As the Diwali festive season kicks off, cinema halls across India are set to witness a flurry of new releases, with 16 films hitting theatres this week across multiple languages—including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and English.

From horror flicks and romantic dramas to quirky comedies and action-packed thrillers, there’s something for everyone heading to the cinemas. Here's your curated guide to the films releasing this festive week:

1. The Family McMullen

A heartfelt comedy-drama centred around the tightly knit McMullen family as they navigate life’s curveballs with humour and resilience.

Cast: Edward Burns, Connie Britton, Tracee Ellis Ross, Halston Sage

Director: Edward Burns

Language: English

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Release Date: October 15, 2025

2. Theatre: The Myth of Reality

A stage actor struggles to distinguish between reality and illusion, exposing cultural and societal pressures on women in the process.

Cast: Rima Kallingal, Sarasa Balussery

Director: Sajin Baabu

Language: Malayalam

Genre: Mystery

Release Date: October 16, 2025

3. The Pet Detective

A quirky pet detective and his wife get entangled in hilarious chaos—thanks to a mysterious talking macaw.

Cast: Sharafudheen, Anupama Parameswaran, Vinay Forrt

Director: Praneesh Vijayan

Language: Malayalam

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Release Date: October 16, 2025

4. Mithra Mandali

An unlikely alliance of friends and a politician’s daughter sparks romance and a hilarious chain of misadventures.

Cast: Niharika NM, Priyadarshi Pulikonda, VTV Ganesh

Director: Vijayender S

Language: Telugu

Genre: Comedy

Release Date: October 16, 2025

5. Diesel

A gritty action-thriller exploring the underworld of crude oil smuggling and the dangerous politics surrounding it.

Cast: Harish Kalyan, Athulya Ravi, P. Sai Kumar, Ananya

Director: Shanmugam Muthusamy

Language: Tamil

Genre: Action, Thriller

Release Date: October 17, 2025

6. Kambi Katna Kathai

A conman’s plan to impersonate a spiritual guru spirals out of control when he gets caught in a high-stakes emerald heist.

Cast: Natrajan Subramaniam, Aarthi Shaalini

Director: Rajanathan Periyasamy

Language: Tamil

Genre: Comedy

Release Date: October 17, 2025

7. Dude

A tale of unrequited love and emotional complexity as childhood friends navigate modern-day relationships.

Cast: Pradeep Ranganathan, Mamitha Baiju, Neha Shetty

Director: Keerthiswaran

Language: Tamil

Genre: Romantic, Action, Comedy

Release Date: October 17, 2025

8. Bison: Kaalamaadan

A young village boy chooses kabaddi over violence, chasing dreams in a gripping sports drama.

Cast: Dhruv Vikram, Anupama Parameswaran, Pasupathy

Director: Mari Selvaraj

Language: Tamil

Genre: Sports, Drama

Release Date: October 17, 2025

9. Telusu Kada

Two individuals confront their inner desires and sacrifices in this heartwarming tale of love and growth.

Cast: Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Raashii Khanna, Srinidhi Shetty

Director: Neeraja Kona

Language: Telugu

Genre: Romantic, Comedy

Release Date: October 17, 2025

10. Frankenstein

Guillermo del Toro reimagines Mary Shelley’s classic in a gothic, emotional retelling of a scientist and his doomed creation.

Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Language: English

Genre: Gothic, Sci-Fi

Release Date: October 17, 2025

11. The Mastermind

Based on real events, this suspenseful heist drama uncovers the dual life of a suburban man behind an art museum robbery.

Cast: Josh O'Connor, Alana Haim, Hope Davis

Director: Kelly Reichardt

Language: English

Genre: Heist, Suspense

Release Date: October 17, 2025

12. Truth & Treason

Set in Nazi Germany, a teenage boy and his friends form a resistance group to fight injustice—based on a true story.

Cast: Ewan Horrocks, Ferdinand McKay, Rupert Evans

Director: Matt Whitaker

Language: English

Genre: Drama

Release Date: October 17, 2025

13. Good Fortune

An angel loses his wings after failing a divine mission—only to end up as a human roommate to the man he was meant to help.

Cast: Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari, Keke Palmer, Keanu Reeves

Director: Aziz Ansari

Language: English

Genre: Supernatural, Comedy

Release Date: October 17, 2025

14. Black Phone 2

Four years after the events of The Black Phone, new visions, haunted voices, and deeper horrors return to haunt a family.

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw

Director: Scott Derrickson

Language: English

Genre: Supernatural, Horror

Release Date: October 17, 2025

15. KRAMP

A fresh love story blooms under unexpected circumstances in this romance-action hybrid from director Jains Nani.

Cast: Kiran Abbavaram, Yukti Thareja, Sai Kumar

Director: Jains Nani

Language: Telugu

Genre: Action, Romantic

Release Date: October 18, 2025

16. Tez Raftaaar

A slum boy’s dream to become an athlete is tested as he faces harsh societal hurdles and a complicated bond with his coach.

Cast: Siddharth Nigam, Jannat Zubair, Samir Soni

Director: Sunanda Shyamal Mitra

Language: Hindi

Genre: Drama, Sports

Release Date: October 19, 2025

Whether you're in the mood for a spine-chilling horror, a soul-searching drama, or a laugh-out-loud comedy, this Diwali week’s film slate has something for everyone.