Short answer: Malayalam cinema has made fantasy films for four decades, but the superhero wave is recent. It began on Netflix in 2021, broke box office records in 2025, and returns to theatres this month. This guide walks through the key films in order, what each one added, and where to stream them.
Where to watch is as of Nov 2026, checked on each platform's own title page on Nov 2. Films in theatres or still in production have no streaming line yet.
Malayalam superhero and fantasy movies: quick facts
- Where it starts: My Dear Kuttichathan (1984), India's first film shot in 3D
- First big superhero hit: Minnal Murali (2021), directed by Basil Joseph
- Record breaker: Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (2025), reportedly the first Malayalam film to cross ₹300 crore worldwide
- In theatres now: Titans, released Oct 22, 2026
- Next release: Cosmic Samson, Nov 27, 2026
- In production: an untitled 3D fantasy film by Vinayan
- Streams most often on: JioHotstar (as of Nov 2026)
Timeline: from 1984 to the 2020s wave
- 1984: My Dear Kuttichathan
- 2021: Minnal Murali
- 2024: Bramayugam and ARM
- 2025: Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
- 2026: Titans (Oct 22) and Cosmic Samson (Nov 27)
- Next year: Vinayan's 3D fantasy film, which reports say is aimed at a 2027 release
The film that started it: My Dear Kuttichathan (1984)
Long before capes and lightning strikes, Navodaya Studio made a children's fantasy about a friendly goblin. Jijo Punnoose directed it and his father Navodaya Appachan produced it. Raghunath Paleri wrote the screenplay, and Ilaiyaraaja composed the music.
What it added: 3D. My Dear Kuttichathan was the first Indian film shot in 3D, and it showed that a Malayalam studio could chase a big screen spectacle on its own terms. It is also the film every later fantasy is measured against for sheer goodwill.
- Where to watch: JioHotstar (as of Nov 2026)
- Our take: Watch it for the history. The 3D tricks are dated, but the warmth is not.
We have not embedded any clip from this film, because its central characters are children.
Minnal Murali (2021): the desi superhero arrives
Basil Joseph's film is the one that made the word superhero feel local. Tovino Thomas plays Jaison, a tailor in a small village who gains powers after a lightning strike. Guru Somasundaram plays the man struck by the same bolt, and he gives the film its heart. Sophia Paul produced it under Weekend Blockbusters, and Arun Anirudhan and Justin Mathew wrote the screenplay.
What it added: a village superhero who feels real. The powers are borrowed from Hollywood, but the jokes, the church festival and the local rivalries are pure Kerala. It went straight to Netflix on Dec 24, 2021, which also meant it travelled far beyond Kerala in its first week.
- Where to watch: Netflix (as of Nov 2026)
- Our take: Still the best place to start, and still the most rewatchable film on this list.
Here is the official teaser, from Weekend Blockbusters:
Bramayugam (2024): fantasy goes dark
Rahul Sadasivan's period folk horror is not a superhero film, but it changed what a Malayalam fantasy could look like. Mammootty plays Kodumon Potti, the master of a crumbling mansion, opposite Arjun Ashokan and Sidharth Bharathan. It was released on Feb 15, 2024, in black and white.
What it added: folklore as horror, told with total confidence. Mammootty won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the role. Our Bramayugam ending explained story covers the Kerala folklore behind it.
- Where to watch: SonyLIV (as of Nov 2026), with Malayalam audio
- Our take: The boldest film here. Watch it at night, with the lights off.
ARM (2024): three heroes, one legend
Jithin Laal's action adventure, written by Sujith Nambiar, has Tovino Thomas in three roles across three generations, all tied to a magical lamp. Basil Joseph, Krithi Shetty and Aishwarya Rajesh are also in the cast, and it was released in 3D.
What it added: scale. ARM showed that a Malayalam fantasy could carry a multi generation story and a pan Indian release at the same time.
- Where to watch: JioHotstar (as of Nov 2026)
- Our take: A big, colourful ride. Tovino is the reason it works.
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (2025): the record breaker
Dominic Arun's film, produced by Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films, gave Malayalam cinema what was widely billed as its first female superhero. Kalyani Priyadarshan plays Chandra, a mysterious woman in Bengaluru who is also a yakshi from Kerala folklore. Naslen and Sandy co-star. It opened on Aug 28, 2025.
What it added: a shared universe and a box office ceiling nobody expected. It reportedly became the first Malayalam film to cross ₹300 crore worldwide and opened a planned series of films.
- Where to watch: JioHotstar (as of Nov 2026)
- Our take: The film that proved the wave was not a one off.
Titans (2026): fantasy meets a gangster comedy
Prince Joy's Titans reunites Jayasurya and Vinayakan in Fort Kochi. It starts as a small crime caper and slowly turns supernatural. It opened in theatres on Oct 22, 2026.
What it added: fantasy dropped into a street level comedy, a mix the industry has rarely tried. Our review found Vinayakan superb and the second half uneven. Watch the Titans trailer to see if it is for you.
- Where to watch: in theatres (as of Nov 2026)
- Our take: Go for Vinayakan and a fun first hour.
Cosmic Samson (Nov 27, 2026): the next superhero
Sandeep Pradeep plays a pizza delivery agent with superpowers in this origin film written and directed by Abhijith Joseph, who made John Luther. It comes from Weekend Blockbusters, the banner behind Minnal Murali, with Sophia Paul and Manuel Cruz Darwin of D Group producing. Mukesh plays his father, and Miya George, Althaf Salim and Alphonse Puthren are also in the cast. Vlad Rimburg, who worked on Minnal Murali, handles the action, and Sibi Mathew Alex composes the music.
What it adds: a superhero from the Minnal Murali makers made for theatres rather than streaming. Read our Cosmic Samson release story for the full crew.
Here is the official curtain raiser, from Think Music:
The first single, Ulagame Nokku, came out on Oct 31 with versions in Hindi, Telugu and Kannada.
Coming up: Vinayan's 3D fantasy
Vinayan, who made Albhutha Dweep and Athisayan, is making a fantasy film in 3D. Guinness Pakru and Sagar Surya lead a cast that includes more than 200 actors of short stature. HK Films is backing it with Akash Films. Vinayan has said it will be shot in three or four schedules, with the title launch planned for November, and reports say it is aimed at a release next year. For every 2026 release, see our Malayalam movies 2026 list.
How to pick one tonight
- For a family watch: Minnal Murali
- For a big screen spectacle: ARM or Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
- For horror: Bramayugam
- For history: My Dear Kuttichathan
- For something new in theatres: Titans, or Cosmic Samson from Nov 27
FAQs
Which is the first Malayalam superhero film?
Minnal Murali (2021) is widely seen as the first big Malayalam superhero film. My Dear Kuttichathan (1984) came much earlier, but it is a children's fantasy rather than a superhero story.
Where can I watch Minnal Murali?
It streams on Netflix, as of Nov 2026.
Where can I watch Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra?
It streams on JioHotstar, as of Nov 2026.
When does Cosmic Samson release?
Cosmic Samson opens in theatres on Nov 27, 2026.
Is Cosmic Samson connected to Minnal Murali?
It comes from the same banner, Weekend Blockbusters, and shares action director Vlad Rimburg. The makers have not said the two films share a story.
Related reading
Malayalam summary
1984ലെ മൈ ഡിയർ കുട്ടിച്ചാത്തൻ മുതൽ മലയാളത്തിൽ ഫാന്റസി സിനിമകൾ ഉണ്ടെങ്കിലും, സൂപ്പർഹീറോ തരംഗം തുടങ്ങിയത് 2021ലെ മിന്നൽ മുരളിയിലൂടെയാണ്. ഭ്രമയുഗം, എ.ആർ.എം, ലോക ചാപ്റ്റർ 1: ചന്ദ്ര, ടൈറ്റൻസ് എന്നിവ പിന്നാലെ എത്തി. സന്ദീപ് പ്രദീപ് നായകനാകുന്ന കോസ്മിക് സാംസൺ നവംബർ 27ന് തിയേറ്ററുകളിലെത്തും. വിനയന്റെ 3D ഫാന്റസി ചിത്രവും ഒരുങ്ങുന്നു.
