Malayalam cinema, or Mollywood, has seen an extraordinary surge in box office collections in recent years, transforming from a regional industry known for content-driven films into one of India’s biggest commercial powerhouses. This rapid escalation in box office numbers — especially between 2023 and 2025 — clearly demonstrates the expanding audiences, innovative content, and growing technical prowess of Malayalam cinema. The industry’s leaps in domestic and overseas markets have brought Mollywood into the spotlight among Indian film industries making it a fierce contender in India’s entertainment space.
For an insightful comparison with other major Indian film industries and their monumental collections, you can visit this detailed page on the highest grossing Indian films. Malayalam films today are not only celebrated for their storytelling but are also achieving outstanding commercial milestones that place them alongside all-India blockbusters, signaling a bright future ahead.
Highest Grossing Malayalam Movies with Collections
Below is a list of the highest grossing Malayalam films worldwide, complete with their actual reported box office earnings. These figures are drawn from verified industry trade sources and box office trackers as of late 2025.
| Rank | Movie Name | Release Year | Worldwide Gross (₹ Crore) | Notes on Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra | 2025 | 272.27 | Broke all Malayalam box office records with ₹157.82 crore net in India and ₹114.45 crore overseas. |
| 2 | L2: Empuraan | 2025 | 268.05 | Mohanlal starrer, previously the highest grosser, with ₹105.25 crore net India collections. |
| 3 | Manjummel Boys | 2024 | 241.56 | Strong domestic and overseas presence; ₹142 crore net in India. |
| 4 | Thudarum | 2025 | 235.30 | One of the top earners in Kerala with ₹118 crore Kerala box office collections. |
| 5 | 2018 | 2023 | 181.00 | Breakthrough hit with strong Kerala and worldwide appeal. |
| 6 | Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life | 2024 | 158.50 | Noted for technical excellence and international acclaim. |
| 7 | Aavesham | 2024 | 156.00 | Action-packed thriller with major commercial success. |
| 8 | Pulimurugan | 2016 | 144.00 | Industry’s first ₹100 crore grosser, milestone for Mollywood. |
| 9 | Premalu | 2024 | 136.25 | Female-centric narrative with solid box office run. |
| 10 | Lucifer | 2019 | 129.00 | Mohanlal starrer that redefined political thrillers in Kerala. |
| 11 | Marco | 2024 | 110.00 | Popular commercial entertainer. |
| 12 | Ajayante Randam Moshanam | 2024 | 106.75 | Critically praised film with sustainable box office performance. |
The Phenomenal Rise of Malayalam Box Office
The recent box office boom in Malayalam cinema stems from several interrelated factors. Notably, the traditional image of Malayalam films as purely content-driven with modest commercial appeal has evolved into a sophisticated industry capable of delivering blockbuster spectacles.
Diversification in Storytelling and Genre
Malayalam cinema’s rise is intertwined with its increasingly diverse storytelling techniques. Films like Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra have introduced fantasy superhero genres with high-end visual effects—something unprecedented in the industry. Simultaneously, movies such as 2018 and Manjummel Boys emphasize emotional depth and realism, balancing commercial success with content integrity.
Technical Advancements and Bigger Budgets
Production quality has taken a quantum leap. Larger budgets have enabled filmmakers to invest in advanced cinematography, special effects, and world-building, which greatly enhance viewer experience and cinema appeal. Lokah’s ₹30 crore budget resulted in a massive return on investment (ROI) of 345.8%, showing that quality production pays off.
Expanding Markets Beyond Kerala
While Kerala remains the core market—especially for movies like Thudarum which grossed ₹118 crore in the state alone—Malayalam films are increasingly capturing pan-Indian audiences and achieving strong overseas collections. Lokah grossed more than ₹114 crore overseas, reflecting expanding reach in the Gulf, North America, and Europe where a significant Malayali diaspora exists.
Pan-India and Female Representation
Lokah, produced by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films, marked a milestone as the first Malayalam female-led superhero film to become a Pan-India blockbuster. This signals a shift in audience preferences favoring more inclusive narratives, empowering diverse voices.
Strategic Marketing and Digital Buzz
The recent wave of Malayalam superhits has benefitted from digital marketing strategies, vibrant social media engagement, and extensive OTT platform buzz. This helps create anticipation, sustain theatrical runs, and extend a film’s lifecycle well beyond its initial box office release.
Key Takeaways from Top-grossing Malayalam Films
- The benchmark set by Pulimurugan in 2016 for ₹100 crore worldwide was foundational. It ignited aspirations that have been surpassed by successive films.
- L2: Empuraan (2025), starring Mohanlal, initially set a new record of ₹268 crore, only to be overtaken shortly after by Lokah.
- Films like Manjummel Boys and Thudarum proved that strong narratives and strategic releases within Kerala and abroad could yield collections above ₹230 crore.
- Literary and cultural adaptations, such as Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life, also found commercial success highlighting the industry’s broad creative approach.
Future Outlook for Malayalam Cinema
Malayalam cinema is poised to sustain this impressive, record-breaking momentum as several exciting new projects are already in the pipeline. Notably, sequels and expansive cinematic universes inspired by the monumental success of Lokah are expected to captivate audiences further. Moreover, increasing collaborations with other prominent South Indian film industries are fostering creative synergies that promise to elevate production quality and storytelling standards. Consequently, these developments collectively signal a strong upward trajectory, ensuring Malayalam cinema’s continued growth and prominence on both national and international stages.
The combination of strong regional roots, innovative storytelling, and growing national and international presence positions Malayalam cinema as a formidable player in Indian cinema’s commercial and creative landscapes.
This detailed overview, supported by a data-backed table of top grossing Malayalam films and insights into the factors driving their success, underlines the tremendous growth story of the Malayalam film industry in recent years.