20 Films To Watch On JioHotstar Right Now

We all love swapping movie recommendations, but sometimes it’s tough to figure out what’s actually worth watching. Though, we have the choice now more than ever to pick up the movie where we left thanks to all the streaming platforms we are subscribed to, navigating the service’s labyrinthine menus can make finding the right movie a pain.

For movie picking check out Esquire India's movie guide to find the best movies on JioHotstar right now. Whether you love a good comedy, a shocking horror film, or an emotionally gripping animated film, there's something for everyone on this list:

12th Fail

Based on the non‑fiction book by Anurag Pathak, 12th Fail directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra follows Manoj Kumar Sharma (Vikrant Massey), a young man from a very modest background in Chambal. After failing his 12th grade exam, he decides to restart and clears many barriers: economical, educational, social and aims to succeed in one of India’s toughest competitive exams (UPSC), eventually becoming an IPS officer. The film weaves his struggle, failures, hope, and the people who help him along the way.

Nosferatu

Based on the 1922 silent film Nosferatu and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Nosferatu directed by Robert Eggers follows Ellen Hutter (Lily‑Rose Depp), who as a young woman once prayed for a companion and unintentionally forged a dark psychic bond with a demonic being.

Years later, her husband Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) journeys to Transylvania to help Count Orlok played by Bill Skarsgård purchase a manor in Wisburg. Unknowingly, this unleashes plague‑bearing rats, supernatural horror, and Orlok’s obsession with Ellen. The story weaves dread, obsession, sacrifice, and gothic horror.

Love Sonia

The film follows two sisters whose lives are shattered by poverty and human trafficking played by Mrunal Thakur and includes other cast members like Freida Pinto, Demi Moore, Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao, Richa Chadda, Anupam Kher, Adil Hussain.

One sister is trafficked first; the younger one (Sonia) sets out on a dangerous journey to rescue her, but she too becomes trapped in the sex trade. Through crime, loss, and hope, the film bears in on their resilience and love amidst brutal circumstances.

Kishkindha Kandam

Kishkindha Kaandam, directed by Dinjith Ayyathan and written by Bahul Ramesh, follows ex‑military officer Appu Pillai (Vijayaraghavan) and his son Ajay Chandran (Asif Ali), who return to an old mansion after Ajay’s marriage to Aparna (Aparna Balamurali).

When a government order before the elections requires firearms license holders to deposit their weapons, Appu’s prized gun goes missing. Mysterious events begin to happen—strange bullet marks appear, memory gaps surface, and Aparna starts noticing contradictions in Pillai’s behaviour. As the couple teams up with local forest officers, they are forced to dig into old tragedies especially Appu’s past, and the secrets buried in Pillai’s own mind. The film weaves together mystery, memory loss, family trauma, and the way past guilt reshapes present reality.

Kill

Written and directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, Kill follows Amrit (played by Lakshya), a special forces officer who gets caught up in a brutal train robbery. Alongside Raghav Juyal, Ashish Vidyarthi, Tanya Maniktala, and others, he must navigate the chaos, violence, and moral dilemmas that erupt when danger strikes so close to home.

Subham

Subham follows Srinivas, a cable‑TV operator in a coastal town, who gets married to Srivalli. On their wedding night, Srivalli behaves strangely when her favorite soap airs at 9 PM. Soon, other women across the town show similar behaviour.

Srinivas joins his friends and a spiritual healer, Maya Sri, played by Samantha to find out what’s causing the phenomena. The film blends horror, comedy, and social satire with themes of gender roles, obsessive media consumption, and the supernatural.

The Woman In The Yard

The Woman In The Yard follows Ramona (Danielle Deadwyler) who, after surviving a car accident that kills her husband and leaves her injured, must care for her two children alone in a rural farmhouse.

One day, a mysterious veiled Woman (Okwui Okpokwasili) appears in her yard. Initially presumed lost or mentally unwell, her presence becomes increasingly ominous. Ramona must protect her children as the Woman draws nearer and it becomes clear she isn’t just a stranger or just grief.

Mickey17

Based on the novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton, Mickey 17 directed by Bong Joon Ho follows Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson), an “expendable” worker on a space colony mission to an ice planet named Niflheim.

Every time Mickey dies during dangerous assignments, he is “regenerated” with most of his memories. After dying six times, he begins to understand more about what his job really means and why the expendable role was always left vacant before him. Cast includes Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo, and others.

Ronth

Ronth meaning Patrol is a 2025 Indian Malayalam crime thriller film written and directed by Shahi Kabir follows Sub-Inspector Yohannan (Dileesh Pothan) and rookie cop Dinanath (Roshan Mathew) as they patrol a city at night, responding to incidents like a suicide, a mentally unstable man terrorizing neighbors, and domestic violence.

As the night unfolds, personal traumas surface—Yohannan's wife suffers from mental instability after a stillbirth, and Dinanath is haunted by his father's suicide. Their duty becomes more complicated when they are framed for a murder committed by a powerful family.

Sinners

Sinners, written and directed by Ryan Coogler, follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack both played by Michael B. Jordan who return to their hometown hoping to start anew. When they try to open a juke joint in a place still scarred by Jim Crow racism, they discover a supernatural evil in the form of vampires led by Remmick played by Jack O’Connell.

I Saw The Devil

Saw the Devil stars Lee Byung-hun as Kim Soo‑hyun, a special agent whose fiancée is brutally murdered by serial killer Jang Kyung‑chul (Choi Min-sik). Instead of simply bringing the killer to justice, Soo‑hyun embarks on a terrible game of cat‑and‑mouse, inflicting pain, fear and suffering in return, becoming more like the monster he hunts.

Aavesham

Starring Fahadh Faasil, Aavesham is a Malayalam action-comedy that follows three Bengaluru-based youngsters who befriend a local gangster to take revenge on their college bully. The film blends dark comedy with action.

All We Imagine Is Light

Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine Is Light is a drama set in contemporary Mumbai, focusing on the lives of three women—Prabha, Anu, and Parvaty—who navigate personal and societal challenges. The film delves into themes of connection, heartache, and resilience.

Thudarum

A family drama featuring Mohanlal as Shanmugham, a taxi driver who becomes entangled in an unexpected situation after his car is confiscated by the police, Thudarum, directed by Tharun Moorthy explores themes of family dynamics and societal issues.

Unnad

Unnad is a Marathi coming of age drama that explores the life of a young man navigating his identity, family expectations, and the pressures of modern society. Set against the backdrop of Maharashtra’s vibrant culture, the film delves into themes of tradition, change, and self-discovery.

Duniyadaari

Duniyadaari is a Marathi romantic drama that explores the journey of young love, friendship, and the trials of life. The film follows Raj and Shruti, whose relationship unfolds amidst the ups and downs of their personal lives and societal expectations. Filled with emotional depth, the story delves into themes of trust, commitment, and the complexities of relationships.

The Negotiator

A gripping crime thriller that stars Samuel L. Jackson as Lieutenant Danny Roman, a skilled police hostage negotiator who is framed for murder and corruption. To prove his innocence, Roman takes hostages himself and teams up with fellow negotiator Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) in a tense battle of wits. The film unravels themes of trust, betrayal, and justice as both men work to uncover the truth.

The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot narrates Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o), a service robot who awakens alone on a remote, uninhabited island after a shipwreck. To survive, Roz must learn to adapt to the wild, befriend local animals, and ultimately becomes a surrogate mother to an orphaned gosling. Based on the 2016 novel by Peter Brown, the film explores themes of nature versus technology, survival, and the essence of life.

Big Hero 6

An animated superhero film following Hiro Hamada (voiced by Ryan Potter), a young robotics prodigy in San Fransokyo. After a tragic accident claims his brother Tadashi’s life, Hiro teams up with Baymax (Scott Adsit), an inflatable healthcare robot, and a group of friends to form a high-tech superhero team. A blend of heart, humour, and action, the film focusses on themes of friendship, loss, and innovation.

Varathan

After losing his job, Aby and his wife, Priya, move back to the latter's family estate in Kerala. However, things go from bad to worse for the couple as they encounter a new set of challenges.