As another month comes to an end, a host of South Indian films are set to hit the big screens soon. Here is a list of movies to watch in May 2026.
Top 12 South Indian movies to watch in theaters in May 2026
1. Patriot
- Mould: MammoottyMohanlal, Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban, Nayanthara, Darshan Rajendran, Rajeev Menon, Revathi
- Director: Mahesh Narayanan
- Style: spy action drama
- Runtime: 3 hours
- Language: Malayalam
- Release date: 1 May 2026
Patriot It is the story of Daniel, a famous YouTuber from Kerala who tries to expose a corrupt regional officer, JP Sundaram. As Sundaram’s malpractices are on the verge of being exposed, Daniel is forced to go on the run and clear his name from the false allegations leveled by Sundaram’s team. The film explores how he deals with this cat-and-mouse race and whether he succeeds in his mission.
2. Jan Naygan
- Mould: Thalapathy VijayPooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamita Baiju, Priyamani, Prakash Raj, Gautam Vasudev Menon, Narayan
- Director: H. Vinoth
- Runtime: 3 hours 6 minutes
- Style: political action drama
- Language: tamil
- Release date: 8 May 2026
Jan Naygan It is the story of a man who becomes a symbol of resistance after standing up against public injustice. As old enemies return to settle scores, the former police officer must juggle between becoming a reluctant leader and serving as a catalyst for a young girl struggling with her fears.
3. Dridam
- Mould: Shane NigamAbhiram Radhakrishnan, Mathew Varghese, Kottayam Ramesh, Krishna Prabha, Dinesh Prabhakar.
- Director: martin joseph
- Style: investigation thriller
- Runtime: 2 hours 7 minutes
- Language: Malayalam
- Release date: 8 May 2026
Dridam explores the story of a young police officer who is tasked with solving a mystery in a serene hill station, which unfolds over an intense period of one week.
4. 29
- Mould: Vidhu, Preeti AsraniMahendran, Avinash, Shehnaz Fatima
- Director: Ratna Kumar
- Style: romantic drama
- Runtime: tba
- Language: tamil
- Release date: 8 May 2026
29 is said to be a heart-warming story exploring love, emotions and identity, set against the age-old backdrop of romance before the internet age.
5. Karuppu
- Mould: SuriyaTrisha Krishnan, Indrans, Natti Subramaniam, Swasika, Shivada, Anagha Maiya Ravi, Supreeth Reddy, Yogi Babu
- Director: RJ Balaji
- Style: imaginary action
- Runtime: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Language: tamil
- Release date: 14 May 2026
Karuppu It is based on a world going through anarchy where fear, injustice and suffering have become a part of everyday life. Amidst this turmoil, a mysterious man emerges as an unlikely superhero. As he faces personal struggles and harsh realities, he slowly discovers his strength and purpose.
6. Athiradi
- Mould: Tovino ThomasBasil Joseph, Vineet Srinivasan, Riya Shibu, Darshan Rajendran, Zareen Shihab
- Director: Arun Anirudhan
- Style: action comedy
- Runtime: tba
- Language: Malayalam
- Release date: 14 May 2026
Athiradi It is said to follow a spirited student who revives a long-banned college festival, sparking a chaotic, ego-driven rivalry with a local man.
7. Kattalan
- Mould: Antony Varghese PepeKabir Duhan Singh, Parth Tiwari, Sunil, Harishankar Narayanan, Dussehra Vijayan, Jagadish, Siddiqui
- Director: paul george
- Style: action thriller
- Runtime: tba
- Language: Malayalam
- Release date: May 2026
Kattalan It is expected to be a tough survival story set against the backdrop of jungle-based ivory trafficking.
8. Jet Li
- Mould: Satya, Riya Singha, Vennela Kishore, Viva Harsh, Kabir Duhan Singh
- Director: Ritesh Rana
- Style: action comedy
- Runtime: 2 hours 12 minutes
- Language: Telugu
- Release date: 1 May 2026
Jet Li follows a passenger flight carrying fugitive billionaire Prajapati that turns into chaos when mercenaries and secret agents clash in the air. Amidst the chaos, Special Agent Shivani Roy fights for control, while a mysterious man awakens in the plane’s bathroom, with no memories and a deadly secret hidden within him.
9. Varavu
- Mould: joju georgeArjun Ashokan, Saniya Ayyappan, Deepak Parambol, Abhimanyu Thilakan, Murali Gopi, Baburaj
- Director: Shaji Kailas
- Style: mystery action thriller
- Runtime: tba
- Language: Malayalam
- Release date: May 2026
Varavu is set in a hill town where power and influence reign. A single incident sets off a chain of events that changes many lives forever. A family is torn apart, truths are buried and silence becomes a weapon. Years later, as the past resurfaces, hidden forces begin to tremble. When one man returns to face what was taken from him, the conflict turns into a reckoning that will decide the fate of the city.
10. Mother Inti Bangaram
- Mould: Samantha Ruth PrabhuGulshan Devaiah, Digant Manchale, Gautami, M. Srimukhi, Chaitanya
- Director: Nandini Reddy
- Style: action drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Language: Telugu
- Release date: 15 May 2026
Maa Inti Bangaram is the story of a young woman who appears to be a traditional, polite housewife but has a dark and violent past. Keeping her history a secret, she must protect her family from impending threats while maintaining her new life.
11. Mollywood Times
- Mould: breedSangeet Pratap, Sharaf U Dheen, Alexander Prashant
- Director: Abhinav Sundar Nayak
- Style: comedy drama
- Runtime: tba
- Language: Malayalam
- Release date: May 2026
Another complicated tale comes from the director of Advocate Mukundan Unni. Mollywood Times follows Vineeth Madhavan, a teenager from Kuttikkanam who aspires to become a film director. The film has been described as a satirical “hate letter” to cinema.
12. Drishyam 3
- Mould: MohanlalMeena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Asha Sharath, Murali Gopi
- Director: jeetu joseph
- Style: crime drama thriller
- Runtime: 2 hours 35 minutes
- Language: Malayalam
- Release date: 21 may 2026
scene 3 is an upcoming installment of the crime drama franchise. Following the events of the first two films, Georgekutty and his family once again take center stage as the emotional impact of the crime they have tried to conceal takes a toll on them.
The above mentioned movies are some of the South Indian movies releasing in theaters in May 2026.
Also read: Patriot Plot Revealed: Mammootty, Mohanlal’s espionage action drama to explore one man’s fight against corrupt practices?