2026 has genuinely been one of Hindi cinema’s strongest years in a decade, mixing record-breaking blockbusters with some of the best-reviewed dramas the industry has produced in years. Here are the 10 best Bollywood movies of 2026 so far, ranked by a combination of critical reception and the kind of cultural impact that outlasts an opening weekend.
1. Dhurandhar: The Revenge
2026’s biggest Indian hit by a wide margin, “Dhurandhar: The Revenge” has been celebrated as a landmark for the sheer scale of its action filmmaking, Ranveer Singh’s committed performance, and a box office run that’s made it the second-highest-grossing Hindi film ever. It’s the rare blockbuster that’s also genuinely well-reviewed, not just well-attended.
2. Mirzapur: The Movie
The best-reviewed Bollywood film of the year, “Mirzapur: The Movie” holds a critic score around 86% — the franchise’s jump to the big screen paid off creatively in a way sequels to beloved TV properties rarely manage.
3. Ramayana: Part 1
Nitesh Tiwari’s mythological epic is visually spectacular and anchored by a genuinely great Yash performance as Ravana, even if some reviews note the emotional beats sometimes take a back seat to scale. Read our full review for the complete breakdown.
4. Drishyam: The Conclusion
The franchise’s confirmed final chapter closes Vijay Salgaonkar’s story with Ajay Devgn’s career-best opening day and a tightly-constructed courtroom twist. See our ending explained for the full breakdown of how it wraps up.
5. Hanuman Ansh
Made on a reported budget of just ₹2 crore, this mythological drama turned into one of the single best returns on investment in Indian film history, crossing ₹400+ crore worldwide on a 60-plus day run — trade reports have compared its ratio to 1975’s “Jai Santoshi Maa.”
6. Ikkis
A sober, true-story drama about India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, “Ikkis” earned praise for treating its real-world subject with restraint rather than leaning into war-movie spectacle.
7. Awarapan 2
Trade outlets outright called this one a “Super Duper Hit,” turning a lean ₹45 crore budget into north of 200% returns — proof that a lower-key release can outperform a bigger star vehicle when the material connects.
8. Mardaani 3
Rani Mukerji returns as Shivani Shivaji Roy in a race-against-time thriller about rescuing trafficked girls — a tougher commercial sell than its predecessors, but one that earned real praise for not softening its subject matter for a more comfortable watch.
9. Assi
A courtroom drama earning praise for its hard-hitting narrative and powerful central performances, “Assi” is the kind of smaller-scale release that tends to get overlooked next to the year’s blockbusters but deserves a place on any best-of list built around actual quality.
10. Dhamaal 4
Proof that a long-running comedy franchise can still land years in, “Dhamaal 4” closed its run as the franchise’s highest-grossing entry yet, beating early mid-run estimates once final numbers came in.
What This Year Says About Bollywood
What stands out across this list isn’t just that 2026 had hits — it’s that the hits and the best-reviewed films overlapped more than usual. “Dhurandhar: The Revenge” being both the year’s biggest earner and a genuinely acclaimed film is a rarer combination than it should be, and smaller releases like “Hanuman Ansh” and “Awarapan 2” proving that a modest budget with the right story can out-earn its scale by a huge multiple suggests studios are being rewarded for taking calculated risks rather than just chasing scale for its own sake. For the full financial picture behind every title on this list, see our Bollywood Box Office 2026 tracker. The Hollywood Reporter India’s own best-of list has more on the critical side of this conversation if you want a second opinion.
How This List Could Change
With several more months left in 2026, this ranking is a snapshot rather than a final verdict — a late-year release landing with the right combination of critical reception and audience turnout could easily crack the top 10 before the year closes out. Shah Rukh Khan’s “King,” arriving December 24, is the single biggest wildcard still to come, and its reception could meaningfully reshuffle where this list stands by January. We’ll revisit and update this ranking as the rest of the year’s releases land.
What is the best Bollywood movie of 2026?
“Dhurandhar: The Revenge” combines being both the year’s biggest box office hit and one of its most acclaimed films, making it the clearest pick for best overall.
What is the best-reviewed Bollywood movie of 2026?
“Mirzapur: The Movie” holds the year’s highest critic score, around 86%, making it the best-reviewed title on this list even though it wasn’t the year’s top earner.
Which 2026 Bollywood movie had the best return on investment?
“Hanuman Ansh” delivered the year’s most extreme return, turning a reported ₹2 crore budget into over ₹400 crore worldwide.
