IMDb has revealed its most anticipated Indian films of 2025, and surprisingly, a South Indian blockbuster has dethroned major Bollywood productions like Hrithik Roshan’s War 2 and Alia Bhatt’s Alpha to claim the top spot.
The Reigning Anticipation: Rajinikanth’s Coolie
The film generating the most buzz for 2025, according to IMDb, is Lokesh Kanagaraj’s action thriller, Coolie. This highly awaited movie stars the legendary Rajinikanth alongside Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, and Shruti Haasan.
A major highlight fueling its anticipation is the reunion of Rajinikanth and Sathyaraj on screen after a remarkable 38 years. Director Lokesh Kanagaraj expressed his hope that the film’s magic will resonate with audiences’ high expectations. Adding to the excitement, Aamir Khan is also rumored to have a cameo appearance.
Coolie is slated for a grand release on August 14, setting up a direct box office clash with another highly anticipated film on this list.
War 2: Bollywood’s Most Awaited
While Coolie leads the overall list, Hrithik Roshan’s much-anticipated War 2 takes the second spot, making it the most awaited Hindi film of the year. This sequel to the 2019 blockbuster War continues the YRF Spy Universe.
War 2 boasts a stellar cast, featuring Hrithik Roshan returning as spy Kabir, a formidable face-off with Telugu superstar Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani. The film also marks Ayan Mukerji’s debut in the espionage genre and is hinted to include a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan as Pathaan. It is also set to release on August 14.
Other Noteworthy Contenders
Prabhas’s Telugu romantic horror comedy, The Raja Saab, secured the third position on IMDb’s anticipation list. This film, also starring Malavika Mohanan and Sanjay Dutt, is scheduled for a December 5 release.
Interestingly, another YRF Spy Universe film, Shiv Rawail’s Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, only managed to secure the tenth spot. This movie is set for a Christmas 2025 release.
More on the Highly Anticipated List
IMDb’s top 10 list features a diverse range of films. These include Santosh Singh’s romantic comedy Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan at #4 and Mohit Suri’s romantic drama Saiyaara at #5, both releasing in July. Other films like Son of Sardaar 2, Baaghi 4, and Mahavatar Narsimha also made the cut, showing a wide array of genres capturing audience interest.
- Coolie, starring Rajinikanth, is IMDb’s most anticipated Indian film of 2025.
- Hrithik Roshan’s War 2 is the second most anticipated film overall and the top Hindi film.
- Coolie and War 2 are set for a direct box office clash on August 14.
- Alia Bhatt’s Alpha is at #10, while Prabhas’ The Raja Saab is #3.
Beyond anticipation, IMDb also released a list of the most popular Indian films of 2025 so far, featuring diverse titles like Chhaava, Dragon, and Deva, highlighting the varied cinematic landscape of the year.
