer (2019) – Around ₹129 crore
Mohanlal's political action thriller, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, became a landmark commercial success and established the foundation for the Lucifer franchise.
Aadu 3 (2026) – Around ₹120 crore+
The latest chapter in the popular Aadu franchise became another significant Malayalam theatrical success.
Marco (2024) – Around ₹110 crore+
Unni Mukundan's violent action thriller developed strong audience interest and became one of the notable Malayalam hits of 2024.
ARM (2024) – Around ₹100 crore+
Tovino Thomas' period action-adventure impressed audiences with its visual scale and multiple-role performance.
The Rise of Malayalam Cinema at the Box Office
The growth of Malayalam cinema has been remarkable. Earlier blockbusters such as Pulimurugan and Lucifer established new benchmarks, while recent films have pushed those records even further. The success of 2018, Manjummel Boys, Aavesham, Premalu and Aadujeevitham demonstrates the increasing reach of Mollywood beyond Kerala.
With films now attracting audiences across India and international markets, Malayalam cinema is entering an exciting new era where strong content and commercial success can go hand in hand.
