While Maddock Films is renowned for its horror-comedy universe, the production house has also carved a niche in the action-thriller genre. From neo-noir revenge dramas like Badlapur to geopolitical spy thrillers like Tehran, producer Dinesh Vijan has consistently pushed boundaries in delivering intense, gripping narratives. Here are the top 10 action-thriller movies ranked by their IMDb ratings in reverse order.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Action Thriller Movies by Maddock Films (By iMDb Rating)
| Rank | Film | IMDb Rating | Lead Cast | Genre | Year/Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Badlapur | 7.4/10 | Varun Dhawan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui | Neo-noir Revenge | 2015 |
| 2 | Chhaava | 7.3/10 | Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna | Historical Action | 2025 |
| 3 | Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga | 7.2/10 | Yami Gautam, Sunny Kaushal | Heist Thriller | 2023 |
| 4 | Sector 36 | 7.1/10 | Vikrant Massey, Deepak Dobriyal | Crime Thriller | 2024 |
| 5 | Sky Force | 6.8/10 | Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya | War Action | 2025 |
| 6 | Tehran | 5.9/10 | John Abraham, Manushi Chhillar | Spy Thriller | 2025 |
| 7 | Go Goa Gone | 5.7/10 | Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu | Zombie Thriller | 2013 |
| 8 | Being Cyrus | 7.3/10 | Saif Ali Khan, Naseeruddin Shah | Psychological | 2006 |
| 9 | Agent Vinod | 5.2/10 | Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor | Spy Action | 2012 |
| 10 | Happy Ending | 5.0/10 | Saif Ali Khan, Ileana D’Cruz | Action-Comedy | 2014 |
10. Happy Ending (2014) – IMDb 5.0/10
Released in 2014, Happy Ending, starring Saif Ali Khan, represented a departure from the actor’s predominantly romantic comedy repertoire, incorporating elements of action. The film also signified the culmination of the Illuminati Films co-venture between Khan and producer Dinesh Vijan. Despite its hybrid genre approach, Happy Ending failed to achieve critical acclaim and experienced commercial underperformance at the box office.
9. Agent Vinod (2012) – IMDb 5.2/10 – ₹40+ Crore
Written and directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Saif Ali Khan and Dinesh Vijan, this spy film revolves around terrorist conspiracy and stars Khan and Kareena Kapoor in lead roles. Released on 23 March 2012, it received mixed reviews from critics who praised the visuals, acting performances, and action sequences.
Ambitious Scale: Shot across multiple countries with elaborate action sequences, Agent Vinod attempted to create India’s answer to James Bond, though it underperformed commercially.
8. Being Cyrus (2006) – IMDb 7.3/10
Maddock Films commenced operations in 2005 with the release of *Being Cyrus*, a psychological thriller featuring Saif Ali Khan. This project, co-produced by Dinesh Vijan, represented Vijan’s initial foray into cinematic production.
Indie Roots: This English-language psychological thriller established Maddock’s commitment to unconventional storytelling from day one.
7. Go Goa Gone (2013) – IMDb 5.7/10
Go Goa Gone, released in 2013, marked India’s inaugural foray into the zombie comedy-thriller subgenre. The film, starring Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu, and Vir Das, presented a distinctive narrative juxtaposing elements of horror and comedic levity within the context of Goa’s established party scene. The picture is notable for its genre-bending approach within the Indian cinematic landscape.
Cult Classic: While not a massive commercial success, the film gained cult status for its innovative premise.
6. Tehran (2025) – IMDb 5.9/10 – OTT Success
Directed by Arun Gopalan and produced by Dinesh Vijan, this spy action thriller stars John Abraham, Neeru Bajwa and Manushi Chhillar. Based on the 2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats, the film premiered on ZEE5 on 14 August 2025 and on Netflix on 27 August 2025.
Geopolitical Tension: The film follows a gripping narrative spanning Israel, Iran, and India, though it received mixed reviews for its execution.
5. Sky Force (2025) – IMDb 6.8/10 – ₹150+ Crore
Directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, this war action thriller stars Akshay Kumar and Veer Pahariya. Released on 24 January 2025, it received mixed reviews from critics, emerging as a moderate success at the box office.
Patriotic Appeal: The film has grossed 120 crores domestically and has surpassed 150 crores worldwide, cementing its place as 2025’s highest-grossing movie by early year.
4. Sector 36 (2024) – IMDb 7.1/10 – Netflix Global Success
Directed by Aditya Nimbalkar and produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios, this crime thriller stars Vikrant Massey, Deepak Dobriyal and Akash Khurana. Based on the 2006 Noida serial murders in Nithari Village, it premiered on Netflix on 13 September 2024.
Dark and Disturbing: Sector 36 climbed to the #2 spot on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Films (Non-English) list, trending in 21 countries including Australia, Argentina, Canada, and Poland.
Powerful Performances: Vikrant Massey’s portrayal of a psychopathic serial killer earned widespread acclaim.
3. Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga (2023) – IMDb 7.2/10 – Netflix Hit
Directed by Ajay Singh and produced by Amar Kaushik, this heist thriller stars Yami Gautam and Sunny Kaushal with Sharad Kelkar. The film released on 24 March 2023 directly for streaming on Netflix.
Double Jeopardy: The film’s unique combination of a heist and hijack scenario kept audiences hooked. The plot revolves around a flight attendant and her boyfriend who must steal diamonds to clear a debt, but the plan goes horribly wrong when the plane is hijacked at 40,000 feet.
Critical Reception: Reviews praised Yami Gautam’s standout performance and the film’s clever twists, though some felt the climax could have been stronger.
2. Chhaava (2025) – IMDb 7.3/10 – ₹797+ Crore
Directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan, this epic historical action film is based on the life of Sambhaji, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire. An adaptation of the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant, it stars Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, and Rashmika Mandanna.
Massive Success: Commercially, it has earned ₹797.34 crore to rank as the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 and the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025.
Epic Scale: The film’s authentic battle sequences, stunning cinematography, and Vicky Kaushal’s powerful performance as Sambhaji Maharaj made it a commercial and critical triumph, though some criticized its pacing and A.R. Rahman’s background score.
1. Badlapur (2015) – IMDb 7.4/10 – ₹81.3 Crore
Directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films and Eros International, this neo-noir action thriller is based on the novel Death’s Dark Abyss by Italian writer Massimo Carlotto. The film stars Varun Dhawan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in career-defining performances.
Why It’s #1: Badlapur was released on 20 February 2015 to positive reviews from critics and grossed approximately ₹81.3 crore worldwide, becoming a commercial success. The film’s dark, unflinching narrative about a man’s 15-year quest for vengeance redefined Varun Dhawan’s acting range.
Critical Acclaim: Raja Sen from Rediff rated it 4 out of 5, calling it “a dark, unflinching, fantastic film.” The movie earned multiple Filmfare nominations, including Best Film.
The Maddock Action Formula
Character-Driven Violence: Unlike typical Bollywood action, Maddock thrillers focus on psychological depth and moral ambiguity.
Realistic Approach: Dinesh Vijan acknowledges that “Agent Vinod gave me Badlapur, while Raabta gave me Stree,” demonstrating how failures inform future successes.
Genre Innovation: From India’s first zombie film to neo-noir revenge dramas, Maddock consistently experiments with action subgenres.
OTT Dominance: Recent successes like Sector 36, Tehran, and Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga prove Maddock’s mastery of streaming platforms.
For more insights on Bollywood’s evolution in the action-thriller space, visit our movies and entertainment section.
Which Maddock action thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat? Share your favorite in the comments!
