Introduction: A 26-Year Window into India’s Screen Popularity
The IMDb Most Popular Indian Films report offers a unique, long-horizon view into which Indian movies captured viewers worldwide. Covering January 1, 2000 to August 31, 2025, IMDb tallies the top five most popular titles for every year, resulting in a curated Top 130 Indian Movies list. The criterion is straightforward: the ranking rests on ratings from IMDb’s vast user base—more than 250 million users—globally shaping which films stood out year after year. This article unpacks the essence of that report and highlights notable patterns, including the dominance of certain stars and cross‑language hits that resonated with audiences around the world.
How the IMDb List Works
IMDb’s methodology focuses on popularity signals filtered through user ratings. For each year from 2000 through 2025, the platform surfaces five highly engaged titles, and then aggregates these yearly selections into a broader Top 130 Indian Movies list. The result is a cross-section of Bollywood, Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, and other Indian film industries that found sustained attention across the globe. The emphasis is on broad appeal and audience sentiment, not just box-office numbers or awards.
Year-by-Year Highlights: The No. 1 Films
Across the 26 years, certain films consistently captured central spots at No. 1. The sequence of top winners reveals shifting tastes—romantic dramas, patriotic thrillers, musicals, and thrillers all charting prominently. Here are the year-one highlights that illustrate the range of popular Indian cinema on IMDb:
- 2000: Mohabbatein
- 2001: Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
- 2002: Devdas
- 2003: Kal Ho Naa Ho
- 2004: Veer-Zaara
- 2005: Black
- 2006: Dhoom 2
- 2007: Taare Zameen Par
- 2008: Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
- 2009: 3 Idiots
- 2010: My Name Is Khan
- 2011: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
- 2012: Gangs of Wasseypur
- 2013: The Lunchbox
- 2014: PK
- 2015: Baahubali: The Beginning
- 2016: Dangal
- 2017: Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
- 2018: KGF Chapter 1
- 2019: Uri: The Surgical Strike
- 2020: Dil Bechara
- 2021: Pushpa: The Rise
- 2022: KGF Chapter 2
- 2023: Animal
- 2024: Pushpa 2: The Rule
- 2025: Saiyara
TheseYearly first-placer entries underscore a broad spectrum of genres—from romantic sagas to action epics and emotionally resonant dramas—that captured global Indian‑cinema interest over more than two decades.
Notable Telugu and Multi‑Language Entries
The IMDb list also highlights the impact of Telugu cinema and other regional industries within the broader Indian film ecosystem. Some prominent Telugu titles have repeatedly landed high in the rankings, signaling strong cross-language appeal and cultural reach. Examples include Magadheera (2009) securing a No. 4 spot, and Arjun Reddy (2017) also reaching No. 4 in its year. More recently, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020) climbed to No. 2, and RRR (2022) matched that high position as a highly popular title. Salar (2023) appeared at No. 4, illustrating how contemporary Telugu cinema increasingly resonates with IMDb’s global audience as part of India’s diverse film landscape.
What This Means for Audiences and Creators
For viewers, the list is a living map of popular appeal across languages and generations. For filmmakers, it offers insight into the kinds of stories that travel well—strong stars, memorable music, emotive storytelling, and high production values that translate across borders. The mix of Bollywood staples and regional powerhouses demonstrates that Indian cinema’s most shared traits are universal: emotion, drama, humor, and spectacle, delivered in a language that audiences hear with their eyes as much as with their ears.
Conclusion
IMDb’s Most Popular Indian Films presents a 26-year mosaic of taste, affection, and cultural exchange. By cataloging the year-by-year top five, IMDb captures not just what people watch, but what they connect with—an enduring testament to India’s rich and diverse cinematic landscape.
