Most Liked Bollywood Movie: Latest Top Picks, Ratings, and Facts
Jul, 4 2025
If you’ve ever scrolled through endless lists trying to find the absolute most liked Bollywood movie, you know it’s a bit like hunting for buried treasure. One minute, you’re lost in the nostalgia of ‘90s classics, the next you’re baffled by a new record-breaking box office hit. And the stakes are high—Bollywood movies don’t just entertain, they shape pop culture, global trends, even the way people talk and dress. But is there a clear winner for the “most liked” title? Get ready for a twisty ride through opinion, numbers, and some wild cinematic history.
Defining “Most Liked”: Beyond Just Box Office Numbers
Here’s one thing most people get wrong: being the highest-grossing film at the box office doesn’t always mean being the most liked. “Liking” a movie is subjective—some swear by emotion, others chase action, and then there are those who measure everything by social media reactions. In Bollywood, measuring a film’s love gets complicated. Do you count theatre attendance? YouTube likes? IMDb ratings? Or maybe the number of viral memes the film inspires? Let’s put some numbers on the table to see how these stack up:
| Metric | Top Film (2025) | Record Example |
|---|---|---|
| Box Office Gross (INR) | ‘Pathaan’ | 1050 crore+ |
| IMDb User Rating | ‘3 Idiots’ | 8.4/10 (1.1 million ratings) |
| YouTube Trailer Likes | ‘Jawan’ | 4.5 million+ |
| Instagram Hashtags | ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ | 2.1 million posts |
Every metric tells a different story. ‘Pathaan’ shattered box office records in 2023, pulling in worldwide fans hungry for SRK’s comeback. ‘3 Idiots’ still holds the top IMDb spot, drawing love from a new generation of students and parents every year. ‘Jawan’ made a splash with its super-viral trailer, while ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ practically invented Bollywood romance for internet fandom. Point is, “most liked” isn’t one-size-fits-all.
All-Time Fan Favorites: The Runners and Record-Breakers
Everyone has a personal favourite, but some titles just keep showing up. ‘Sholay’, released in 1975, was such a phenomenon that Indian streets would empty out during new releases. People even brought steel Tiffin boxes into packed theatres so they wouldn’t miss a single scene. Fast-forward to 1995, ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (DDLJ) blew minds with its mix of Swiss landscapes and Indian values—not to mention the legendary train scene. DDLJ has actually run continuously at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir cinema for more than 25 years. Think about that—over two decades, and people are still buying tickets.
Then you have cult sensations that redefined what a “mass hit” looks like. ‘3 Idiots’ from 2009 nailed the education theme so well, teachers play scenes in classrooms within and beyond India. For some fans, the “All is Well” catchphrase is as iconic as any Beatles’ lyric. Comedy franchises like ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’ inspired social movements about kindness and empathy (the ‘Gandhigiri’ trend), showing that a comedy could spark real conversations. And every award show, you’ll see glitzy montages reminding everyone just how many hearts ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ still holds thanks to its family drama and all-star cast.
Let’s be honest, there’s also a strong new wave: action-packed blockbusters like ‘War,’ ‘Tiger Zinda Hai,’ and the more recent ‘Jawan’ and ‘Pathaan’ are pulling in younger audiences, especially on social media. Check the comments on any post about these films—you’ll spot entire fan armies debating whose movie reigns supreme.
Top Contenders by Popular Metrics
Now, let’s crunch the numbers. IMDb, often called the Holy Grail for movie fans, lists ‘3 Idiots’ as the most liked Bollywood movie based on actual user ratings—over a million users, not only from India but from the U.S., Europe, and beyond, have weighed in. The film’s blend of humor, realism, and heart seems to cut through age, background, and geography. If you’re going by sheer volume of votes and consistently positive scores, ‘3 Idiots’ is tough to beat. Aamir Khan, who starred in both ‘3 Idiots’ and the time-traveling blockbuster ‘PK,’ has a rep for landing roles in these “everyone loves it” films.
But don’t let IMDb have the whole say. On Instagram and Twitter, nostalgia-heavy films like DDLJ outpace the rest for hashtags and user-generated content—fans recreate scenes, hosts travel tours to movie locations in Switzerland and Punjab, and every year #DDLJ trends on October 20th, the movie’s anniversary. Not many films get that kind of tribute decades after release.
Meanwhile, box office monsters like ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan’ crush it on financials, clocking record-breaking opening weekends and viral music videos that rack up hundreds of millions of views. Their trailers routinely smash view-count records within hours, proving that excitement still translates into both digital and real-world queues.
- ‘3 Idiots’: Top IMDb rating, acclaimed worldwide, sparks real-life debates on stress and education.
- DDLJ: Longest-running film, legendary romance, undefeated in nostalgia.
- ‘Pathaan’/‘Jawan’: Record-shattering box office, younger fanbase, major streaming success.
Why These Films Hit Different: What Makes a Bollywood Movie Truly Beloved?
When you ask diehard Bollywood fans what made them fall in love with their favorite, it usually isn’t the budget or special effects. It’s how the film makes you feel. ‘3 Idiots’ gave hope to generations buried under exam pressures. Fans talk about how it helped them rethink their own lives—one survey found that mentions of “All is Well” skyrocketed on Indian Twitter on result day each year.
With DDLJ, it’s all about universal longing: love that fights for its right, and families that matter even when they drive you nuts. The chemistry between Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol became a global standard for Bollywood romance. For some, that film’s cornfields and train-platform chase aren’t just goods for memes—they’re life goals.
Even in action-packed new hits, what really sticks are the moments that tap into pride, resilience, or simple joy. ‘Pathaan’ was a viral hit partly because it marked a comeback for Shah Rukh Khan after years away from lead roles. Fans see themselves in the struggle, root for the hero, and replay the dance numbers until they know every move. Bollywood does drama and comedy, but what it really nails is that emotional punch that keeps people coming back, year after year, passing love for these films down to their kids.
- Relatable characters that people see themselves in.
- Catchy dialogues and unforgettable songs.
- Theme of hope and family bonds.
- Moments that inspire memes and real-life conversations.
- Actors whose reputations are built on limitless fan love—think Shah Rukh Khan or Aamir Khan.
The Verdict: Which Film Wears the Crown in 2025?
Put all the pieces together, and the answer isn’t as simple as naming a single movie. Box office? That crown, for now, rides with ‘Pathaan.’ If you trust IMDb, ‘3 Idiots’ holds an unbeatable place with its sky-high ratings and emotional weight. For pure legacy—longevity and memes included—nobody yet dethrones DDLJ, still running in cinemas and on fan accounts worldwide. And who knows, with every new mega-release, the rankings could wiggle again.
If you’re looking for a smart recommendation and don’t just want the obvious, check out ‘Andhadhun’ or ‘Gully Boy’—more recent crowd-pleasers that mix creativity and mass appeal. You’ll get a taste of the risk-taking side of Bollywood, away from the strictly formulaic.
Want to really join the conversation? Watch the top few—‘3 Idiots’, DDLJ, ‘Pathaan’, and maybe a wildcard—then dip into the comment sections and Twitter threads. Most importantly, remember: in Bollywood, the most liked movie isn’t just about numbers. It’s about which story shows up in your life, at that perfect time, and makes you believe in a bit of song, dance, and impossible romance.