Top 15 best Malayalam thriller movies on Netflix, Prime Video, and more; From Mammootty’s Kannur Squad to Fahadh Faasil’s Trance

From nail-biting thrillers to intense edge-of-the-seat films, Malayalam cinema has only the best to offer. Today, we take a look at the top 15 best Malayalam thrillers streaming on OTT.

By Pavaman Suraj

Published on Feb 15, 2024 | 01:48 PM IST | 2.2M

Malayalam thriller movies on OTT ( IMDB )

A genre of film that never loses its magic is the thriller genre. When done right, thrillers offer the ultimate experience for film fans, with intense, complex plots and nail-biting finishes. While South Indian cinema in general has always produced some great thrilling movies, the Malayalam industry stands slightly taller in terms of its quality and quantity.

Let us look at the Best 15 Malayalam movies available for streaming on Netflix, Prime Video, Hotstar, and more.

Top 15 best Malayalam movies on Netflix, Prime Video, and more

1. Garudan (2023)

Writer: Midhun Manuel Thomas
Director: Arun Varma
Runtime: 2 hours 18 minutes
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
Cast: Suresh Gopi, Biju Menon, Abhirami
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Where to Watch: Prime Video

Garudan is an extremely engaging thriller that revolves around the lives of three individuals. One of them is the victim, another is the seeker. But is the third truly the culprit?

2. Kannur Squad (2023)

Writers: Muhammad Shafi, Rony David Raj
Director: Roby Varghese Raj
Runtime: 2 hours 41 minutes
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Cast: Mammootty, Rony David, Kishore
Genre: Thriller/Drama
Where to Watch: Disney+Hotstar

One of the best action-thriller Malayalam films to ever be made, Kannur Squad stands out for its top-notch cinematography and Mammootty’s eternal swag and charm.

3. Rorshach (2022)

Writer: Sameer Abdul
Director: Nissam Basheer
Runtime: 2 hours 30 minutes
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
Cast: Mammootty, Asif Ali, Grace Anthony
Genre: Thriller
Where to Watch: Disney+Hotstar

One of the most unique thrillers in Malayalam cinema, Rorshach is proof that Mammootty’s script selection is only getting better with age. A near-perfect psychological thriller, Rorshach will leave you confused and puzzled but ultimately, satisfied.

4. Jana Gana Mana (2022)

Writer: Sharis Mohammed
Director: Dijo Jose Anthony
Runtime: 2 hours 43 minutes
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Mamta Mohandas
Genre: Thriller
Where to Watch: Netflix

A powerful tale that questions the very fabric of our society and rips it apart into fine threads, highlighting politics, cast, religion, and color. All while presenting a highly engaging thriller in the form of a brilliant non-linear screenplay.

5. Malik (2021)

Writer-Director: Mahesh Narayanan
Runtime: 2 hours 42 minutes
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Nimisha Sajayan, Meenakshi Raveendran
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Where to Watch: Prime Video

Fahadh Faasil’s version of Don Corleone, Malik is so much more than just a gangster drama. What makes Malik truly special is the theme of revenge and betrayal, written with great originality by Mahesh Narayanan.

6. Nayattu (2021)

Writer: Shahi Kabir
Director: Martin Prakkat
Runtime: 2 hours 4 minutes
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Cast: Joju George, Kunchako Boban, Nimisha Sajayan
Genre: Thriller
Where to Watch: Netflix

A gut-wrenching survival thriller that is shot with simplicity but packs in quite the punch with its gritty and realistic portrayal of the life of a group of honest cops.

7. Joji (2021)

Writer: Syam Pushkaran
Director: Dileesh Pothan
Runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Unnimaya Prasad, Dileesh Pothan
Genre: Thriller/Drama
Where to Watch: Prime Video

An adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Joji follows the story of a greedy engineering dropout who dreams of becoming filthy rich, by hook or by crook. But things go South when he decides to take advantage of an unexpected event in the family.

8. Anjaam Pathiraa (2020)

Writer-Director: Midhun Manuel Thomas
Runtime: 2 hours 24 minutes
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
Cast: Kunchako Boban, Amina Nijam, Unnimaya Prasad, Sharaf U Dheen
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Where to Watch: Prime Video (Rent)/ Aha(dubbed)

What if the hunter becomes the hunted? An exhilarating cat-and-mouse chase between the cops and the serial killer, Anjaam Pathiraa is one of the best Malayalam thriller movies on OTT.

9. Trance (2020)

Writer: Vincent Vadakkan
Director: Anwar Rasheed
Runtime: 2 hours 35 minutes
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Nazriya Nazim, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Dileesh Pothan
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Where to Watch: Prime Video

A mesmerizing Malayalam film that features Fahadh Faasil in an unforgettable role as Viju Prasad, a motivational speaker turned criminal. If only the second half of Trance was more laser-focused, it would have easily been one of the best Malayalam films of all time. Trance stands out for its vibrant imagery and Fahadh’s electrifying performance. Do not call yourself a Fahadh fan, if you haven’t seen this gem.

10. C U Soon (2020)

Writer-Director: Mahesh Narayanan
Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Cast: Darshana Rajendran, Fahadh Faasil, Roshan Matthew
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Where to Watch: Prime Video

C U Soon is one of the first attempts at a screen life movie in Malayalam cinema, and it for sure passed with flying colors. C U Soon is a horrifying expose of the uncertainty that lies in the world of social media that will send shivers down your spine.

11. Virus (2019)

Writers: Mushin Parari, Sharfu, Suhas
Director: Aashiq Abu
Runtime: 2 hours 32 minutes
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Cast: Tovino Thomas, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Revathi, Asif Ali
Genre: Thriller/Drama
Where to Watch: Prime Video/ZEE5

As the film's title suggests, Virus is the real-life story that unfolded in the state of Kerala during the deadly Nipah virus outbreak, and the warriors who risked their lives to curb the epidemic.

12. Joseph (2018)

Writer: Shahi Kabir
Director: M. Padmakumar
Runtime: 2 hours 18 minutes
IMDB Rating: 8/10
Cast: Joju George, Dileesh Pothan, Athmeeya Rajan
Genre: Thriller
Where to Watch: Prime Video

A classic murder mystery involving a police officer with a troubled past, Joseph derives its story from a few real-life incidents to deliver a compelling film.

13. Varathan (2018)

Writers: Sharfu, Suhas
Director: Amal Neerad
Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Arjun Ashokan
Genre: Thriller
Where to Watch: Disney+Hotstar

Varathan is one of those slow-burning thrillers that takes time to kick off, but once it does, it is no-holds-barred. Watch out for the mindblowing action stretch in the climactic portions of the film.

14. Drishyam (2013)

Writer-Director: Jeethu Joseph
Runtime: 2 hours 40 minutes
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
Cast: Mohanlal, Meena, Esther Anil
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Where to Watch: Disney + Hotstar/ Youtube

It would not be too far from the truth to say that Drishyam is one of the most iconic Malayalam thriller movies. The Mohanlal starrer set the benchmark for thrillers to follow.

15. Memories (2013)

Writer-Director: Jeethu Joseph
Runtime: 2 hours 23 minutes
IMDB Rating: 8/10
Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Miya George, Meghana Raj
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Where to Watch: Disney+Hotstar

Jeethu Joseph directed two mindblowing thrillers in the same year, let that sink in. Memories too involves familial themes like Drishyam, but the plot treatment and execution are wholly different.

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