Some of the most interesting Indian movies of 2026 did not always get the attention they deserved. From gripping crime mysteries and courtroom dramas to romance, comedy and financial thrillers, these underrated releases offer plenty of reasons to add them to your watchlist.
10 Movies Of 2026 That Turned Out Better Than Expected
1. Kartavya (Netflix)
A police officer faces a major crisis after a journalist is murdered despite being under his protection. His search for the truth leads him towards political pressure, corruption and powerful people, while threats against his family make the investigation even more dangerous. This underrated crime thriller keeps the tension high by turning one murder into a much larger fight for justice.
2. Governor: The Silent Saviour (Prime Video)
Manoj Bajpayee plays RBI Governor A. Ramanan in this financial thriller set during India’s severe 1990–1991 balance-of-payments crisis. Loosely inspired by former RBI Governor S. Venkitaramanan, the story follows Ramanan as he tries to steer the country away from national bankruptcy. The unusual economic backdrop makes this an underrated pick for viewers looking for something beyond regular crime and action dramas.
3. Gatta Kusthi 2 (Netflix)
Veera tries to protect his unconventional family life as public judgment, parenting disagreements and growing misunderstandings begin putting pressure on his marriage to wrestler Keerthi. Their problems become even harder to handle just as Keerthi prepares for the biggest competition of her career. The sequel turns their relationship into a story about marriage, family responsibilities and supporting each other’s ambitions.
4. Ek Din (Prime Video)
Dinesh secretly loves his colleague Meera but never manages to tell her how he feels. During an office trip, he wishes beneath a magical bell that Meera could become his girlfriend for just one day, and the impossible suddenly comes true. This sweet romantic story uses a magical twist to explore a love that Dinesh had only experienced in his imagination.
5. Maa Behen (Netflix)
A widowed mother and her daughters are suddenly left with a frightening problem when a dead body becomes a secret they must somehow hide. Their attempts to control the situation only create more trouble as neighbours become suspicious and panic grows inside the family. This underrated dark comedy mixes crime and suspense with the chaos of an ordinary family caught in an extraordinary mess.
6. Ikka (Netflix)
Well-known lawyer Arjun Mehra accepts a case that requires him to defend a man he once believed was guilty of attempted murder. As the courtroom battle continues, new truths begin challenging his earlier judgment and make the case deeply personal. This underrated legal thriller uses moral doubt, emotional conflict and courtroom suspense to keep the mystery alive.
7. System (Prime Video)
A public prosecutor and a sharp courtroom stenographer become connected while working around a sensitive legal case with more layers than expected. As hidden motives emerge, class differences, ambition and personal pressures begin complicating both the case and their partnership. This underrated courtroom thriller combines legal drama with emotional tension and suspense.
8. Toaster (Netflix)
A miserly man becomes determined to recover a toaster that he once gave away as a gift. What begins as a strangely simple mission soon drags him into crime, danger and increasingly chaotic situations. This offbeat dark comedy makes an ordinary household object the centre of an unpredictable and unusual story.
9. Haq (Netflix)
Inspired by the Shah Bano case, Haq follows a woman who takes her fight for dignity and equal rights to the courtroom. As she challenges personal laws and faces strong resistance from society, the case becomes both a legal and deeply emotional battle. The film turns her struggle into a powerful story about justice, courage and a woman’s right to stand up for herself.
10. Cheekatilo (Prime Video)
A true-crime podcaster begins looking into the mysterious death of her best friend, turning the investigation into something deeply personal. As she follows the clues, painful memories, buried trauma and disturbing secrets slowly begin coming to light. This underrated psychological thriller combines an engaging mystery with the emotional cost of searching for answers.
These underrated Indian releases prove that some of 2026’s most interesting stories can be found beyond the year’s biggest and most heavily promoted titles.