No matter how chaotic real life gets, the magic of movies will never run out of style. Thanks to OTT platforms, we can enjoy the top films from across the globe inside the comforts of our warm homes. Many of the best movies on Disney+ Hotstar are extremely entertaining and transport the viewers to a land far, far away…
Here are the Top 30 movies on Disney+ Hotstar, of all time:
1. A Death in Texas: Candy
One of the most compelling and disturbing stories in a long time, this follows the life of Texas homemaker Candy Montgomery, played by Jessica Biel of The Sinner fame, who struck her friend and neighbour Betty Gore played by Melanie Lynskey 41 times with an axe. A stunning and revealing examination of the human mind and the limits to which it can go.
2. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
What happens when you are a superhero? For starters, you have to contend with the multiverse. Following up on the 2016 hit movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch, the second instalment directed by Sam Raimi takes things to another level as multiple versions of Doctor Strange threaten to wipe the universe out.
3. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
In the first Marvel film to have an Asian superhero, Shang-Chi has no option but to grapple with his past when his father pulls him and his sister into a mindboggling hunt to find a mythical village with many powers.
4. Vikram Vedha
The dance between good and evil never gets old. There are so many shades and different ways of looking at the same story. In this hit film, Vikram is a good cop with a moral sense of approaching life and Vedha is a dreaded gangster who will go to any extent to get what he wants. The film won multiple awards and grossed over six times the budget at the box office.
5. Tanhaji
In the 2022 National Awards, the film won the Best Feature and Best Costume Awards for the story of a Maratha warrior who has been assigned by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to defend their fort and their honour from an invading Mughal army. Becoming one of the highest-grossing films in Bollywood in 2020, the film was also screened in the Best Foreign Films to be screened at the 78th Golden Globe Award.
6. Eternals
Directed by Chloé Zhao of Nomadland fame – the movie that won the Best Picture Award at the 2021 Oscars, one of Marvel’s most creative and original films takes us inside the world of The Eternals, a tribe that has been existing on our planet for thousands of years, rising now to fight the scourge of another evil tribe, the Deviants.
7. Avengers: Infinity War
While Avengers: Endgame will always be remembered for Iron Man’s (Robert Downey Jr) ultimate sacrifice, you can’t picture the MCU movie without first watching Avengers: Infinity War. With Thanos on the loose, Earth’s mightiest heroes have to band together to prevent a global catastrophe. It’s especially the heartbreaking conclusion that left an indelible mark in the hearts of MCU fans because of how powerful an impact it had.
8. Avengers: Endgame
After being gutted by Avengers: Infinity War, I’d recommend swiftly switching gears to Avengers: Endgame. The culmination of the decade-long journey with the OG 6 Avengers — Iron Man aka Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), Captain America aka Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk aka Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow aka Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye aka Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) — as they take on their biggest enemy yet, Thanos, is a satiating experience for MCU fans. You can also catch up on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as the films’ collection is available on Disney+ Hotstar.
9. Murder on the Orient Express
A light-content murder mystery that you can easily get hooked on. The movie follows renowned detective Hercule Poirot in his quest to find the culprit behind, well, a murder on the Orient Express. Everyone is a suspect and everyone is coy in their mannerisms making Poirot’s job all the more difficult. Kenneth Branagh stars as Detective Poirot who is an expert in deduction and does a good job reprising the role, while a star-studded supporting cast which includes the likes of Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Daisy Ridley, Olivia Colman and Michelle Pfifer does a great job in keeping the audience hooked to the story.
10. Ford vs Ferrari
Based on one of the most riveting sports rivalries of all time, Ford vs Ferrari is about two car manufacturing giants and their quest for supremacy in the 1960s at the 24-hour Le Mans race. With an impressive cast featuring Matt Damon as Caroll Shelby and Christian Bale as Ken Miles among others, Ford v Ferrari is a pure joy to watch thanks to some edge-of-the-seat action sequences and is a cinematic gold for any motor head. Ford v Ferrari took home the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing in 2019.
11. Toy Story 4
Disney+ Hotstar has such an impressive collection of animated movies that it is cruel to shortlist a few of them. But if I have to do the impossible task of picking some of them, Toy Story is one series that definitely makes the cut. A trilogy that was such a big part of every millennial’s childhood, Toy Story 4 was a successful reboot that was released in 2019. The end of the trilogy was an almost perfect closure in terms of storyline and its characters and many wondered what more could the makers add. But Toy Story 4 provided us a continuation of the story with our favourite Woody and gang helping a new friend Forky feel included. It’s also voiced by some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and Keanu Reeves as Duke Kaboom.
12. Up
Another animated film that has fans at the palm of their hands is Up. Probably one of the greatest depictions of a love story. The comedy-drama adventure film follows an elderly widower and former balloon salesman and a young Wilderness Explorer, who embark on an unforgettable journey inside a floating home.
13. Avatar
It’s definitely not the best movie on the list and still has a few problems in terms of its storyline but there is no denying how many milestones this James Cameron project achieved when it was released almost a decade ago. Avatar was something that we had never seen before and I still remember getting mesmerised watching it on IMAX. There’s never a dull moment in terms of the visuals and the movie keeps the audience well inside Pandora throughout.
14. Poor Things
Poor Things deservedly won four Oscars thanks to a fabulous leading performance by Emma Stone alongside exceptional supporting stints by Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe. The steampunk black comedy film follows a young Victorian woman, who embarks on a quirky path of self-discovery after being resurrected through a brain transplant.
15. Jojo Rabbit
Jojo Rabbit was farcical and heartfelt at the same time. A story about love and innocence through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy, Jojo. Director Taika Waititi takes us to Germany during World War two and how Jojo was brainwashed by Nazi propaganda even before he could understand what was wrong and what was right. Jojo idolised Hitler and even imagined his presence with him at all times. But as the world around him gets more and more complex, Jojo discovers love and kindness and understands life in the most challenging situations. Taika Waititi shows us a fascist society as laughable and absurd which makes this movie insanely funny, but at the same time leaves a lasting impression on anyone who is watching it. The movie also stars Scarlett Johannson, Taika Waititi himself and Sam Rockwell in important roles and is one of my favourite movies of 2020.
16. Black Panther
While you should definitely watch all the movies on the MCU if you haven’t already, Black Panther is one you shouldn’t miss whether you’re a fan or not. There was a lot of hype when it came out in 2018 and it was all so deserving. Black Panther gave the world its first mainstream black superhero. But while the impact this movie had is so often talked about, Black Panther which stars talented actors like Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, and Lupita Nyong’o was genuinely an enjoyable watch in terms of storytelling and the central theme of oppression and betrayal. It also became the first superhero movie to get an Academy nomination for Best Picture and should definitely be on your watchlist.
17. 12th Fail
If you still haven’t watched Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankr starrer 12th Fail, what are you even waiting for?! The biographical drama film tells the heroic tale of Manoj Kumar, who overcame extreme poverty to become an IPS officer. Besides the inspiring storytelling, it’s the ensemble cast’s performance that truly won hearts and accolades.
18. Shape of Water
The 2018 winner of Best Picture at the Oscars, this Guillermo Del Toro film is a love story with some of the most extraordinary premises and triumphs. Story of a lonely Janitor who falls in love with a research experiment — an amphibious creature who is held captive — she then develops a beautiful relationship with the creature which makes for a really warm watch. The movie stars Sally Hawkins as Elisa, the Janitor, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer and Doug Jones, the amphibious creature in lead roles.
19. Drishyam
There’s a Hindi remake of it and then there’s the original in Malayalam, which is much better. Mohanlal stars in this crime thriller that essentially rebooted the superstar’s career after a series of flops almost a decade ago. Drishyam is a story of a simpleton who is willing to go to any lengths to protect his family. With a riveting screenplay that will definitely keep you hooked, Drishyam is one twist after another all the way till the very end.
20. Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars is yet another franchise that you can catch on Disney+ Hotstar in its entirety. With nine movies sprawled across 43 years, Star Wars is three generations of storytelling and is a saga you just can’t get enough of. But even then, this 1980 sequel to Star Wars: A New Hope stands the test of time and is to date the best movie of the franchise. While the first part leaves us on a cliffhanger, Empire Strikes Back is the perfect bridge where the dark side takes charge and gains the upper hand against the rebels. Empire Strikes Back offers a deeper, darker narrative with Darth Vader at the centre of it all and makes for a really enjoyable watch.
21. Hamilton
A Broadway production that became so famous that it had to be filmed into a movie, Hamilton blends genres like hip-hop, jazz, and R&B into a traditional story of Alexander Hamilton. The production that took home a bunch of Tony Awards is the perfect dose of musical that theatre fans can have in the comfort of their homes. Hamilton is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s shining project and you can see why he gets so much praise once you watch this production that was filmed at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York.
22. Kaaka Muttai
A movie with a budget and cast that in no way compares to the other big entries on the list, Kaaka Muttai is a testimony to what honest filmmaking can be. A Tamil film with a simple theme about a new pizza shop and two kids who yearn to taste a slice of it, Kaaka Muttai is a heartfelt retelling of society and the divide between rich and poor. Directed by Manikandan, Kaaka Muttai doesn’t have a star cast or any big-budget sequences, but with a story and theme that definitely keeps audiences hooked, this Tamil movie is one for the ages.
23. Dead Poets Society
A coming-of-age drama about a group of students inspired by the out-of-the-box teaching techniques of their new English teacher, Dead Poets Society has an immense rewatchability factor and is filled with scenes that are certain to melt your heart. With so many quotable dialogues and some heartfelt performances by Robin Williams and Co. Dead Poets Society is a breezy watch with some hard-hitting moments that are certain to move you. And if you still need any excuse to watch the movie, it has Robin Williams as energetic as ever and if you still haven’t fallen in love with his legacy and his performances, you will after this movie.
24. Logan
While the previous versions of Wolverine were much more dumbed down and PG-rated, Hugh Jackman’s swansong was more comic book-like R-rated and raw. Wolverine truly unleashed in Logan and we wished we could see him for a couple of more movies, but it wasn’t meant to be as Hugh Jackman bid goodbye to the iconic role. Logan as a story follows an old Wolverine who wishes every day for death before certain events force him to come out of retirement to protect a young mutant from a forced experiment.
25. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Academy Award winner Frances McDormand plays Mildred Hayes, a grieving mother who demands justice for her daughter who was raped and murdered in this subtle yet hard-hitting tale of redemption and closure. McDormand is the singular factor that is the driving force in this movie and is seen in arguably her best-ever performance in the movie. It also stars Sam Rockwell as Sheriff Dixon who faces the brunt of Mrs. Hayes and is fighting his own battle to find the culprits.
26. Ratsasan
Ratsasan is a Tamil crime thriller starring Vishnu Vishal and Amala Paul in lead roles. Vishnu stars as Arun, an aspiring filmmaker who is forced to take up a job as a police officer after his father’s death. But a twisted case comes his way and Arun must use his storytelling prowess to solve a crime. Ratsasan is sure to keep you hooked and is a crime thriller that will definitely make for a good watch.
27. Maqbool
While Irrfan Khan showcased his range in many roles throughout his life, Maqbool stands tall. He played the titular character in this Vishal Bharadwaj classic opposite Tabu‘s equally exhilarating performance. A story of a small-time henchman of an underworld don, who vows to climb up the ranks at the behest of his boss’ mistress who instigates him to kill the don and become the next leader. Maqbool is powerful storytelling with some strong sequences thanks to its lead characters. You can catch this movie on Disney+ Hotstar. It’s definitely one of the most impressive movies you’ll watch on the platform.
28. Ustad Hotel
The story of Faizal who aspires to be a chef and secretly enrolls himself in a culinary course. His family cuts ties with him when his father realises that Faizal isn’t doing a management course to take over the family business. Faizal now moves with his grandfather who runs a small yet hugely popular beachside restaurant and learns the tricks of the trade while trying to save the restaurant from hoteliers. Ustad Hotel is a culinary masterpiece in filmmaking and the sequences that involve food, even if it is them making tea are a delight to watch. It’s definitely one of the best movies on Disney+ Hotstar.
29. Premam
Premam is a vibe that you feel while watching this movie. We meet George (Nivin Pauly) in three different stages of life where he falls in love with three different women and while not every love story has a happy ending, every love story teaches something new to our protagonist and that’s what Premam is all about. With subtle comic references sprinkled throughout the movie, Premam is an absolute delight to watch and should definitely be a part of your watchlist.
30. Titanic
The list of top movies on Disney+ Hotstar would be incomplete without the addition of Titanic which is tied with Ben-Hur for the most Oscars won by a film. The romantic drama movie chronicles the fateful romance between Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet), two people of different social classes who fall in love while aboard the Titanic ship. Keep the tissues in handy, especially for the heartbreaking climax, which we really don’t want to “let go” of.
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