10 Most iconic Indian movies of the 21st Century that have redefined Indian cinema forever

Indian cinema has long been one of the mainstays of the Indian life, whether it’s Bollywood, Tollywood, Sandalwood, Kollywood, Mollywood etc the country showcases why it loves its movies, its deep and diverse film culture as the movie industries across the nation continue their skyrocketing trajectory.

Once largely a domestic, formula-driven enterprise focused on song-and-dance spectacles, it has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse with pan-India blockbusters, global box-office hits, advanced technology, and a strong digital presence. This growth has been fueled by rising incomes, multiplex expansion, digital disruption, and content innovation, turning Indian cinema into one of the world’s largest by volume and a rising force in international markets.

Domestic box-office collections illustrate the scale of the ascent. India’s theatrical market has repeatedly crossed major thresholds in recent years. It surpassed ₹10,000 crore multiple times (including 2019, 2022–2025), hit a then-record ₹12,226 crore in 2023, and reached a new high of approximately ₹13,395 crore in 2025—the first year to cross ₹13,000 crore.

Indian cinema has been on a continuous rise. Here are some iconic movies that have surged the wave of Indian cinema in the 21st century.

1. Bahubali 1: The Beginning (2015) and Bahubali 2 the Conclusion (2017):

The iconic Bahubali movies have redefined Indian cinema like no other, director SS RRajamouli along with actors Prabhas, Rana Dagubbati, Ramya Krishna, Sathyaraj and Anushka Shetty became icons in their own rights. The Telugu movies completely changed Indian cinema with the fantasy epic etching intself into the minds of the nation certified by the franchise collecting a titanic ₹2,512 crore as it broke numerous box office records. Having been a blockbuster in a number of markets as well as breaking through into the Hindi market as a dubbed film, the epic success of the movies paved the way for Pan India cinema to become mainstream.

The characters, acting, costumes, sets, direction, cinematography, unique scenes and settings as well as its iconic music makes the Bahubali movies a grand icon of Indian cinema.

2. Dhurandhar (2025) and Dhurandhar The Revenge (2026): 

What can be said about the iconic Dhurandhar movies that has already not been said. Director Aditya Dhar created a masterpiece that will be considered the pinnacle of Indian film making especially in its genre. A dark espionage film that intertwines real life elements with incredible storytelling narratives Dhar creates a masterpiece that destroyed box office records like a thundering tsunami with the franchise collecting over ₹3,200 crores.

The performances of Ranveer Singh, Akshay Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and Rakesh Bedi will long be seen as a benchmark of acting. The music is exemplary, the direction and storytelling is pathbreaking. This movie will long live in the audiences mind as one that showed the true epic standard of Indian cinema.

3. Three Idiots (2009):

This Rajkumar Hirani film is seen as a mainstay of Indian cinema history. The coming of age college drama, with its unique look at higher education while redefining the concept of learning at institutions. Amir Kahn gave perhaps his most outstanding film that has impacted almost every person who has seen the film.

Not only was the film a box office success but it’s characters have become icons in their own rights whether it’s R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Boman Irani or Omi Vaidya. The movie is so beloved that even after over a decade of release whenever it comes on the TV screens families still sit down to watch it for the umpteenth time, there cannot be a higher compliment for a filmmaker.

4. RRR (2022):

Post the mammoth sucess of Bahubali millions of eyes were fixed on Director SS Rajamouli’s RRR. The film not only delivered at the box office but also brought Indian cinema to the world. The historical fantasy movie showcased two iconic freedom fighters with NTR as Bheema and Ram Charan as Alluri Sitaram Raju owning the screen.

Rajamouli dared to imagine his own world where the two patriots met and fought together. The iconography used, the massive sets, the acting performances and the direction were stupendous.The dance performances and music were so mesmerizing it was inevitable they will play into the mind of every viewer. So much so that the movie broke into the international market as a netflix favourite even in the western market. The international love for the movie culminated into an Oscar cementing its legacy.

5. Lagaan (2001):

The epic high stakes sports drama of Ashutosh Gowarikar was perhaps the first Indian movie of the 21st century to make a huge global name. Amir Khan stars in the iconic 3 hour plus long film with beautiful music which proved that Indian cinema can successfully mix a great story with highly memorable songs. The ‘Radha kaise na jale’ remains on a continuous replay more than decades later.

With its British Raj setting and a patriotic Indian storyline the iconic movie was nominated for an Academy Award as well. Lagaan remains a sucess story of its own.

6. Aparichit (2005):

The iconic Tamil film almost everyone has seen. The psychological thriller created its own legacy of movies that redefine the way one looks ta mental trauma culminating in reverberating aggression. S.Shankar showcased high stakes vigilante justice in 2005 to the Indian audience long before the theme became a mainstay for even Western cinema.

The performance of Vikram though demands a separate set of applause. The Tamil actor delivered a tremendous performance as a triple role of a person with dissociated personality. The soft, studious and rule following Ambi contrasting with the terrifying and aggressive Yama like figure of Aparichit sent shivers down the spine of the audiences. A performance so goated that even till this day families sit down to watch the movie on the television just to see the incredible transformation. A truly iconic film.

7. Drishyam trilogy (2013 onwards):

The incredible Malayalam crime thriller Drishyam remains as the pathbreaker in its field not only for Indian cinema but for world cinema. Mohanlal plays the unassuming everyday family man who embarks on a mind bending cat and mouse chase game with the police and agencies to safeguard his family.

Director Jeetu Joseph delivers a thrilling ride with gripping sequences that keep the audiences hooked until the end. Such was the sucess of this film that it culminated into a succesful trilogy. Not only was the movie a super hit in its own market it was remade in almost every regional language of India. But that’s not all the movie has been remade in Chinese, and will also be remade in the US, Korea and Indonesia. Milestones no other Indian films have achieved. Drishyam truly showcases how a great story if presented well can become an iconic global masterpiece in its genre.

8. Taare Zameen Par (2007):

A landmark emotional drama directed by Aamir Khan that permanently changed how Indian society views child psychology and learning disabilities like dyslexia. It remains one of the most culturally significant and universally beloved family films of the century.

Darshil Safary gives a lifetime performance as Ishaan Awasthi a talented 8 year old child suffering from learning disabilities and feeling alone and ostracized until Amir Khan arrives to guide him to fulfil his true potential.

The movie broke many myths and ideas of teaching and learning as every character in the film gave a stirring performance to make it a beautiful and beloved story across the globe.

9. Kantara (2022) and Kantara Chapter 1 (2025):

The Kantara series broke the mould of film making in India, Rishabh Shetty takes you on a jouney into local folk traditions that have been passed down through epic regional stories. The bhoota Kola traditions blending with regional cultures and life encompass a rural setting with its own supernatural history.

RShetty himself delivers a mind boggling performance which cannot be easily forgotten. It is perhaps the first time such stories have been explored not in a admonising colonialist way but through the spiritual eyes of those who have lived through these traditions for centuries. One things s for sure all those who have seen these movies will not forget the incredible performances. Shetty brought folk stories to the global canvas.

10. Mahavtar Narsimha (2024):

The animated movie that broke all kinds preconceived notions. Long thought of as a stagnant field Indian animation has been left hanging without much to show on the big screen in terms of technique ideas and a beautiful spectacle. While global animation have become billion dollar industries studios in India have been reluctant to even delve fully into this field.

However Ashwin Kumar took the plunge into these uncharted territories. Narsimha shows what a truly dedicated and talented team with bhakti in their hearts can achieve the impossible becoming the highest earning animated film in India earning well over ₹300 crores with an outlay of ₹20 crores. The huge sucess of the film will now give Kumar the room to truly showcase animation with a six more movies to come. Regardless Ashwin Kumar has permanently changed the animated film industry scene of India with this iconic film.