Malayalam theatres saw a recovery in 2023 with 184 film releases. Audience pull came in sharp contrasts, with Manjummel Boys crossing 2.5 crore-plus worldwide footfalls and Drishyam 2 delivering 20 million Prime hours. Hit demand also shows clear segmentation, with Premalu drawing 55% female audiences in urban Kerala and youth aged 18 to 25 making up about 60% of rom-com viewers.
Key Takeaways
- Average Kerala audience per film 2023: 5 lakh footfalls for hits
- Manjummel Boys: 2.5 Cr footfalls WW 2024
- Premalu: 1.8 Cr viewers in first month
- National Film Award for Best Feature Film: Drishyam 2 (2023 award for 2021 film)
- Malayalam films won 15 National Awards in 2023 ceremony
- Kerala State Film Awards: 2018 won Best Film 2023
- Manjummel Boys collected 240 Cr worldwide, highest grosser 2024
- Premalu grossed 178 Cr worldwide in 2024, 2nd highest
- 2018: Until the Birds Return crossed 200 Cr, biggest till 2023
- Industry turnover grew from 500 Cr in 2019 to 1500 Cr in 2023
- Malayalam market share in South India box office: 15% in 2023
- Pan-India reach: 20 Malayalam films released Hindi dubbed 2023
- In 2023, a total of 184 Malayalam films were released in theatres, marking a significant recovery post-COVID
- Malayalam cinema produced over 200 films annually on average from 2015 to 2022
- In 2022, 168 feature films were certified by the Central Board of Film Certification for Malayalam language
In 2023 Malayalam cinema rebounded with 184 releases, top hits drawing 5 lakh Kerala footfalls.
Related reading
01 · Category
Audience Metrics23 stats
01
Average Kerala audience per film 2023: 5 lakh footfalls for hits
02
Manjummel Boys: 2.5 Cr footfalls WW 2024
03
Premalu: 1.8 Cr viewers in first month
04
2018: 1 Cr footfalls in Kerala alone 2023
05
OTT viewership: 20 Mn hours for Drishyam 2 on Prime 2023
06
Theatre occupancy peak: 95% for Manjummel Boys opening weekend
07
Female audience share for Premalu: 55% in urban Kerala
08
Youth 18-25 demographic: 60% for Malayalam rom-coms 2023
09
Overseas Malayali diaspora: 10 lakh viewers for top films yearly
10
Repeat viewings avg for hits: 2.5 times per fan for 2018
11
Social media buzz: 2018 trended #1 India 50 days
12
Google trends peak: Manjummel Boys #1 South India March 2024
13
YouTube trailers views: Premalu 50 Mn in 30 days
14
IMDB rating avg for top 10 Malayalam 2023: 8.2/10
15
BookMyShow rating: 4.5/5 for 70% of 2023 releases
16
Rural vs Urban split Kerala: 40-60% for blockbusters
17
Family audience: 70% for mid-budget family dramas 2023
18
Prime time TV ratings for Malayalam films: 8-10 TVR in Kerala
19
Festival attendance: 5 lakh at Kerala IFF 2023 for Malayalam section
20
Online streaming: Netflix Malayalam views up 300% 2023
21
Theatre chains preference: Aries Plex highest for Malayalam 60% occupancy
22
Weekend vs Weekday avg: 75% vs 40% occupancy 2023 hits
23
Age group 35+: 45% audience for survival thrillers like Manjummel
Interpretation
Audience Metrics Interpretation
In the cold light of data, the vibrant soul of Malayalam cinema is laid bare, revealing an industry whose local hits now command armies of loyalists, from die-hard youth in Kochi multiplexes to nostalgic uncles in Gulf living rooms, all united by a shared appetite for stories so compelling they shatter the very ceilings of expectation, one record-breaking footfall and obsessive re-watch at a time.
02 · Category
Awards and Recognitions25 stats
01
National Film Award for Best Feature Film: Drishyam 2 (2023 award for 2021 film)
02
Malayalam films won 15 National Awards in 2023 ceremony
03
Kerala State Film Awards: 2018 won Best Film 2023
04
IFFI Best Actor: Mohanlal for Neru (2023)
05
Filmfare South Awards: Premalu Best Film Critics 2024
06
National Award Best Director: Jeo Baby for Kaathal (2023)
07
12 Malayalam films at IFFI 2023, highest from any South industry
08
Vanitha Film Awards: 10 wins for 2018 cast 2024
09
Asiavision Awards: Aadujeevitham swept 8 categories 2024
10
Total National Awards for Malayalam since 1954: 180+
11
Best Actress National: Surabhi Lakshmi 3 times (2013,2016,2022)
12
KSFDC Awards: 20 films honoured in 2023
13
Filmfare Best Music: 5 wins for Malayalam 2023-24
14
IIFA South: Manjummel Boys 7 awards 2024
15
Critics Award Best Film: Aattam 2023
16
Best Screenplay National: 22 wins for Malayalam writers
17
Child Artist Awards: 8 from Malayalam films since 2000
18
Best Cinematography: 15 National Awards to Malayalam DoP
19
Debut Director Award Kerala State: 5 in 2023
20
Popular Film Award National: Kumbalangi Nights (2020 for 2019)
21
Malayalam actors with National Best Actor: 6 (Mohanlal, Mammootty x4, etc.)
22
Women in Cinema Collective Awards: 10 films recognized 2023
23
South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA): 25 wins for Malayalam 2023
24
Behindwoods Awards: Neru Best Film 2023
25
Global Indian Film Awards: 12 for Malayalam diaspora films
Interpretation
Awards and Recognitions Interpretation
Malayalam cinema's 2023-24 award sweep proves that while Bollywood might have the larger-than-life swagger, the Malayalam film industry, with its 180-plus National Awards and dominance across critics' platforms, has quietly perfected the art of telling stories so compelling they've turned Kerala into India's unofficial quality control department for filmmaking.
03 · Category
Financial Performance27 stats
01
Manjummel Boys collected 240 Cr worldwide, highest grosser 2024
02
Premalu grossed 178 Cr worldwide in 2024, 2nd highest
03
2018: Until the Birds Return crossed 200 Cr, biggest till 2023
04
Baba Sahib collected 150 Cr worldwide 2024
05
Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) earned 135 Cr WW
06
Neru grossed 110 Cr WW 2023-24
07
2018 highest Kerala grosser at 110 Cr
08
Average ticket price in Kerala theatres: Rs 120 in 2023
09
Malayalam films collected 1200 Cr total in 2023 India nett
10
Overseas share for top 10 Malayalam films 2023: 45% of total gross
11
Budget of Manjummel Boys: 20 Cr, ROI 1100%
12
Premalu budget 7 Cr, collected 178 Cr, ROI 2500%
13
Total Malayalam box office 2024 (till June): 950 Cr WW
14
Kerala gross for top 2023 film 2018: 95 Cr nett
15
Roottu collected 5 Cr on 2 Cr budget, 150% profit
16
Average occupancy for Malayalam films in Kerala 2023: 65%
17
OTT rights for top Malayalam films averaged 15 Cr in 2023
18
Satellite rights deals for 2023 hits: 8 Cr avg per film
19
Music rights revenue for Malayalam films 2023: 25 Cr total
20
VFX spend in top 10 Malayalam films 2023: 50 Cr collective
21
Distributor share for Manjummel Boys Kerala: 40 Cr
22
Exhibitor revenue from Malayalam films 2023 Kerala: 300 Cr
23
ROI leader 2023: Kaathal 500% on 5 Cr budget
24
Flop ratio 2023: 60% of releases underperformed
25
Hit films 2023: 25 out of 184, 14% success rate
26
Manjummel Boys crossed 100 Cr in 15 days WW
27
Premalu 50 days run in 100+ Kerala centres
Interpretation
Financial Performance Interpretation
Despite the sobering reality that most films flop, the Malayalam industry proves that when they do hit, they achieve a staggering return on investment through a winning formula of global appeal, lean budgets, and devoted audiences.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Trends19 stats
01
Industry turnover grew from 500 Cr in 2019 to 1500 Cr in 2023
02
Malayalam market share in South India box office: 15% in 2023
03
Pan-India reach: 20 Malayalam films released Hindi dubbed 2023
04
Export value: 200 Cr from overseas markets 2023
05
VFX market in Malayalam: grew to 100 Cr spend 2023
06
Women directors: 12% of 2023 releases, up from 5% in 2019
07
Digital marketing spend: 20% of budgets for top films 2023
08
Multiplex share Kerala: 55% revenue from Malayalam 2023
09
Co-productions with Tamil: 15 films 2023
10
OTT revenue share: 40% of total industry income 2023
11
Ticket sales online: 70% via BookMyShow for Malayalam 2023
12
Star salary inflation: Top heroes 15-25 Cr per film 2024
13
Independent cinema growth: 30% revenue rise 2023
14
Gulf market: 25% of overseas gross for 2023 films
15
Merchandising revenue: 10 Cr from top films like 2018
16
Theatre count Kerala: 1800 screens 2023, +10% YoY
17
Budget avg increase: 30% from 2020-2023
18
Hit formula shift: Survival/adventure 40% of hits 2023-24
19
Regional dominance: 80% Kerala market share for local films
Interpretation
Market Trends Interpretation
The Malayalam film industry has impressively expanded its reach and revenues, growing from a cozy regional powerhouse into a sophisticated, export-focused cinema hub that now balances star-driven economics with a refreshing surge in independent and women-led storytelling.
05 · Category
Production Statistics29 stats
01
In 2023, a total of 184 Malayalam films were released in theatres, marking a significant recovery post-COVID
02
Malayalam cinema produced over 200 films annually on average from 2015 to 2022
03
In 2022, 168 feature films were certified by the Central Board of Film Certification for Malayalam language
04
The Malayalam film industry released 156 films in 2021 despite pandemic restrictions
05
From 2010 to 2020, an average of 145 Malayalam films were released each year
06
In 2019, 182 Malayalam films were released, the highest in a decade
07
Kerala State Film Development Corporation produced 25 films between 1975 and 2023
08
Over 1,500 Malayalam films have been produced since 1930s inception
09
In 2024 (till mid-year), 120+ Malayalam films released, highest dubbed content at 40%
10
Digital production houses like Weekend Blockbusters released 15 films in 2023
11
2023 saw 45 big-budget Malayalam films with budgets over 10 Cr
12
Malayalam industry shot 300+ days of footage in 2022 across 50+ locations
13
28 women-centric Malayalam films released in 2023, up 50% from 2022
14
Animation films in Malayalam reached 12 releases in 2023
15
Short films transitioned to features: 20 such in 2023
16
Malayalam film production grew 25% in 2023 vs 2022 per FICCI report
17
65 experimental/art-house films produced in 2023 by independent banners
18
Kerala government subsidized 35 films in 2023 via KSFDC
19
OTT originals: 40 Malayalam films direct-to-digital in 2023
20
Remakes/dubs: 25 Hindi/Tamil remakes in Malayalam 2023
21
Multi-language shoots: 18 Malayalam films shot simultaneously in Telugu/Tamil 2023
22
Student films turning commercial: 10 from FTII/KR Narayanan college in 2023
23
Horror genre: 22 Malayalam horror films released 2023
24
Biopics: 15 biographical films in Malayalam 2023
25
Children's films: 8 certified U/A rated kids films 2023
26
Documentary features: 12 socio-political docs released theatrically 2023
27
Period dramas: 18 historical films with VFX in 2023
28
Romantic comedies: 26 rom-coms dominated mid-budget segment 2023
29
Thriller/suspense: 35 films in genre released 2023
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
The Malayalam film industry, having stubbornly churned out an average of over 200 films annually even through a pandemic, roared back in 2023 with a record-breaking 184 theatrical releases, proving its resilience is matched only by its prolific and creatively daring output across every conceivable genre.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Malayalam Film Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/malayalam-film-industry-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Malayalam Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/malayalam-film-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Malayalam Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/malayalam-film-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
66 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
keralacinemablog.wordpress.com