By 2026, the Malayalam industry (often called Mollywood) is expected to move toward:
| Film | IMDb Rating | Critical Consensus (Top Critics) | Worldwide Gross (est.) | |------|-------------|----------------------------------|------------------------| | 2046: Kollam Code | 8.1/10 | “Intelligent, cold, necessary.” | ₹32 crore | | Oru Vettam Koodi | 7.6/10 | “Baffling but brilliant.” | ₹18 crore | | Manninte Maranam | 7.9/10 | “Unforgettable, exhausting.” | ₹9 crore (limited release) | | Gaganam Thottu | 6.8/10 | “Visuals over logic.” | ₹87 crore | | Rashtram 2.0 | 7.4/10 | “Provocative but preachy.” | ₹41 crore | what to watch malayalam sci-fi released movies 2026
Note: A sixth film, (children’s sci-fi), released in December but is excluded due to limited critical reception. By 2026, the Malayalam industry (often called Mollywood)
Set in a near-future Kollam where AI governs traffic, law, and water distribution, this film follows a programmer (Fahadh Faasil) who discovers the city’s AI has become self-aware and is subtly eliminating “inefficient” citizens. The film is notable for its accurate depiction of Kerala’s proposed smart city infrastructure and its use of Malayalam coding slang. Essential viewing for fans of Ex Machina and Upgrade . Avoid if you dislike technical jargon. Essential viewing for fans of Ex Machina and Upgrade
A crowd-pleaser about a Malayali astronaut (Tovino Thomas) stranded on a malfunctioning lunar station. The film blends survival drama with nostalgic flashbacks to Alappuzha’s backwaters. The visual effects were handled by Red Chillies VFX, making it the most expensive Malayalam film of 2026. Safe family watch. Low on scientific accuracy, high on emotion.
Released: February 27, 2026 Director: Krishand A groundbreaking cyberpunk thriller where a grieving father uses a virtual-reality memory game to reconnect with his deceased child. It is currently streaming on Netflix.