IMDb Report: Indian Cinema Defines Itself by Style, ‘3 Idiots’ Reigns Supreme Globally, Shah Rukh Khan Dominates
LOS ANGELES – A new report from IMDb analyzing 25 years of Indian cinema (2000-2025) reveals a meaningful shift in how audiences perceive regional film industries, increasingly identifying them by distinct “cinematic dialects” akin to genres. Teh study, based on data from over 250 million monthly users and encompassing 130 top-rated films garnering over 9.1 million user ratings (an average of 70,000 per film), highlights a growing global appetite for Indian content and solidifies Shah Rukh Khan’s enduring popularity.
The report finds Telugu and Kannada blockbusters like Pushpa and KGF are now “synonymous with maximalist spectacle and heightened heroism,” while Malayalam cinema is recognized for its “rooted realism.” Tamil films are characterized as “more versatile and characterised by ideological themes balanced with commercial grammar.”
“Language is no longer a barrier, it’s a genre,” the report states, noting that increased multi-language filming and cross-industry collaborations are making directorial narrative style a key factor in audience selection.
Key findings include 3 Idiots as the moast popular Indian film worldwide over the past 25 years, topping charts in the UK, Europe, and Australia. RRR currently holds the title of the most popular Indian movie of all time in the U.S.
The most consistently accomplished directors identified in the dataset are Lokesh Kanagaraj, S.S. Rajamouli, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, rajkumar Hirani, and Farhan Akhtar, each with four successful hits within the 25-year period.
“The Indian film industry has always been cyclical, so this quarter century mark is a good vantage point to look forward and see what that evolution means for stories and storytellers in the years ahead,” said Yaminie Patodia, Head, IMDb India. “IMDb data offers a singular, global proxy for audience engagement, one that is neutral to platform, geography, and release window.”
Patodia added, “This moment marks a coming of age for Indian cinema – one that embraces a richer tapestry of voices from across industries, driven by collaborations and diverse narrative styles. We are immensely proud to showcase Indian cinema’s representation across the world and look forward to its excellence being celebrated on screens globally.”
